Issue #190 – Not Stover ‘Til It’s Stover

thehorseshoe | November 25, 2009 in Issues | Comments (0)

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Week 11: Colts 17 Ravens 15
Haiku Count: 1439
Despite 5 field goals,
Not Stover, ’til it’s Stover.
Ex-Raven wins game.
One catch with one hand
Sends Dallas Clark past Mackey,
Colts greatest tight end.
Brackett’s game-changer
fake blitz, drop into cov’rage
for interception.
Turnover trouble
Errant passes and fumble
Force D to step up.
Week 12: Colts vs Texans
Are cowpokes snakebit?
One win after fifteen tries.
Odds say they are due.
With game on line, will
Texans trust kicker, avoid
Wide left trifecta?
Division title,
Unblemished record at stake.
No letdown in sight.
First game mismatch meant
40 pass quick snap attack.
Now, dare Colts to run.

Issue #189 – The Boston Blunder

thehorseshoe | November 18, 2009 in Issues | Comments (0)

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Week 10: Colts 35 Patriots 34
Haiku Count: 1431
Angry football gods
Punish Patriot hubris
with classic comeback.
Intimidation
tables turned on Patriots
Intimidated
Like burning field turf
Pats show flashes of brilliance
Flame out in the end
Fearing Manning’s arm
Pat’s coach acts with heart not head.
The Boston Blunder
Young players picked on
Mistakes lead to second chance
Composure regained.
Despite high score
game should have been out of reach
Defense never quits.
Players won’t say it.
Some games define a season
This will be the one.
Single coverage
Reggie fakes fade, runs the slant
Epic comeback catch
Week 11: Colts vs Ravens

Issue #188 – Channeling Norwood

thehorseshoe | November 11, 2009 in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

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Week 9: Colts 20 Texans 17 Haiku Count: 1423
Missing 3 DBs
Rookies asked to learn on job
and they deliver!
So much for pitch count.
Forty first half pass attempts!
Jello-armed Manning
Red flag at goalline
Powers hops in bounds, grabs ball.
Touchback at twenty.
Channeling Norwood
Clutch kick pushed wide left by Brown
Team of cows; one goat.
Week 10: Colts vs Patriots
Both teams once doormats
Now nation tunes in to see
Football’s best rivals.
If anyone can,
Brady will expose defense
Inexperience.
Gone are the days of
Pats intimidation. fear
Colts know they can win.
Super Bowl redux?
Freeney, Mathis storm the gates
Footsteps of Giants.

Issue #187 – Gadget Lust

thehorseshoe | November 4, 2009 in Issues | Comments (0)

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Week 8: Colts 18 Niners 14
Haiku Count: 1415
When is stretch not stretch?
When Addai hurls ball skyward
Wayne lays out for score!
Gashed and Gored early
Defense stiffens, gives offense
time to get on track.
Forget iPhone,
Colts gadget lust takes new form
Halfback option pass.
Niners plan: take out
short, mid-routes; leave Colts big plays.
Gamble nearly worked.
Week 9: Colts vs Texans
Perfect record, bah!
Texans can close the gap with
Two November wins.
Bright, clear Autumn day
Open roof gives new excuse
Sun was in my eyes.
Swine flu? That’s nothing.
Houston backs suffer from case
of fumble-itis.
Two stats intertwined
The less Colts run per carry,
the more Manning’s sacked.

Issue #186 – Tale of Two Donuts

thehorseshoe | October 28, 2009 in Issues | Comments (0)

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Week 7: Colts 42 Rams 6
Haiku Count: 1407
Tale of two donuts
Winless and unbeaten clash
Both Os unblemished
Home away from dome
Horseshoe faithful saddle up
and travel with team.
A decade ago,
Team played down to opponent
Trap game: thing of past.
Fifteen and counting
Wins pile up during season
Playoffs not so much.
Week 8: Colts vs Niners
First round QB Smith
First start versus Colts – ‘05
Second chance – ‘09.
Game-time decisions
Tweaked shoulder and a pulled groin
keep Brown, Wayne from field?
Halloween spirit
No, Niners don’t wear costumes
But bring their own Gore.
If game was stare-off
Colts wither under his gaze
Coach Singletary

Issue #185 – Trampled by Blue Herd

thehorseshoe | October 14, 2009 in Issues | Comments (0)

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Week 5: Colts 31 Titans 9
Haiku Count: 1399
Mighty have fallen
Winless division rivals
trampled by blue herd.
Musical wideouts
Waiter, dog, stately manor.
Manning finds them all.
Opportunistic
Aggresive but in control
Coyer’s calling card.
Now past Frantic Fran
Only two have more touchdowns
Marino, Favre.
Week 5: BYE
No team can plan for
the best case scenario
Still room to improve.
Bye week, D-line gashed?
Ed Johnson released? Again?
Run D up in smoke?
With Adam hobbled
Colts audition Matt Stover.
Vandy’s number lost.
Rest up, you ponies
Fifteen gruelling weeks stand
‘Tween team and trophy!

Issue #184 – Sunday, He Breathes Fire

thehorseshoe | October 7, 2009 in Issues | Comments (0)

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Week 4: Colts 34 Seahawks 17
Haiku Count: 1391
Bane to quarterbacks,
Robert Mathis rips ball free
on half of his sacks.
When thrown his first bone
Collie dives like frisbee dog
Over shoulder score!
Out for season?
Freeney quaffs healing potion
Sunday, he breathes fire.
Edge returns a foe
But met with hero’s welcome.
Standing ovation.
Week 5: Colts vs Titans
Four weeks without win
Beware the wounded rival.
Season slips away.
True test of progress
After Dolphin debacle
Can Colts stop Slash, Dash?
Volunteer spirit
Backups step up; Defense depth
Powers plays like vet.
Tennessee two-step.
Manning steps up in pocket,
finds the open man.

Issue #183 – Cue The Tweetie Birds

thehorseshoe | September 30, 2009 in Issues | Comments (0)

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Week 3: Colts 31 Cardinals 10
Haiku Count: 1383
Pigskin punditry.
The real Spin Doctor wears blue.
QBs in crossfire.
Colt public option
Ball shared among receivers
Manning spreads the wealth
Cue the Tweetie birds
Warner asked his name after game
He replies: Nancy.
On one. “HUT!” Snap. Ball.
5 steps. Eyes downfield. Throw now.
One hand. Pylon. Score!
Week 4: Colts vs Seahawks
Wounded far-West foe
Ought not be taken lightly
Early season trap
Mora & Caldwell,
Heirs to coaching royalty,
Holmgren & Dungy.
Expectations high
Missing his mouthy counterpart
Colts double TJ
Seattle’s game plan:
Switch uniforms at half time.
Blind them with lime green!

Issue #182 – Clock Bends To His Will

thehorseshoe | September 23, 2009 in Issues | Comments (0)

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Week 2: Colts 27 Dolphins 24
Haiku Count: 1375
Manning, the Time Lord
Dolphins, Daleks can’t stop him
Clock bends to his will.
Snap fingers two times
Garcon serves winning entree
Bubble screen surprise.
Colts add beef to line
Wider does not mean smarter
Gashed, thrashed by Wildcat
Unitas would love
Modern-day field general
Leading late game charge.
Week 3: Colts vs Cardinals
If Cards were watching
Warner should save throwing arm
Hand off left, then right.
Doormat to diva.
Super Bowl year fluke for Cards?
As I see it, yes.
To keep defense fresh
Ponies must run more, pass less
Tired legs make mistakes
Depleted DBs
Sanders, Jackson, Powers out.
Fitz must be drooling.

Issue #181: Gonzo, But Not Forgotten

thehorseshoe | September 17, 2009 in Issues | Comments (0)

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Week 1: Colts 14  Jaguars 12 Haiku Count: 1367
First half, knee buckles
Gonzo, but not forgotten
Marvin on speed dial?
Early pick, fumble
O does just enough to win
Still kinks to work out
New coach makes bold choice:
Fourth & short, Caldwell says go.
Defense bails him out.
Pocket Hercules
Labors against broad-shouldered
Equestrian line.
Week 2: Colts vs Dolphins
Discipline, defense.
Tricksy aquatic mammals
Keep Wildcat as pet.
Key to ‘Fins success:
Lack of costly turnovers
Colts must force mistakes.
Running in tandem
Look for steady doses of
Joe Addai, Don Brown.
Site of past glory,
Colts hope to make two trips to
South Beach this year.
Submissions from Rex Stocklin
First win for new coach
Almost dashed by Scobee boot
Their chinny chin chin
Manning’s mid-season
Form fills this year with new hope
Of Super Bowl glow
Marvin we hardly
knew ye, bet retirement sucks
As memories Wayne
Defending the Colts
Former offense juggernaut
Not one-trick ponies
Jags fake injuries
To quash Horseshoe momentum
Tres unsportsmanlike