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Like so many Hawks fans I'd hoped we'd be the team that would put an end to
the Colts perfect season. The Chargers beat us to it. Indy have already
clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs anyway so resting
starters is the norm when you're the best team in your Conference. This
keeps them fresh for the playoffs right? Well no apparently. Initially, I
thought this was solely to do with their perfect season coming to an end.
Far from it, as during a season when they have lost relatively few starters
the Colts are in the middle of an injury crisis. For proof check the Colts
updated injury list below:
Doubtful: DE Robert Mathis (foot) LB Cato June (Knee/Groin/Ankle). Questionable:
DT Corey Simon (Foot), DT Montae Reagor (knee), S Bob Sanders (back), S
Gerome Sapp (back) Probable: LB Rob Morris (Thigh), DE Josh Thomas
(Shoulder), QB Peyton Manning (knee), G Jake Scott (neck), K Mike Vanderjagt
(Right Calf/Groin), CB Nick Harper (Lower Leg).
Colts players currently on Injured Reserve:S Joseph Jefferson (knee) S
Brandon Lynch, DT Vincent Burns (knee), G Joaquin Gonzalez (Ankle), DE
Jonathan Welsh (ACL), CB Donald Strickland (Hamstring), LB Rocky Calmus (unspec),
WR Brad Pyatt (Shoulder), T Makoa Freitas (Foot), QB Travis Brown (unspec),
DE Nathaniel Adibi (Shoulder).
If the Colts are going to have the strongest possible team available for the
playoffs they have no choice, key players need rest. Two players identified
by Dungy were defensive linemen Corey Simon & Robert Mathis. Neither was
active for the Chargers game & expect them both to be rested again this
week.
Don't expect to see too much of Peyton Manning or Edgerrin James either. If
history is anything to go by then blinking could mean you don't see him at
all. Manning played just the opening drive in the season finale in Denver
last year. With so many injuries on the defensive side of the ball the last
thing they need is key players going down on Offense. Jim Sorgi will be
under Center with Dominic Rhodes at tailback for most of the game.
The
Hawks injury list is smaller but still contains several starters. Out are
Andre Dyson and Kelly Herndon. Listed as questionable are Chuck Darby, John
Howell and Darrell Jackson with Kevin Bentley down as probable. DJack is
something of a surprise as he wasn't listed on the injury report at all last
week but it may just be a tip of the hat to the fact that he ended up
playing longer than expected against the Titans as we came from behind late
on.
Foot off the Pedal?
If the Seahawks need motivating for this game then there are still two goals
left for them to accomplish. Victory over Indianapolis will not only assure
them of top seeding in the playoffs but will also set a new franchise record
for wins by eclipsing the existing 12-4 record of 1984.
Summary
The Seahawks are unbeaten at home in the 2005 season & will be keen to
sign off with a win. With games being won & lost in the trenches the
absence of both Simon & Mathis could prove critical as they face one of
the best offensive lines in Football.
Rhodes is a good RB & is very capable of giving the Hawks a hard time.
If his threat is nullified then it's down to Sorgi. He is an unknown in this
equation but he may fancy his chances against inexperienced CB Jordan
Babineaux. No matter how much potential Sorgi has the Colts O line will have
to do better in pass protection than they did last week. Although Sorgi has
never started a game he did play for almost the entire game in the Colts
final game of last season completing 16 of 25 passes for 168 yards, 2 TD's
and no interceptions in a 33-14 defeat at Denver.
Even if the Colts can generate some offense you would have to fancy Seattle
in a shootout. Regardless of who's under center the 12th man will do their
utmost to disrupt the visiting offense. Overall: Advantage Seahawks.
Matt
Cheesman (KingdomeUK)
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