For the 13th time in the last 10 years the Indianapolis Colts will meet the New England Patriots. Peyton Manning has a losing record against only two teams in the NFL. Probably to no one’s surprise the Patriots are one of those teams. Last year’s matchup was an epic Sunday night battle that the Colts won in Lucas Oil Stadium 35-34. That game is remembered mostly for Bill Belichick going for the fourth down conversion on his own 28 with the lead and 2:08 left.
Will Tom Brady win #25 in a row in his house?
This year’s Colts team has suffered a lot of injuries, particularly on offense. They’ve fought through the loss of some key players and have an excellent 6-3 record. The good news for them is that it looks like they’ll be getting Joseph Addai and Austin Collie back for Sunday’s game.
The Patriots are coming off a curious couple of weeks. They were throttled by the Browns in Cleveland, while giving up massive yardage on the ground. Then they came out last Sunday night and dominated the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Tom Brady will be playing to tie Brett Favre’s record of 25 consecutive home victories.
The Colts win if: They can slow down the Patriots running game. The Colts are 29th in the NFL against the rush and you know how Belichick likes to exploit weaknesses. The Colts will have to sure up their run defense to beat New England.
The Patriots win if: They can keep the Colts passing game in check. Injuries may have hindered some of the Indianapolis explosiveness, but New England’s young defense is ranked 30th in the NFL against the pass.
Who do I like: Patriots 34-30
Why: This should be a real shootout. I don’t like either defense to stop the opposing offense for any length of time. Ultimately, I think the Patriots will rely on more healthy weapons on offense, a better playmaking defense and the home field advantage to get the victory.
How do you see this game playing out? Will my Pats pick come through or do you see the Colts pulling it out on rival turf? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Photo source: cho_kettie
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