Jim Caldwell changed his script yesterday.
Rather than giving the usual perspective on Indianapolis’ next opponent, the Jets, the soft-spoken Colts coach actually took time to reflect on his team’s latest achievement — making the playoffs for an NFL record-tying ninth straight year despite a season of chaos.
“It shows, obviously, the great commitment and resolve our men had in some adverse situations,” Caldwell said one day after the Colts (10-6) clinched their seventh AFC South title in eight years.
Injuries left 17 players, ranging from All-Pro tight end Dallas Clark to 2007 NFL defensive player of the year Bob Sanders, on injured reserve. The running game struggled and the run defense couldn’t stop anyone until four weeks ago. Even Peyton Manning endured the worst slump of his 13-year pro career.
At least that was the perception.
“We never doubted ourselves,” safety Antoine Bethea said. “Coach Caldwell showed us the standings and said ‘If we win the rest of our games, it’s in our hands and we will be in the playoffs.’ ”
SAINTS-SEAHAWKS: Go ahead, knock Seattle’s NFC West title all you want. Plead and wish that the system was different and better teams would be rewarded for posting a winning record.
It’s not going to change the fact the Seahawks are in the playoffs and have a home game.
Is a 7-9 team worthy of the reward? Probably not. But they get a chance to prove they belong against the defending Super Bowl champion Saints on Saturday in the wild-card playoffs.
“We battled like crazy for this as did the other teams in our division as did the teams in other divisions so we’re the last guys standing here,” said Seattle coach Pete Carroll, whose team is champion of the weakest division in football and the first division titlist in league history with a sub-.500 record.
It doesn’t help that the defending champion Saints (11-5) must fly across two time zones to play on Saturday afternoon. The game is outdoors in January in the Pacific Northwest in front of a hostile crowd in one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL.
“When you play a Saturday game, there’s a quick turnaround, but that being said, we’re looking forward to the challenge,” Saints coach Sean Payton said.
PACKERS-EAGLES: Michael Vick thought the Eagles would’ve defeated the Packers in the season opener if he played the whole game.
He can prove it now.
Vick and the NFC East-champion Eagles (10-6) will host the Packers (10-6) in a wild-card game Sunday. It’s a rematch of Green Bay’s 27-20 win at Lincoln Financial Field in Week 1. Vick finished that game after Kevin Kolb sustained a concussion, nearly rallying Philadelphia from a 17-point deficit.
“We got Vick as the starting quarterback now,” Eagles defensive end Juqua Parker said. “So, it may be a different story.”
RAVENS-CHIEFS: Expect injured free safety Ed Reed and offensive tackle Michael Oher to play in Baltimore’s wild-card playoff game Sunday at Kansas City.
Reed, who had two picks in the Ravens’ 13-7 finale win over the Bengals, hurt his ribs and Oher sprained his right knee during the game. Coach John Harbaugh said Reed should be ready and Oher is expected to practice.
