Mister Faded Glory

I’ve reposted my entire running diary from the Colts game, with my emotions running sky-high.

Ugh. 1:31 pm

Nothing you can do. I expected the Colts to be ready, I was wrong.

Manning looks awful, though I’ve always grudgingly maintained we live and die with him.
The defense is getting lit up on third down, though they’re not out of the game.

It’s Edge’s team. It always is. It always was. This can’t be over, but it’s nightmarish already.

How much? 2:16 pm

How much can we take? How much?

We saw this same game, in the same place, in 2000 against the Titans.

We saw this same game, in the Meadowlands, in 2003 against the Jets.

We saw this same game, in 2005, at New England.

And now here it is again. Manning looks awful. Everyone looks shocked.

There is nothing worse than being a great regular-season team. This isn’t limited to coaches, isn’t limited to quarterbacks, nothing. This will hurt worse than any defeat against New England. This is heartbreaking.

If any team can come back, down 18, it’s Indianapolis. But what confidence has the offense given any of us today? This hurts. This offense has been in a funk since San Diego. What’s transpiring now is unconscionable. The defense has held Pitt in check, actually, after two bad drives. The offense’s ineptitude cost the third touchdown.

I don’t know what to think. I’m standing on the ledge for the rest of this game. The window’s about to slam shut.

Running diary 2:22 pm

This is turning into a running diary because I don’t know what else to do. Apparently I’m shell-shocked as well.

Peyton decides to go for it on 4th and two from their own 35 with 20 seconds left in the third, even after the punt team ran on the field. Peyton is correct here — you’re down 21-3, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE?

It’s the right call, pass to Stokely. When is Indy going to realize the longer they stay in the huddle or at the line, Pitt brings a backer up to rush two onto Tarik Glenn? Either Clark or Fletch, Mungro or James is going to have to start staying in. This really is Peyton’s game. Gotta go.

4th quarter, gotta win 21-0. I can’t believe this team has devolved into this. Peaked too early, and the Steelers (who peaked too early last year) are finding their stride at the right time.

Let’s go, Colts. Let’s go.

THERE’S Peyton Manning. 2:25 pm

Now that’s it, step up in the pocket, deliver a strike, fuck the world.

Touchdown to Dallas Clark. No onside here, just a good kickoff.

WE GOTTA GO. Bring it defense, we gotta work.

Well 2:35 pm

What’s with the no-call? Can they not review this?

To go for it on fourth and short was right for us, and it’s right for them here
, but this is bizarre.
Replays show the OG flinched, but the Colts came across. So it’s chaos. Ridiculous. Play it again, I guess. We’ll take it. Go Colts.

TWO fourth down conversions 2:45 pm

And both were close. This is different coaching from Cowher than last season’s misuse against NE — and it looks good for the Steelers.

Still, the Colts have life. Not much. But they’ve gotta go, after a great stop on 3rd and 5 (Actually, THAT play call was rather poor.)

My hands are shaking. It feels like we’re close to a momentum change. But I don’t know. I’ll say this for Pittsburgh — this is the team they’ve expected to show up the entire year. And for us, well, I guess we’ll see what Peyton’s made of.

Although 2:48 pm

..the Steelers are playing the exact type of game the Colts wanted to deliver today — we’ve seen this Colts movie before, too.

During 2002-4 they routinely didn’t wake up until late at home — mounting frantic comebacks. Think Tampa on Monday night, New England in a 2003 loss, and San Diego in 2004.

Wayne finally breaks free to the 50. It’s the no-huddle, which we should always be in, anyway. Go.

And there it is. 2:49 pm

Pick by Manning. Ye gods.

How many times, Peyton?

How many times?

You know, Polamalu’s good. 2:52 pm

But the QB can’t make that throw right there. Not at all.

I shouldn’t put this all on Manning, of course not. The entire offense did a disappearing act. But, you cannot throw that football.

THANK YOU DEAR SWEET JESUS. 2:55 pm

I don’t know how the rulebook works there, I don’t know what exactly the right call is.

It sure looked like a pick, but I’m not going to complain.

The heart still beats. Still. Get going, Indy.

TOUCHDOWN EDGE 2:59 pm

Did Dan Dierdorf ever say this correctly, after a catch by Marvin Harrison (Hello!) …

“Perhaps the Colts are at their best when they’re reacting instead of thinking…”

Well put. Wayne to the 4. Edge scores. You gotta go for two here — Oh, thanks, Tarik Glenn, for the false start. Not your finest effort today.

WOW 3:01 pm

Manning to Wayne for two — what a catch. I’ve said before, in this space even, that Reggie Wayne may have the best hands in all of football.

How bad has the officiating been in this game? How have the Colts woken up?

My god, I’ve gone from plummeting off the ledge to jubilation. Only in America. Can they do it? Can they? Stop with the commercials, CBS!! GO COLTS!

The Innocent Criminal 3:07 pm
Nice play by Nick Harper to force a punt.

Troy Walters almost fumbles. Gehhh.

For what it’s worth, outcome be damned, at least they turned it on late. It’s proof, however, that you cannot — and the Colts should know this, five years running — cannot depend on yourselves to turn it on at command. Can’t do it.

But there’s two minutes to extend any sort of history. And also for what it’s worth, pundits will likely say Cowher went too conservative. I don’t think so — he’s pretty much called the game exactly as I would have, barring a couple of separate wrinkles. Wow. What a game.

Two minutes. 3:10 pm

For crying out loud, I’m absolutely beside myself. They show pressure over Glenn/Clark again, and Manning almost (a) gets sacked, or (b) forces a pick. Edge catches it, gains three, we’re to the two-minute warning.

Damn. 3:12 pm
That’s a complete failure by the O-Line. Complete.

The blitz doesn’t usually work. It worked here. THREE FUCKING TIMES.

Damn.

OH MY GOD OH MY GOD!!!! 3:14 pm

Fumble by Bettis! Wow, I was just getting ready to say the Colts needed to LET the Steelers score here, to get the ball back for a quickie and then an onside!

Now, Nick Harper returns the fumble to the Pitt 40! Holy shit!!!!!!! What a game by Harper, by the way.

Now I feel awful — 3:19 pm

Oh my god. He missed the kick. He missed the kick.

Oh my god.
They came back.

They did it all. And it’s the kicker.

My god.