Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
So how good are the New England Patriots? And how good are the Indianapolis Colts?
Well, we shall see on Sunday night when the 6-2 Pats travel to face the 8-0 Colts in a showdown that every NFL fan is eagerly anticipating.
What's going to give? Plan on the defenses playing a gigantic factor in the outcome at Lucas Oil Stadium.
We all know that Peyton Manning and Tom Brady -- perhaps the two best quarterbacks (you could make a case for Drew Brees, too, but he doesn't have any Super Bowl rings) in the league right now -- will be chucking the ball every which way, but it's going to come down to which defense can deliver big plays, because I'm expecting some points to be put on the board in the best regular season battle, hands down, of the season.
If you love football, these are the games you wait for all week. And this one is almost here.
No doubt the Pats must be licking their chops -- especially Brady and wide receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker, and even tight end Benjamin Watson -- with the shot of facing three backups in the secondary since cornerbacks Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden and strong safety Bob Sanders are all out. In steps rookies Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacy to fill the void at corner.
I bet they've been wetting themselves all week long thinking about facing the Pats' receivers and tight ends. Good luck youngsters, you're going to need it. And that's why the Pats should expect a lot of Cover-2 from the Colts, trying to limit the big play Pats running right by the secondary. The Colts will want Brady to dink and dunk the ball down the field, hoping the Pats stall on scoring touchdowns by putting together lengthy drives instead of striking fast with Moss burning the secondary on long TDs.
And if Laurence Maroney can get the running game going, look out because the Pats will be virtually impossible to stop. But don't forget the Colts feast on rushing the passer with Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis using their great spin moves to beat offensive tackles and sack the quarterback. So the Pats better protect Brady, just like they did last week against the Dolphins.
And the Pats defense better be ready for a heavy dose of Manning. Everyone knows the Colts can't run the ball -- they average only 85.4 yards per game -- but running back Joseph Addai is a threat in the passing game with 34 catches and 2 scores.
But the major targets are Reggie Wayne on the outside and all-everything tight end Dallas Clark, who is Manning's binkie. Whenever the QB is in trouble, he's always looking for Clark over the middle. Clark might be a tight end, but he runs precision routes and most linebackers and safeties can't cover him.
So all eyes will be on New England safety Brandon McGowan, who has excelled in coverage all season. If McGowan can hold his own vs. Clark one-one-one, then it would allow the Pats to double Wayne on the outside at times. But if Clark is a handful, expect the Pats to pay extra attention to him.
Belichick always takes one weapon away in a game and it's got to be either Wayne or Clark. My guess is Clark this week.
It's basically going to be pick your poison vs. the Colts, just the Pats. While the Colts have Wayne and Clark to deal with, they've also got lesser known speedster wideouts Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon that have had big games this season, too.
I think the Colts have way too many weapons to keep down, but the Pats could give up yards but not TDs, just like the 49ers and Texans did the last couple of weeks.
You would think the Colts are primed for their first loss, but it's going to take a huge defensive effort from the Pats to sneak out a win and knock the Colts from the unbeaten.
Mind you, it won't be a blowout for either team, they are both too talented and know each other too well (it's the 10th meeting between the two teams in the last 7 years, including 3 playoff games).
But this is the chance for the Pats to avenge last year's 18-15 loss to the Colts.
I expect the Pats to pick on the Colts' secondary all night long, while the Colts do the same with mixed results (some field goals instead of TDs).
Brady outshines Manning on the road (Manning throws for more yards, however), but Maroney's late fourth-quarter TD is the difference.
Prediction: Patriots, 35-30
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