PRO FOOTBALL — January 16

BALTIMORE at INDIANAPOLIS
AFC Divisional Playoff
(Colts -6, Total 44) — [private] The laydown in the final two games, particularly the one against the Jets, leaves considerable doubt in this reporter’s mind as to whether this Colts team, and specifically the coaching staff, has the moral courage to reach for greatness. That may not impact their ability to win this game against the Ravens, but you must keep in mind that when it comes to mental toughness, Baltimore has shown about as much as anyone over the last season-plus, winning three playoff games on the road. The great accomplishment against new England is that they did it despite just four completions on the past of Joe Flacco, who had the second-lowest yardage total of his young career. He’ll have to improve on that for the Ravens to win, but let’s not forget a clock-chewing running attack, featuring Willis McGahee and Pro Bowlers Ja’Ron McClain and Ray Rice, that seems designed to keep people like Peyton Manning off the field. Because Indy is not impenetrable against the run (4.3 ypc allowed) that is going to happen to a certain extent. Last time these teams met, Manning was picked off twice in a narrow 17-15 win. The Colts have won and covered six in a row in this series, with Baltimore scoring a total of 61 points, so it’s safe to say that the Indianapolis defensive staff knows how to deal with this group of personnel. That Colt running game has had just 150 yards in the last three games, and since Baltimore gives up just 3.4 ypc, that leaves Jim Caldwell’s team half-equipped.

THE PLAY: UNDER 44 ***

(All information is for news matter only; All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars. Lines are subject to change)
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