The Colts were supposed to blow this one wide open by the third quarter. They were supposed to send the RCA Dome out in style. Instead, the defending Super Bowl Champions got served a batch of humble pie by back-up quarterback Billy Volek when he snuck in the go-ahead touchdown with a little over four minutes remaining in the game. It assuredly wasn’t how Peyton Manning had envisioned the game going. It assuredly wasn’t how Norv Turner had envisioned the game going especially after losing LaDainian Tomlinson and Philip Rivers to injuries. In the end, however, it was that jumbled mess from San Diego who began packing their bags for New England, not the reigning Super Bowl Champs.

Give both teams some credit. Five lead changes in a game that was one of the finest I’ve watched all season. We had Marvin fumbling, Dallas stumbling, Rivers mumbo-jumbo-ing, and LT left wondering. Where was Bob Sanders? The Defensive Player of the Year was invisible on the field for most of the game with the exception of the injury he sustained. Where was Joseph Addai? 13 rushes for just 43 yards isn’t the kind of balance we are used to seeing from this Colts offense.

Don’t bother giving any credit to the referees. One of the more lopsided games I’ve ever seen called included a phantom holding penalty that negated an interception return for a touchdown and a pass interference call that wasn’t much beyond a tap of the receiver.  There was a point in this game where it appeared as if Norv Turner’s head might explode from screaming so much.

If yesterday’s game is any indication of how gritty this San Diego team will play next week versus the New England Undefeateds, then I think we are in for a good one. Even with the prospect of Rivers or LT not playing, this Chargers team looks like it has no fear. I’m not going to call them the Super Bolts just yet but maybe, just maybe, this team got it’s 2006 swagger back

Hosts: Sonny and Ryan

In this episode, Sonny and I discuss the point spreads of the four NFL games this weekend. In a weekend with such great matchups, why is each game carrying such a large point spread? We tackle that question and provide some key matchups to look at when assessing each game. All of this and more on the Sportable Spot.

 

 Sportable Spot Episode 38 [12:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Ottawa Senators faced basically a must win game against the Anaheim Ducks last night, and managed to come away with a victory. Entering the game, the Senators were down two games to none and did not look like a Stanley Cup Finals team. That all changed last night when the Senators pulled off an impressive 5-3 victory at home over the Ducks.

The Senators had to battle back despite being down by a goal on three different occasions. That is exactly what you need to see out of a team to assume they have any chance of winning the series. At home, the Senators were able to rally the fans behind them and make this comeback. They were spurred on by a cheap shot in the second period by defenseman Chris Pronger. Pronger attacked a Senators player, and after a cheap shot to the head which somehow wasn’t called a penalty, the Senators really came out for blood. There were a series of brawls and the hitting really stepped up. The Senators got a goal off what appeared to have been a kick in, but upon review the referees ruled it clean, and that’s good enough to get them a win.

The Senators will look to capitalize on their success and win their next game at home to even up the series. Before the year even began, a lot of people were crowning the Ducks the champions, and when the finals matchup was announced I think most people just assumed they would win. With a few more performances like last night, the Senators are going to make sure that doesn’t happen too easily.