18 Plays is back

I know you all missed our dulcet tones, so we have returned for one more season. We are back with 18 Plays (sort of) from the Colts/Bills thrillfest on Sunday. This will be the only preseason podcast we do, but we’ll return after the Bears game. As always, you can download the podcast directly from our podcast page (linked above), or subscribe via Itunes. If you need the XML feed, you can find it here.

By the way, we still have openings for both of our contests. The first is the free 18to88.com fantasy football league (which does award prizes). We have 1 or 3 more slots open. The draft is Saturday, and remember that we don’t allow Patriots or Jaguars players to be drafted or played. For details, email us.

The second is the “Most Important Wins in Colts History” contest. We are currently looking for readers to research and submit summaries of five games. If your summary is selected (assuming it’s accurate and spelled vaguely correctly it will be), you’ll win an official Super Bowl XLI program. Email us with your submission. The five games we need write-ups for are:

3. The Halloween Massacre- Colts 55 Broncos 23 October 31, 1988
The first MNF game in Indy
4. Colts 24 Bucs 6 December 27, 1987
The Colts clinch their first playoff birth in Indy
5. Colts 31 Broncos 10 AFC Playoffs January 4, 2003
First Colts home playoff win helped secure a new stadium
9. Colts 17 Steelers 16 October 21, 1984
One of the first home wins in Indianapolis. The Colts score 17 in the 4th quarter.
10. Colts 31 Vikings 10 December 24, 2000
A big win over a good team to secure a playoff spot

LINKS: FO looks at the over/unders on wins with their own particular wit. Someone wants to take the Colts for under 11 wins and the Jags for more than 10? Baaaad decision.

SI has their season preview out. They have the Pats beating the Colts in the AFC Championship game. The preview of the Colts focuses rightly on the defense. Three second-half TDs against the Chargers backups were inexcusable last year, and before all the injury craziness, I was convinced Freeney’s return would be the most important story. Now, it’s injuries to the O-line combined with Manning’s knee. If both were sound, I’d say we were golden. If either one is ok, the team will do very well. If both are bad…yikes.

Prisco picks the Colts in the South.

FoxSports.com lists the health of the Colts’ stars as the #2 issue that could derail a title. Yup. Hard to argue with that.

ESPN’s predictions are out. Here’s their breakdown of the Colts. Two ‘experts’ picked the Colts to win it all.

Mike and Mike take on the Colts.

ESPN the Mag breaks down the AFC South