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Originally Posted by VonErich Lives
That's one of my first thoughts, I hear Colts I don't see Shula and Unitas.
I see Ron Meyer, I see signing (I think it was) Marc Wilson after the Pats cut him, just to have him try and steal signals from accross the field during a game. I see Harbaugh coming up short, I see Eric Dickerson, I see Jim Mora having a breakdown on TV.
Then I decided to look at Mannings teams.
1998 his first year 3-13, and his stats reflected a 3-13 team, every stat tied or was the worst of his career.
1999 13-3, 11 wins in a row, won the AFC East, First round Bye, hosted and lost to the eventual AFC champs (Titans).
2000 10-6, first round playoff loss at Miami (had a 14-0 lead, lost 23-18 in OT)
2001 6-10. The end of the "Mora Era" or should we say "Plaaaaaaaayoffs? you're talking Plaaaaaaaaaaaaaayoffs?".
2002 10-6, lost to the Jets 41-0 in the first round.
2003 12-4, Crushed Denver round #1 41-10, Beat Kc in a shoot out 38-31 (in KC!) lost in NE 24-14
2004 12-4, Beat Denver round #1, lost in NE 20-3 rnd #2.
Dunno, doesn't seem like those teams were that bad.
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The quality of the team isn't reflected by the record. With the best QB in the NFL, he will win some games for you. Just like Bettis, Faulk, Jamal Lewis, Corey Dillon, LT, Priest Holmes, they will win games for you. Granted, they won't win all the games for you, but they will keep you in the game, and give you the chance to win.
But then you reach the playoffs, and face the best teams at the most important time of the year, and that's the time that separates the good TEAMS, from the teams with good PLAYERS. And that is when the Colts machine is dissected, and shown for what it truly is: Not a great team, just has enough weapons to overcome all of its shortcomings all season until it matters (playoffs).
So like I said, we'll never know. If Manning had a better defense, he probably would be in a position to win more games.