Champions Post #1 (of 100??)

Here were the 5 keys to the game I memorialized in an e-mail to my Indiana homey's. The keys to the game and how I grade what the Colts did:

5) Get to Grossman. If you can sack him or knock him around a little, you are in his head.
-Not so well done early, but in the second half the hits were there and the slippery ball totally screwed with him.
Grade: C (Right outcome, wrong means. I meant sacks.)

4) Tie or win the turnover battle. And no pick 6s.
-Done and done. The rain was terrible and made both teams play worse than they probably would have normally.
Grade: A+ (Chicago = 3 fumbles and 2 picks, Colts 2 fumbles and 1 pick)

3) Stick with the run to keep them off balance. Otherwise the Colts willlook like they did 2 years ago against the Pats with a throw-happy offense.
-PERFECTLY executed men. Good planning
Grade: A+ (113 yards rushing by Rhodes, 77 by Addai [and 66 yards out of the backfield])

2) Contain Hester and minimize big returns. The defense CANNOT hold up and get lucky with those short field situations as they did the last two games. Either boot it through the endzone for a touchback or squib kick. Hester hates ground balls.
-I was almost worried after that opening kickoff. Certainly had a sick feeling in my stomach. Then I remembered OSU/Florida. I'm just sayin...
Grade: B/B+ (WHOSE IDEA WAS IT TO KICK TO HIM ON THE FIRST KICKOFF?!?! HE'S FIRED. Thereafter? A+. Good squibs.)

1) Defense, defense, defense. We have to contain the run as we did NOT do for 16 games but HAVE done for the last 2. If we can keep the run game contained or minimized, see 5) above.
-Done and doner. Only 111 yards total. Compared to the 173 average all season? That is stellar. And I said CONTAIN them, not dominate them. Make Sexy Rexy (a Hoosier... sorry bra) throw and screw up. Well done.
Grade: A+ (Colts know what they were going to do and played it well)

CHAMPS!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

More to come later.