ClutchPoints
The Indianapolis Colts are flying high with Daniel Jones in the captain’s chair. Ditto for the New England Patriots. But there’s simply too much love being shown. So, stop gawking at the records because the Patriots, Colts, and Broncos have fatal flaws.
It’s not a good idea to base an opinion mainly on a team’s record. Disregard Bill Parcells because he wasn’t 100% right when he said, “You are what your record says you are.” If that were true, then they could simply award the Super Bowl to the team that finishes with the best record.
Look at last year. The Lions had the best record and didn’t win a playoff game. The Vikings were right there with them and suffered the same fate.
But at least in those instances, it was a full season of work. It was clear that the Eagles, Chiefs, and Bills were heavily in the mix for reaching the Super Bowl. And they all had good records.
The problem comes from anointing teams near the halfway mark when they have serious questions about their playoff viability.
The New England Patriots (8-2) have become the darlings of the AFC. There have been suggestions that the road to the Super Bowl runs through Foxborough.
It’s not that it doesn’t make sense. The Patriots are 8-2 and have the following remaining schedule: Jets, Bengals, Giants, Bills, Ravens, Jets, and Dolphins.
It’s not impossible to think they could get to 14-3. But it’s also possible they lose to the Bills and Ravens, and maybe they also fall victim to an upset.
The Patriots don’t have a grizzled veteran team with plenty of playoff experience. And the head coach hasn’t led a team to a playoff victory since 2019, according to Pro Football Reference. Mike Vrabel is 2-3 all-time in the playoffs in seven seasons as a head coach. And suddenly he’s going to guide a team to the promised land with a second-year quarterback and a questionable receiver room?
They’re also 8-2 and have a juggernaut offense. As long as they can hand the ball off to Jonathan Taylor, they’re in good shape, right?
But when Taylor has been slowed down, the Colts become vulnerable. That’s because they have a quarterback who has been shaky in games they’ve lost. Without Taylor running amok, Daniel Jones has struggled. In the two losses, he threw five of his seven interceptions on the season.
And what kind of playoff success can Jones bank on? He’s 1-1 in seven years in the NFL. And he’s going to get his team past one of the AFC standard bearers?
Plus, if the Colts make the playoffs, it will be Shane Steichen’s first game in the postseason as a head coach.
They have a coach who knows how to win in the playoffs. He has a career record of 9-9 and a Super Bowl title in...
