Caldwell's Gaffe Cost the Colts

Despite the fact that the Colts were fortunate just to make the playoffs this year, it is always surprising to see a Peyton Manning led team bow out of the playoffs early. The script seemed a little strange, as you got the impression that Adam Vinatieri's 50 yard boot with fifty-three seconds left on the clock was supposed to add to his collection of late game heroics and provide Peyton Manning with another game winning drive. But, coach Jim Caldwell's brain fart - calling a timeout on the Jets final drive with 36 seconds left and the ball on the Indianapolis 34 yard line - cost the Colts the game.

I have no idea what he could possibly have been thinking calling a timeout at that point in the game. Did he confuse Mark Sanchez for Joe Namath? Caldwell explained after the game that he wanted to make sure that the Jets couldn't take the clock down, forcing the Jets to snap the ball as many times as they could. But, his logic doesn't make much sense. Simply put, you cannot give a second year quarterback more time to collect his thoughts on a game's final drive, and more time for his offensive coordinator to devise a series of plays. The clock was working in the Colts favor at that point in game until Caldwell decided to help out the Jets offense.

If you still think that Caldwell's decision was not that questionable, just take a look at the reaction of Peyton Manning on the sidelines.  He was as dumbfounded by his head coach's decision to call a timeout as the 63,000 fans in Lucas Oil Stadium and the announcers, Phil Simms and Jim Nantz, in the booth.  Caldwell's poor timeout call capped off a night in which he was out-coached by Rex Ryan on the opposite sidelines.  Rex Ryan's defense was playing a cat and mouse game all evening with Peyton Manning. The Jets were putting only 5 men in the box on third down, especially in the second half, forcing Peyton Manning to audible to a run play. The Colts had a 3rd and 9 in the third period and ran the ball with Joseph Addai, as a result of the Jets showing a light box with Eric Smith brought down from his safety position. The Colts also had a 3rd and 7 in the fourth period and Peyton decided to run the ball with Dominic Rhodes.  Any time that the Colts decided to run the ball instead of pass it was a mini victory for the Jets within the game. Now, the Jets will go from facing one hall of fame quarterback last week to another one this week in Foxboro.