Mike Chappell - The NFL calendar is very clear: Wild-card weekend is Jan. 5-6.
The Colts and Buffalo Bills beg to differ. Basically, the playoffs begin Sunday in Lucas Oil Stadium.
"This is a playoff game for us," Colts interim coach Bruce Arians insisted. "We have to take that approach because Buffalo is taking that approach.
"They're do-or-die. We better be do-or-die."
The Colts are 6-4, good for the No. 5 seed as the first wild-card entry. Yes, if the season ended Sunday -- irrelevant but always entertaining to consider -- they'd be headed to Denver for a first-round clash with the Broncos. Andrew Luck vs. Peyton Manning.
The Bills are 4-6, but still have a pulse. After Sunday, their schedule is conducive to a serious December push.
A Colts loss -- at home against an erratic opponent that's allowing 30.2 points per game on the road -- would be crippling to their inspiring push to the postseason.
The Bills would remain mathematically alive with a loss, but essentially dead in the water. They haven't made the playoffs since 1999, the league's longest dry spell.
"The Colts are ahead of us in the standings," Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. "This is almost a playoff game for us in terms of one we have to have at this point in the season."
Considering the jumbled mess that is the AFC wild-card chase, 9-7 should be enough. From here on out, each week either is a major step forward or a debilitating stumble.
"Every game is going to be a playoff game," veteran receiver Reggie Wayne said. "We are in a position now where if we win out, we're in. There are a lot of teams that want our position.
"I'm just looking at us. I just know if we take care of (it), we're fine. That's to keep winning games. The more we win, the better our opportunity."
Arians repeatedly has stressed all the Colts have done is get themselves into a position to achieve something significant over the final six games.
"We wanted to give ourselves a chance,'' Wayne said. "Once you get to the dance, anything can happen. We are just going to continue this journey, continue to ride this ship and at the end of the day, see where our chips fall."
New England's Julian Edelman returned one punt 68 yards for a touchdown, another 49 yards. Just like that, the seasonal average on punt returns bounced from 8.5 to 13.7, No. 30 in the league.
"If the wrong things happen at that wrong time, that's what can happen," special teams coordinator Marwan Maalouf said.
And now, a Buffalo return game that simply is elite.
"They've got two exceptional returners in 16 and 21," Maalouf said.
That would be Brad Smith (No. 16) and Leodis McKelvin (No. 21). McKelvin ranks No. 1 in the league in punt returns (21.9) and tied for No. 7 in kickoff returns (28.3). He's the only player in the league to return two punts for TDs.
When the Bills opt to give McKelvin a blow, Smith returns kickoffs. He's averaging 28.7 with an 89-yarder for a TD.
"We've got to play with great technique and like our hair's on fire," Maalouf said.
Joe Lefeged is the Colts' top special teams contributor with 12 tackles, including 10 solos. He understands the challenge.
"We've already faced some great returners with Devin Hester and Percy Harvin," he said. "McKelvin is right there with them."
Has the experience as interim coach rekindled any thoughts of one day being a head coach at the pro level?
"I don't even think about it," said Arians, a 20-year assistant. "For me, it's still a day-to-day process just like the players. If I ask the players to stay within the moment, you better stay there yourself.
"We'll cross those bridges, if there are any bridges to cross, someday. Right now, it's just the Buffalo Bills." Colts 27- Bills 17
The Colts and Buffalo Bills beg to differ. Basically, the playoffs begin Sunday in Lucas Oil Stadium.
"This is a playoff game for us," Colts interim coach Bruce Arians insisted. "We have to take that approach because Buffalo is taking that approach.
"They're do-or-die. We better be do-or-die."
The Colts are 6-4, good for the No. 5 seed as the first wild-card entry. Yes, if the season ended Sunday -- irrelevant but always entertaining to consider -- they'd be headed to Denver for a first-round clash with the Broncos. Andrew Luck vs. Peyton Manning.
The Bills are 4-6, but still have a pulse. After Sunday, their schedule is conducive to a serious December push.
A Colts loss -- at home against an erratic opponent that's allowing 30.2 points per game on the road -- would be crippling to their inspiring push to the postseason.
The Bills would remain mathematically alive with a loss, but essentially dead in the water. They haven't made the playoffs since 1999, the league's longest dry spell.
"The Colts are ahead of us in the standings," Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. "This is almost a playoff game for us in terms of one we have to have at this point in the season."
Considering the jumbled mess that is the AFC wild-card chase, 9-7 should be enough. From here on out, each week either is a major step forward or a debilitating stumble.
"Every game is going to be a playoff game," veteran receiver Reggie Wayne said. "We are in a position now where if we win out, we're in. There are a lot of teams that want our position.
"I'm just looking at us. I just know if we take care of (it), we're fine. That's to keep winning games. The more we win, the better our opportunity."
Arians repeatedly has stressed all the Colts have done is get themselves into a position to achieve something significant over the final six games.
"We wanted to give ourselves a chance,'' Wayne said. "Once you get to the dance, anything can happen. We are just going to continue this journey, continue to ride this ship and at the end of the day, see where our chips fall."
Special day?
A pair of lapses last Sunday at Gillette Stadium severely marred what had been adequate work by the Colts' special teams coverage units.New England's Julian Edelman returned one punt 68 yards for a touchdown, another 49 yards. Just like that, the seasonal average on punt returns bounced from 8.5 to 13.7, No. 30 in the league.
"If the wrong things happen at that wrong time, that's what can happen," special teams coordinator Marwan Maalouf said.
And now, a Buffalo return game that simply is elite.
"They've got two exceptional returners in 16 and 21," Maalouf said.
That would be Brad Smith (No. 16) and Leodis McKelvin (No. 21). McKelvin ranks No. 1 in the league in punt returns (21.9) and tied for No. 7 in kickoff returns (28.3). He's the only player in the league to return two punts for TDs.
When the Bills opt to give McKelvin a blow, Smith returns kickoffs. He's averaging 28.7 with an 89-yarder for a TD.
"We've got to play with great technique and like our hair's on fire," Maalouf said.
Joe Lefeged is the Colts' top special teams contributor with 12 tackles, including 10 solos. He understands the challenge.
"We've already faced some great returners with Devin Hester and Percy Harvin," he said. "McKelvin is right there with them."
Arians: head coach?
Arians has directed the Colts to a 5-2 record since taking over for Chuck Pagano, who took an indefinite leave Oct. 1 to battle leukemia.Has the experience as interim coach rekindled any thoughts of one day being a head coach at the pro level?
"I don't even think about it," said Arians, a 20-year assistant. "For me, it's still a day-to-day process just like the players. If I ask the players to stay within the moment, you better stay there yourself.
"We'll cross those bridges, if there are any bridges to cross, someday. Right now, it's just the Buffalo Bills." Colts 27- Bills 17
2 comments:
Bills will not stop Luck
Most modern people today are passionate to make their personal statements with [url=http://www.uggsbootsukoutlet.co.uk]cheap ugg boots[/url] style. They attempt to clearly show their bests as a result of something exclusive on their bodies. Some of them are likely to go along with the most popular manner feeling set by celebrated people or distinguished designers. But some of them desire earning specific conclusions on their very own varieties. They flatter stylish preferences with practicality kept in head. To be genuine, the latter approach sounds superior. Following all, most people do not have financial capacity to afford significant-conclusion luxuries.
In the vogue industry, there are artists who embrace magnificent appreciation tastes and make their strategies and operate observed and liked across the world. They constantly wonderfully juggle around manner and functionality. Nevertheless, hardly ever have they essential trend admirers to split the wallet to love their creativeness. Among that team, designers for Australian sheepskin boots should should have respect.
It does not make any difference regardless of whether you choose blindly adhering to the newest vogue knowledge to spice up your glance or appreciate to embrace your very own appetite this time because designers for genuine sheepskin boots from Australia acquire all of your concerns into account. These footwear established a around the world pattern. Most people today ought to however bear in mind the popular talk exhibit host-Oprah. She obtained even more than 20 pairs after for her colleagues, pals and friends and family members. Other than this eminent woman, there is a genuinely large quantity of well-known people who are commonly noticed carrying these sneakers in each formal and informal conditions. Australian sheepskin boots are trend setters for style footwear. To hold your appearance rate with the most recent footwear information, you will unquestionably really like these sneakers.
However, do Sheepskin boots reside up to your expectation if you opt for always keeping to your unique taste? To be honest, these sneakers look entirely different in a boutique. Without exaggerating gildings and eye-catching shades, these footwear sound like getting very little to do with luxurious. But it' s absolutely the unadorned concept that speaks for anything great & unique obtained by sheepskin boots designers. Twin-tier merino sheepskin is the most important product on these shoes. If you are engaged with some understated, but super appears, you will adore the easy surfaces crafted [url=http://www.uggsbootsoutletonline.co.uk]Cheap Ugg Boots[/url] by this extremely supple product, which is amazingly practical in always keeping moisture, coldness and sweat absent from your ft. These unadorned seems to be end good appearances with most outfits. On Australian sheepskin boots, model, [url=http://www.uggsbootsinukcheaper.co.uk]Ugg Boots Sale[/url] convenience and practicality are all considered. Do these cater to your need?
Authentic sheepskin boots from Australia clearly show pattern followers easy, but super & universal seems to be, with comfort and ease insured in the meantime. They support you build fashionable and elegant style expressions. Also, they are wonderful alternatives to hot your toes even in frigid climate. These sneakers are considered as heart and soul mates by most folks. No matter what favor you hold for footwear, you will have to be happy to find this cherished heritage from Aussie consumers on today' s promote.
[url=http://growmysme.com/tour/members/infavalvanito/activity/] The Most effective Ugg Boots Are Legitimate Ugg Boots[/url]
[url=http://mmafrenzy.com/community/members/hessunusest/] Straightforward Guidelines To Discover Out Legitimate Ugg Boots [/url]
[url=http://wonderchoir.com/members/wefrerserup/activity/?r=huanrimwa&_wpnonce=b7ecf8b8e6] Ugg Australia Bailey Button Fashionable[/url]
Post a Comment