The old "Holy Trinity of the AFC"

by BigBlueShoe on Nov 12, 2009 2:00 PM EST in Opinion Comment 4 comments

More photos » Marcio Jose Sanchez - AP

Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Back in the day (about, oh, five years ago), the AFC had it's own "Holy Trinity." While other flash-in-the-pan teams would come and go (like the Jaguars, Jets, Chiefs, and Bengals), the "Holy Trinity of the AFC" would sally forth year after year, providing fans with a measured, seemingly assured cycle of winning and losing.

The "Trinity" went something like this:

The Patriots would always beat the Colts
The Colts would always beat the Broncos
The Broncos would always beat the Patriots

The "Trinity" was broken, somewhat, in 2005 when the Colts walked into Foxborough and crushed the Patriots by 20 points in a primetime game. Since then, Indy has gone 4-1 against the Patriots while the Broncos have not made the playoffs, where they last beat (drum roll for dramatic effect.............................) the Patriots.

Today, former Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Larry Coyer (the man behind the Broncos' impressive defensive play against the Patriots earlier this decade) is now coordinating the Colts defense. Josh McDaniels, former Patriots offensive whiz kid (pictured right), is the current head coach of the Broncos. He replaced longtime Broncos coach Mike Shanahan this off-season; the same Mike Shanahan who once used to consistently beat the Patriots even though they had Jake Plummer as their quarterback. Just a few weeks ago, new Broncos coach Josh McDaniels coached his team to a victory over (drum roll again...........................................) the Patriots!

Next thing you know, Bill Belichick will hire Mike Shanahan as a "Coaching Consultant," making this shifting of "Trinity" coaches a real cluster fu... er, mess. Maybe we'll see Tony Dungy hired as a "Defensive Consultant" in Denver.

Maybe flaming monkeys will shoot out of my butt.

Despite the coaching changes and shifts, in 2009 the Colts, Patriots, and Broncos are a combined 20-4. All three lead their respective divisions. Again, while other teams seemingly come and go, the Trinity seems to always be there.

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Comments

Denver has always scared me

For periods both prior and after the watershed moment for the Trinity you write about, the Broncos have pretty much owned the Patriots for stretches of time. Really, the game where the Patriots were able to stage a 4th quarter comeback (2003? 2004? Can’t remember) when Belichick instructed the team to take a safety to get better defensive positioning on the ensuing drive was the last win of consequence New England has had against them.

In many ways, I still think we owe our 1996-1997 Super Bowl run to the Jaguars, who walked into Mile High and upset the Broncos in the playoffs, setting up a visit to Foxborough for the AFC championship (after the Patriots knocked off the Steelers in a fog bowl). Those Broncos had demolished the Pats by 30+ in their regular season meeting that year.

by jctsai12 on Nov 12, 2009 2:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Chargers?

Chargers:Colts as Broncos:Patriots. A clearly inferior team that for one reason or another always seems to get the better of you. The Colts Super Bowl run was made possible by the Pats going into SD and sending the Bolts home early. Had Indy been forced to go to San Diego, I don’t think we bring the trophy home that year.

by invisibulman on Nov 12, 2009 2:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs