 |
| NFL Columns |
|
| Search |
|
|
|
|
| Draft Sim ID |
|
| Andrew Perna. 4th December, 2011 - 10:18 pm
 The Indianapolis Colts are still winless, but if moral victories count for anything at this point in the season, one was earned on Sunday afternoon at the New England Patriots.
After an Adam Vinatieri field goal less than a minute into the second quarter, the Colts were tied 3-3 with the heavily-favored Patriots, but the wheels soon came off. New England scored four consecutive touchdowns over less than 15 minutes of game time to take a commanding 31-3 lead.
Staring down another lopsided loss, the Colts refused to close up shop -- neither did Tom Brady who showed his frustration on the field following a failed third down conversion in the final period and with the lead still insurmountable.
With Dan Orlovsky starting for the Colts for the first time, Indianapolis scored touchdowns on three of their final four possessions to come within an onside kick of an interesting final 30 seconds. Orlovsky wasn't just effective with the game out of reach either, for the afternoon he went 30-for-37 with 353 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
The 24 points scored by the Colts tied their highest output of the season, which previously came on Oct. 9 against the Chiefs at home. Curtis Painter, who Orlovsky replaced, started that game and the defense collapsed down the stretch after Indianapolis built a 24-7 lead with just a minute or so left in the first half.
So should the Colts have replaced Painter with Orlovsky earlier?
It took a while for the promise and patience surrounding Painter to wear off because the Colts believed they had at least an average quarterback in the third-year professional. Rumblings for a change only began following the Nov. 13 loss to Jacksonville because with a weekend off before facing Carolina last Sunday Orlovsky would have had two weeks to prepare as the starter.
Instead, coach Jim Caldwell made the change less than a week before traveling to Foxborough to face Tom Brady and the rival Patriots. The move came after a 27-19 loss to the Panthers in which Painter was just 15-for-29 with two interceptions. He also fumbled (a teammate recovered).
The sample size for Orlovsky is still small -- he had a few cameo appearances and New England has an especially porous pass defense -- but he looked very good on Sunday afternoon.
About a third of his yards came in garbage time with the game already decided, but the Colts have been playing from behind all season. Painter had the same opportunity to rack up meaningless numbers with defenses playing conservatively late in games.
Painter didn't have a 300-yard effort in his eight starts and Kerry Collins failed to do so in his three starts prior to suffering a career-ending concussion.
Through nine games, including a relief appearance in Week 3, Painter completed 54.3% of his passes, averaged 6.34 yards per attempt and a 66.6 quarterback rating. Orlovsky has completed 75.8% of his passes this season (58 attempts), averaged 8.18 yards per attempt and has a 103.8 rating in limited time.
Of course, it is important to look at these numbers in context.
New England entered Week 13 with the worst pass defense in the NFL, allowing 307.5 yards per game. Opposing quarterbacks have also completed 62.5% of their passes (25th), averaged 7.9 yards per attempt (27th) and an 84.1 QB rating (19th).
Did Orlovsky feast on a weak and injury-depleted secondary? Yes.
Were the Patriots sitting back in the fourth quarter to prevent a quick strike? Yes.
Could Painter have put together the game Orlovsky did at Gillette? No.
Orlovsky wasn't just accurate; he was hitting his receivers in stride and putting the ball where only his teammates could catch it. His interception came on an amazing grab by linebacker Jerod Mayo that easily could have been a harmless incompletion.
He threw confidently over the top, towards the sideline, in the flat and over the middle despite the fact that he hadn't started a game since 2008.
Here is a look at how quarterbacks have fared against New England this season:
W1: Chad Henne, Miami – 416 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT and 61.2%
W2: Philip Rivers, San Diego – 378 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs and 72.5%
W3: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo – 369 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs and 67.5%
W4: Jason Campbell, Oakland – 344 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs and 64.1%
W5: Mark Sanchez, N.Y. Jets – 166 yards, 2 TDs and 61.5%
W6: Tony Romo, Dallas – 317 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT and 51.2%
W7: Bye
W8: Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh – 365 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT and 72%
W9: Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants – 250 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT and 51.2%
W10: Sanchez, N.Y. Jets – 306 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs and 51.2%
W11: Tyler Palko, Kansas City – 230 yards, 3 INT and 64.8%
W12: Vince Young, Philadelphia – 400 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT and 54.1%
W13: Orlovsky, Indianapolis – 353 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT and 81%
When you put the whole package together, Orlovsky's effort is among the best against the Patriots in 2011. Young had more yards, but was erratic and accounted for just one touchdown. Rivers and Fitzpatrick had just a few more yards, but each threw a pair of interceptions. Henne also had Orlovsky beat in terms of yardage, but the UConn alum completed 20% more of his passes.
You could make the argument that Roethlisberger had the best game of an opposing quarterback this season, if only because his team came out on top, but Orlovsky has to be in the conversation.
Putting up big numbers in a closer-than-expected loss to a poor defensive team is one thing; winning a game is another.
With that said, Dan Orlovsky clearly gives the Colts a better chance of avoiding an 0-16 season than Curtis Painter did. |
