re: Did we just witness the STUPIDEST play in NFL history? (NOW WITH GIFS!)

I think they lined up the right side of the line a few yards off of the line of scrimmage on purpose, hoping that the Patriots defenders would step up to the newly established not-line-of-scrimmage. However, if the defenders did this and the Colts snapped the ball then they still would have received the illegal formation penalty, so I think they were trying to draw encroachment.

But obviously, that did not happen. In that situation I think the coaches were planning on them never snapping the ball and taking the delay of game penalty. A throw-back to McAfee and then a punt from the sideline wasn't out of the question, but it would have made a lot more sense for Whalen and Colt Anderson to lineup in shotgun to do that, plus you still have the issue of the formation being illegal.