Your School. Your Paper. Since 1936.

The Suffolk Journal

Your School. Your Paper. Since 1936.

The Suffolk Journal

Your School. Your Paper. Since 1936.

The Suffolk Journal

NFL Week Nine: Colts Win Emotional Game; Falcons Are Still Perfect

NFL+Week+Nine%3A+Colts+Win+Emotional+Game%3B+Falcons+Are+Still+Perfect

Roy Ben-Joseph  Journal Staff

Chuck Pagano has been coaching football, whether in college or NFL, for the last 28 years. He has held every possible defensive coaching position from linebackers coach to defensive line to secondary all the way to defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens. But never has he held a head coaching job.

In 2012 Pagano’s luck has changed, the banged-up Indianapolis Colts hired Pagano for the shining head coach position. The Colts had the worst record in the NFL in the 2011 season, finishing 2-14 after 11 consecutive years of being one of the top teams in football, being led by future Hall of Fame Quarterback Peyton Manning. The 36 year old Manning had to sit out the entire 2011 season due to four neck surgeries and in just one year the Colts went from a winning team to the worst team in football. That is how deep the effect of Manning was on the franchise. Colts owner and GM Jim Irsay knew that there was no other way to improve the team other than rebuilding.

It all started by a decision that, according to Irsay, was the hardest decision he ever had to make in his life and that was letting Manning go to free agency where eventually one of the best quarterbacks of all time signed with the Denver Broncos. The Colts drafted Andrew Luck with the first overall pick in the 2012 draft and hired Pagano to rebuild the team from the basics.

After only two games as a head coach, tragedy struck the Pagano family and Colts nation. Pagano was diagnosed with an advanced stage of leukemia. Ever since his diagnosis he spent his days in the hospital in Indianapolis undergoing treatments of chemotherapy and his involvement with the team is minor. The players haven’t heard much from their head coach as of late, as Pagano is obviously focused on the most important mission of his life right now.

On Sunday night the Colts beat the Miami Dolphins 23-20 with Andrew Luck breaking the NFL rookie record for passing yards with 433. They improved to 5-3, already winning three more games than all of last season. But the big surprise was waiting for the players in the locker room. Coach Pagano, in his first public appearance since being hospitalized in September, was waiting for the team. Pagano was clearly looking weak and like someone who is fighting for his life, but for three minutes there was only faith and inspiration in the Colts locker room. Pagano spoke for a few minutes to the emotional Colts players. The tears were everywhere. Pagano promised that not only would he overcome his disease but also bring the Lombardi Trophy (Super Bowl) to Indianapolis. Pagano was very close to appearing in a Super Bowl for the first time in his life during the 2011 season. In the AFC championship game Pagano, then the Ravens defensive coordinator, lost to the New England Patriots on the last play of the game when kicker Billy Cundiff missed a game tying field goal with 11 seconds left in the game, which would have sent the game to overtime. Pagano, who finally fulfilled his dream to be a NFL head coach, is fighting for his life right now, and much more important than a Super Bowl victory, all the football world can only wish that the talented coach will overcome his disease and come back as soon as possible to stand on the Indianapolis Colts sidelines. It is those emotional and inspirational speeches such as Pagano’s that make us not take life for granted.

The other big story from Week 9 is the Atlanta Falcons, who are the only 8-0 team left in the NFL this year. Since the NFL extended to a 16 games season back in the 1970s, only one team has finished a perfect 16-0 regular season. The 2007 New-England Patriots swept the NFL regular season with a roster that was arguably the best team to ever play football. Featuring Tom Brady breaking numerous NFL records for QB’s including the unbelievable 50 TD passes in a season and Randy Moss breaking the TD reception record.

Right now the Falcons have a perfect record. Whether it carries on or not, it would be the future Hall of Famer TE Tony Gonzalez’s last chance for a Super Bowl berth. As for the rest of the NFC, Aaron Rodgers had another stellar performance, throwing for four TD and one INT in the Packers 31-17 victory over Arizona. The AFC North Pittsburgh Steelers dominated the NFC East leaders New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in a 24-20 victory, limiting QB Eli Manning to no TD’s, one INT and only 125 yards. With Pittsburgh getting better, the battle for the AFC seeding is getting more and more interesting.

 

Leave a Comment
More to Discover

Comments (0)

All The Suffolk Journal Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Activate Search
NFL Week Nine: Colts Win Emotional Game; Falcons Are Still Perfect