Now that it is a few days since the events of NFL Conference Championship Sunday, a sober look can and must be taken at the two losers. The Green Bay Packers lost in a heartbreaker to the Seahawks and the Indianapolis Colts got embarrassed by the Patriots 45-7. Looking at Twitter, Facebook or any other media, there have been analysts and fans alike running their mouths about who should have done what and now who should be fired. While some legitimate arguments need to be brought up about such topics, now is the proper time to actually look at each team’s season and actually assess how the 2014 season should be remembered, apart from the shoddy performances of last weekend.
The Indianapolis Colts: A Bit Better Each Year
The Colts did not show up in the conference game. There is no other way to put it. All comments aside about “deflated balls”, they did not perform to the level of their capabilities, on an individual basis and as a team. But the fact of the matter is, their 2014 season was an improvement over their 2013 season, in more ways than one. Despite complaints about their defense, the Colts fielded the 11th ranked defense in terms of yards per game in 2014, down from 20th in 2013.
On the offensive side of the ball, Andrew Luck is coming into his own and developing great chemistry with his receivers. His yearly sack total was down yet again (from 41 as a rookie, 32 in 2013) to 27 in 2014. His problem however, was interceptions and fumbles. He threw 16 picks and fumbled the ball 13 times. While these are irritating things to deal with from a quarterback, he also threw 40 touchdown passes in 2014. Furthermore, the team went 11-5. They’ve gone 11-5 each of the last three seasons. Each season they have gone one round further in the playoffs. In 2014, they did this without one of the leagues leading pass rushers, who has made the Pro Bowl each year since 2008 with two All-Pro selections. That’s right, Robert Mathis was out all season with a torn Achilles. He led the league in 2013 with 19.5 sacks, and in 2014 the Colts made it to the AFC Championship. It was great season and had Mathis played, they would have quite possibly achieved success higher than 11-5 due to his pressure off the edge.
Green Bay Packers: That Defense is Almost There
After a very disappointing start to the season (if they had lost a close game they ultimately won to the Jets, it would have been an 0-3 start) the Packers turned everything around and finished 12-4 winning the division. Their defense looked sluggish in the early weeks and their rushing game didn’t exist until the season was a third over. Once the offense started clicking, they were the best in the league. The Pack were first overall in points per game and sixth in yards. In 2013 they were 25th in yards given up per game and 24th in points per game. These numbers were both down in 2014 at 15th and 13th respectively. Finally, for those who missed the season, Green Bay led the league in turnover differential, at plus 14. Much of this was due to Aaron Rodgers’ nearly non-existent interception rate and a defense that recovered fumbles and picked off quarterbacks 18 times.
The offense too struggled out of the gate, with Lacy not getting into his rhythm until week five. Aaron Rodgers and his receivers had a few off-weeks in the beginning of the season, but Davante Adams stepped up in replacement of injured Jarrett Boykin, gradually securing his role as a solid third option.
Their disastrous end in the Conference Championship was just that; a disaster, but overall, the season was a success. For the most part they remained healthy (enough to play at least) and they were four minutes away from embarrassing the Seahawks and going to the Super Bowl. Obviously it means nothing now and people can go over the tapes until they are blue in the face shouting about things Brandon Bostick, Morgan Burnett and the entire defense could have done differently. But looking back on the season, the defense made important stops throughout and deserves as much credit for the team’s success as the offense. The biggest criticism of the team (and they all deserve criticism, coaches too) is that they played 56 minutes of a 60 minute game. On the defensive end of the ball in particular, that will come with experience, as several players in defense are still young and will take another year or two to mature.
An article like this is undoubtedly bittersweet to write as it is to read, but NFL fans need to recognize that despite Indy’s play throughout the entirety of the AFC game, and Green Bay’s brutal self destruction at the end of the NFC game, these teams played well throughout their respective seasons and fans should be excited for 2015.
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