Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

2000 Week 17

What if the Jets don’t screw up a 14-0 lead in week 17 vs Baltimore? (Vinny doesn’t throw the momentum altering pick 6 before halftime)

Not only does NY make the playoffs and Indy’s out, but there’s a forgotten subplot-

a loss would have cost the Ravens homefield and instead would have faced the Broncos AT Denver in the last game ever at Mile High Stadium.

Meanwhile we would have gotten Jets at Dolphins Round 3, and that would have been a rematch of the Monday Night Miracle

Even in Denver the 2000 Ravens win that playoff game. Griese being healthy wouldnt have changed the result. That defense was gaining momentum, though the Titans had their chance the next week.

Not only does NY make the playoffs and Indy’s out

If this happens, Indy would have gone into 2002 with two straight missed playoff seasons, and Mora would be out as HC (replaced by Dungy).

In that 2002 season, the Colts played Denver on SNF ESPN in Week 12.

With 1:55 left, the Broncos were up 20-17, and had a 3rd and 5 on the Indy 40. They could have ran the ball and ran a lot of time down before punting. However, Shanahan makes one of the worst play calls ever. They throw an incomplete pass, and they have to punt from their own 40.

Indy gets the ball on their own 20 after a touchback, and Manning leads them to the Bronco 36, setting up a 54-yard Vanderjagt FG in the snow to send it into OT.

The Colts win the toss, and drive from their own 32 (after a kickoff return) to the Denver 35. Vanderjagt makes another 50+ FG, and the Colts win an important game 23-20.

However, what if Shanahan runs the ball like he should have (I think the Colts were out of time outs)?

The Broncos probably hold on and win. They end up 10-6, and the Colts end up 9-7, missing the playoffs for the third straight year (with a new coach).

Now, I don't think that the fifth-seed Broncos beat the Jets with Beuerlein at QB (or Griese, for that matter). So, Plummer is still on the way.

However, the Colts are entering 2003 with more pressure on their backs.

Now, they start 4-0, but they had to make a mega-comeback to beat the Bucs in Week 5 MNF. And, they only beat the Browns 9-6 in Week 1.

What if they lose both games, and still lose to the Panthers in OT in Week 6?

Instead of starting 5-1, they start 3-3. And, in reality, they only won two games by more than seven points (30-21 against the Texans in Week 8 and 38-7 over Atlanta in Week 15). They still may make the playoffs, but on the road, and they don't have the dominant wins that they had in reality.

Dungy would be on a hot seat, and it probably takes Peyton a lot longer to get his first ring.