Here’s what makes the Colts special this season, and this is is something a lot of national writers/media types miss: the utter confidence and assuredness that they will make the play to win the tight game. It manifested itself throughout the five-game streak in November when they rallied in an NFL-record five consecutive fourth quarters for victories, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen it as obvious as it was Sunday. The entire second half was a struggle — shoot, the Colts’ offense was as ineffective and befuddled from mid-way through the second quarter on as you’ll ever see it. But was there any doubt when they got the ball at their 20 with 9:44 remaining they were going to put together a drive?
* Speaking of that drive, was there a bigger play in the game than QB Peyton Manning throwing 23 yards to rookie WR Austin Collie on 3rd-and-10 from the 20? Collie continues to get better, and — like WR Pierre Garcon — he has recovered from a few midseason inconsistent games to show he’s potentially a solid long-term NFL receiver. Early thought: WR Anthony Gonzalez may or may not get healthy this season, but considering the improvement you can expect from Collie and Garcon in their second full seasons playing, will any team in the NFL have five better receivers next season than Reggie Wayne, Gonzalez, Collie, Garcon and Dallas Clark? That’s the Colts’ best five receiver of the Indianapolis era right now. Given them offseason to work with Manning and, well . . . wow.
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