Super Bowl XLIV: Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser offers five first-quarter thoughts . . .

1. The Colts have controlled momentum early — and on both sides of the ball. They got 10 points in their early surge, and getting that touchdown at the end of the first quarter was important.

2. The Colts are controlling things and you don’t get the feeling Manning has completely figured out what the Saints are doing. That bodes well.

3. The Colts’ secondary looks very active, as does their entire defense.

4. Colts DE Dwight Freeney may not be 100 percent, but he has helped get some pressure early.

5. Colts RB Joseph Addai has been huge. Must be Miami Super Bowls.

Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser offers five halftime thoughts on the AFC Championship Game . . .

1. Few thought the Colts would feel fortunate to be down four points at halftime, but that’s the way it feels. Getting the Jets stopped early is critical.

2. The Colts have been productive late in the first half throughout the season. Getting that touchdown right before halftime drastically changes the dynamic of the second half.

3.  The Colts have found something with WR Austin Collie. It will be interesting to see if the Jets adjust.

4. You don’t figure the Jets will score a ton in the second half, which could give the Colts a chance. Then again, you didn’t figure they would get 17 in the first half, either.

5.  The Colts have been the NFL’s best come-from-behind team this season. That will be tough to duplicate against this Jets’ defense.

Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser offers five third-quarter thoughts on Indianapolis Colts-Baltimore Ravens . . .

1. The Colts are driving as the third quarter comes to an end. A score of any kind may clinch it.

2. The Colts continue to be very, very good against the run tonight. With Ravens QB Joe Flacco unable to get much going through the air, the Ravens have been one-dimensional.

3. A huge play by WR Pierre Garcon to force a fumble by Ravens S Ed Reed. Those are the momentum-changers that win playoff games.

4. The Colts haven’t had a 14-point lead in a playoff game since the Denver Wild Card game following the 2004 regular season.

5. This one’s not over yet, but it’s really, really close.

Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser offers five halftime thoughts on Indianapolis Colts-Baltimore Ravens . . .

1. The Colts scored twice in 1:57 at the end of the second half. Of such surges are playoff victories made.

2. Indianapolis felt in control of this game before the surge. It will be tough for Baltimore to overcome a 14-point lead.

3. Hard to tell if Ravens QB Joe Flacco is hurt. But through a half, he doesn’t look dangerous.

4. When the Colts know you’re going to run, they can usually control it.

5. Big-time decision to go for the touchdown at the end of the first half. But with the Colts’ offense and QB Peyton Manning, it also was sort of a no-brainer.

Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser offers five first-quarter thoughts on Indianapolis Colts-Baltimore Ravens . . .

1. This has the look of a low-scoring, tight game now. The Colts had a chance to break it open a bit early, but couldn’t score on a chance in Ravens territory and narrowly missed an interception/touchdown by S Antoine Bethea.

2. The Ravens are running effectively, but it doesn’t look like the Colts are incapable of controlling it. Stay tuned.

3. WR Austin Collie appears as if he’s going to be a huge factor in this game one way or the other.

4. The offside penalty on DE Dwight Freeney is exactly how playoff games stay close.

5. The Colts’ defense had a big stop to keep the Ravens out of the end zone. If this game is tight late, those are the kinds of stands that will be crucial.

Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser offers five third-quarter thoughts on Indianapolis Colts-Buffalo Bills . . .

1. The Colts’ momentum entering the postseason will be a constant topic in the coming two weeks. Tell me, how would playing starters in the snowy, slippery game done anything to alter the Colts’ momentum good or bad?

2. Colts DE Raheem Brock always plays hard no matter the circumstance.

3. The Colts will lose big Sunday on the scoreboad. They will win big because no one got hurt and they’ll rest for the postseason. All of the buzz and chatter aside, that’s what the priority was for the Colts late in the season.

4. Is this game over yet?

5. Some things are always amusing. Fans with no shirts in snowy NFL stadiums are among those things.

Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser offers five halftime thoughts on Indianapolis Colts-Buffalo Bills . . .

1. It’s hard to know exactly what anyone’s gaining from this.

2. As I’ve written before, this is the danger of extending the season to 17 or 18 games is more of these meaningless games than before. Even if the NFL makes teams play players — and I’m not sure how they can — teams can find ways to play to protect players and that will lead to uncompetitive situations.

3. This outcome has nothing to do with snow and weather and everything to do with who the Colts are playing.

4. QB Curtis Painter hasn’t looked great in the first half, but in this weather, that’s not a big concern.

5. The goal for the second half: stay warm and stay healthy.

Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser offers five first-quarter thoughts on Indianapolis Colts-Buffalo Bills . . .

1. These games are always just weird to watch. Little energy, weird strategy. Thank goodness for the snow.

2. With WR Wes Welker going down in New England, that’s a huge blow to fans and media lobbying for the league to require starters to play late in the season. Teams must be able to play who they want when they want late in the season. Does the league really want the Wes Welkers of the NFL out for the playoffs because they played in a meaningless game?

3. TE Dallas Clark and WR Reggie Wayne have reached the 100-reception mark. The Colts, as expected, force fed them balls early and will get them out of the game soon.

4. Considering the conditions, it would have been hard to justify the Colts playing starters extensively had they been unbeaten.

5. The teams scored 14 points in the first quarter. You wonder if they’ll match that in the final three.

Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser offers five third-quarter thoughts on Indianapolis Colts-New York Jets . . .

1. The Colts clearly had a plan to play the starters to a certain point in the third quarter. QB Peyton Manning and WR Reggie Wayne left the game with 5:36 remaining in the quarter.

2. One thing that will certainly be asked of Caldwell is, “Why play the starters for 40 minutes and not the final 20?”

3. Hard to imagine a more difficult situation for backup QB Curtis Painter. He held the ball a split second too long and gave up the go-ahead touchdown.

4. Give the Colts credit for sticking with their plan. They care little about outside criticism, but if they lose this game after losing a lead to miss a chance for an unbeaten season, they’ll be criticized loudly for a long time.

5. It’s striking how the momentum and energy left the building when Manning left the game.

5.