Indianapolis Colts Bracing For Conference Final

NFL News - January 17th, 2010 - Written by John

Upon dismantling the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the NFL playoffs, Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell said he didn't care who was up next.

"Whoever it is, we know it's going to be a challenge and we have to step it up another notch," Caldwell told ESPN after the game.

He likely meant it because, frankly, it doesn't matter. No matter who emerges from the San Diego Chargers-New York Jets game in the divisional round finale, there will be an unsavory build up that the Colts could likely do without. It will either be the league's no. 1 defense (New York) or no. 5 offense (San Diego).

After all, if the Jets even make it that far and stun the second-seeded Chargers, Indianapolis will only have itself to blame. Strike that. Caldwell to blame.

After all, it was Caldwell's decision to take Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark out early in their Week 16 meeting. And that decision turned a two-point New York deficit into a 14-point victory that pointed the way to the postseason. The Jets went on to win the following week against a thinned Cincinnati Bengals team which was also prepping for a safe arrival to the playoffs.

What fans were initially upset about was the fact that the Colts essentially forfeited their chance to make history with a perfect 2009 NFL season, but their future cries may be something different altogether.

New York's defense hasn't allowed more than 15 points in any game since Nov. 22, and have allowed only eight passing touchdowns all season. The Colts looked pretty good in their 20-3 win over the Ravens. But Manning was knocked around a bit, and certainly benefited from four Baltimore turnovers. He was picked off by Ed Reed twice, but was punished on neither. Reed fumbled during the return of the first, and a pass interference penalty negated the second.

If Indianapolis is so fortunate as to avoid the Jets, still looming would be the San Diego Chargers, who eliminated the Colts in the last two postseasons.

Philip Rivers is 3-1 against Manning over the last four, and broke his 13-0 start back in 2005. Indianapolis is 15-0 in games that Manning finishes, so the perfect streak is still technically intact.

But the Colts were able to shake some ugly streaks last week. Manning was 0-3 in playoff games after a bye, which makes Caldwell's decision to save his starters look all-the-better, and Indianapolis hadn't won a playoff game since 2006. That was also the last time it made the conference championship.

Regardless, this will be the first time Manning has faced anyone other than the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship. Caldwell says he doesn't care who it is.

And that's the truth. Because one way or another, the Colts will have to shelve it's celebration for Saturday's win and focus on the unsavory news about more skids and bad streaks no matter who they play.