ESPN: Top-25 Teams of the Past 25 Years

[YDFL Commish]

I read the article and believe, like you, that the 2005 Colts were superior to the 2007 team.

Had the Colts gotten past the Steelers they would have easily won the Super Bowl that season. But...But...But...Nick Harper, Mike Doss and Vandy ruined that dream.

Yes, the O-Line had protection problems, and we didn't run Edge enough. I'm not convinced that's the reason we lost that game though.

[ChaosTheory]

Originally Posted by YDFL Commish

I read the article and believe, like you, that the 2005 Colts were superior to the 2007 team.

Had the Colts gotten past the Steelers they would have easily won the Super Bowl that season. But...But...But...Nick Harper, Mike Doss and Vandy ruined that dream.

Yes, the O-Line had protection problems, and we didn't run Edge enough. I'm not convinced that's the reason we lost that game though.

And what were they, like three weeks removed from Dungy's tragedy? Obviously that's beyond football-important. Can't help but wonder about the effect.

Also, bonus points to this guy for pointing out that the '06 Ravens defense was better than the '00 Ravens and '02 Bucs. That defense was ridiculous.

[IndyNorm]

I just scanned through the article to see who he had listed. Fully agree that the '05 Colts are the best Colts team from the past 25 years and the best Indy Colts team, and it's ridiculous that they weren't on his list.

The '07 team was really good early in the season, but by the time the playoffs rolled around we had so many injuries that we were a complete shell compared to earlier on.

You guys are forgetting the '03 team, which was 12-4 and went to the AFCC game. 2 of those losses were to the 2 teams that were in the SB: Carolina in OT and the Willie McGinest fake injury game vs. the Cheats. And unlike some other years we weren't embarrassed in our playoff loss despite the refs allowing the Cheats DBs to hold every single play for the entire game.

Anyway, for me it's '05 1st, '06 2nd by default (since they're the only Colts team that actually got the job done), then pretty much a toss up between '03, '04, '07, and '09.

[ChaosTheory]

Originally Posted by IndyNorm

You guys are forgetting the '03 team, which was 12-4 and went to the AFCC game. 2 of those losses were to the 2 teams that were in the SB: Carolina in OT and the Willie McGinest fake injury game vs. the Cheats. And unlike some other years we weren't embarrassed in our playoff loss despite the refs allowing the Cheats DBs to hold every single play for the entire game.

Yeah, that whole run of '03 through '09 were top teams in each of their respective seasons.

'03 was a fun playoff run, too. Second only to '06. They just had the baby versions on Wayne, Freeney, Mathis, Clark, etc... and Sanders wasn't around yet.

Later teams had stronger versions of those players, along with other improved units... so if I stacked them side-to-side, they're better versions of '03.

Still a great team and some of my favorite moments ever (Saints on SNF, Bucs comeback, Titans in wk 14), don't get me wrong.

[IndyNorm]

Originally Posted by ChaosTheory

Yeah, that whole run of '03 through '09 were top teams in each of their respective seasons.

'03 was a fun playoff run, too. Second only to '06. They just had the baby versions on Wayne, Freeney, Mathis, Clark, etc... and Sanders wasn't around yet.

Later teams had stronger versions of those players, along with other improved units... so if I stacked them side-to-side, they're better versions of '03.

Still a great team and some of my favorite moments ever (Saints on SNF, Bucs comeback, Titans in wk 14), don't get me wrong.

Maybe on paper the later teams were better, but I still think you're shortchanging the '03 team by not including them in the convo. Also they are one of only 3 teams from the Manning years that didn't completely shit the bed in the playoffs, so that should count for something.

[ChaosTheory]

Originally Posted by IndyNorm

Maybe on paper the later teams were better, but I still think you're shortchanging the '03 team by not including them in the convo. Also they are one of only 3 teams that didn't completely shit the bed in the playoffs, so that should count for something.

I might be, but that's not my intent. I love that team and, again, it's part of that crazy 7-year stretch.

But also, I think on-paper is kind of the point. If we were looking at "best seasons", I could put them over '07. But that's why the Giants aren't listed in the article and why the '07 Patriots are #1 and not like #5.

Also, more of a separate point because you mentioned shitting the bed in the playoffs... Does it bug anyone else that a bye-week doesn't count as a playoff win? And missing the playoffs doesn't count as a playoff loss.

That's how you end up with Eli Manning having an 8-3 playoff record.

[IndyNorm]

Originally Posted by ChaosTheory

I might be, but that's not my intent. I love that team and, again, it's part of that crazy 7-year stretch.

But also, I think on-paper is kind of the point. If we were looking at "best seasons", I could put them over '07. But that's why the Giants aren't listed in the article and why the '07 Patriots are #1 and not like #5.

There's no could about it. The '03 team without a doubt had a better season that '07.

After letting it stew for a couple of days I'm not really sure why the '07 would get that much love. They were great the first ~1/2 of the season, but once the injuries set in they were an average team at best w/ a super weak schedule. Losing at home in the playoffs to a Chargers team w/ Billy Volek at QB and w/out LT really should exclude them from any sort of best of list.

Also, more of a separate point because you mentioned shitting the bed in the playoffs... Does it bug anyone else that a bye-week doesn't count as a playoff win? And missing the playoffs doesn't count as a playoff loss.

Not really. Playoff record shows who played well when the stakes were the highest (or at least who was illegally videotaping their opponents).

That's how you end up with Eli Manning having an 8-3 playoff record.

Not sure why you're hating on Eli. Without him the Cheats would probably have won 8* Superbowls.

[CletusPyle]

Originally Posted by YDFL Commish

I read the article and believe, like you, that the 2005 Colts were superior to the 2007 team.

Had the Colts gotten past the Steelers they would have easily won the Super Bowl that season. But...But...But...Nick Harper, Mike Doss and Vandy ruined that dream.

Yes, the O-Line had protection problems, and we didn't run Edge enough. I'm not convinced that's the reason we lost that game though.

We lost because of Daniell Harper...also known as "The Hamilton County Butcher"!

[YDFL Commish]

Originally Posted by CletusPyle

We lost because of Daniell Harper...also known as "The Hamilton County Butcher"!

Yep, Harper may have been the slowest DB on the roster that day. Not only did he get stabbed in the leg the night before, but Mike Doss knocked him out of the game for a few series by injuring one of his legs with a helmet to his leg.

Doss also gave up the big gain to start the game to Heath Miller as well as the TD to either Miller or Randle El.

[apballin]

Originally Posted by YDFL Commish

Yep, Harper may have been the slowest DB on the roster that day. Not only did he get stabbed in the leg the night before, but Mike Doss knocked him out of the game for a few series by injuring one of his legs with a helmet to his leg.

Doss also gave up the big gain to start the game to Heath Miller as well as the TD to either Miller or Randle El.

Still pisses me off he didn’t pitch it to Bob Sanders