Prime Time Test
After the bye week, the Colts look to bounce back.
written by Stephen Conway

After the stunning collapse in the second half against the Raiders resulting in a 38-31 loss, the Colts were faced with a week off to consider and learn from their mistakes. Its difficult to understand sometimes how a team that can be so dominant in one half of a game can come out and look so mediocre in the second. Credit the Raiders for staying focused and creating problems, but the fact still remains that the Colts offense made their comeback much easier than it should have been. Two untimely turnovers coupled with the defense's inability to contain the wily Rich Gannon spelled doom for the boys in blue.

But we must remember that the same thing happened to the Colts last year. Ahead 28-0 versus the Patriots in Boston, the Colts phoned in the second half and were beaten 31 - 35. Last year, the team learned from their lack of focus and went on to an unprecedented single season turn around 13-3 record.

Heading into the national spotlight this Monday, the Colts must step up and prove that they deserve to be considered one the dominant forces in the AFC. The team is young and it is unrealistic to expect them not to falter upon occasion. But this team is young and smart, not to mention very athletic and driven. The NFL season is more marathon than sprint. If the Colts are to keep their season alive through January, they must come out and play sound fundamental football for sixty minutes week in and week out: to grind out the hard fought victories against tough teams like Jacksonville and to put away games when you have the opportunities. Win or lose, as players and coaches, they should expect nothing less. And as fans we should hold them to it.

Matchups
Breakdowns of the key matchups on offense, defense, and special teams.

Game Prediction
Any way you look at it, this game will be close. The Colts offense, recharged with the return of Terrence Wilkins, the human dynamo, should continue to produce. If the Colts do not turn the ball over, our chances of winning are much greater.  I think the real test will come for the Colts on defense. In the best of all possible worlds, our defense will have difficulties containing the talents of Mark Brunell, Fred Taylor, and Jimmy Smith. If the Colts give them easy opportunities to score, we could be in trouble. As long as we can keep the game close going into the fourth quarter and allow the RCA Dome crowd to disrupt the Jags offense and pump up our defense, I think the Colts have a good chance of pulling out a victory.

Score: Colts 28  Jaguars 27

Next Opponent
Jacksonville Jaguars
09/25/2000

when: 8:00
where: RCA Dome
TV: ABC

Colts Roster

Game Prediction

Matchups:
Offense
Defense
Special Teams

Archive:

1999 Season
Issue #1
Issue #2
Issue #3
Issue #4
Issue #5

2000 Schedule
Issue #6
Issue #7