Indy Invaded as Patriots Poised for Playoff Run

            Through 10 weeks in this NFL season, few teams have performed with the efficiency of the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots.  In the marquee match up of the Sunday lineup, New England will find itself in position to make a significant step toward favorable playoff position as they take on the unbeaten Colts in Lucas Oil Stadium. 

            Despite a couple of hiccups in the loss column this season, New England is a team that appears to get better and better with each passing week.  Unsure at the beginning of the season how quarterback Tom Brady would perform coming off an entire season off due to injury, the Patriots heard their answer loud and clear Sunday afternoon as Brady carried New England to a solid 27-17 win over the Miami Dolphins.  Coming into week 9, the pieces were in place for a New England let down; a week 8 bye week, their trouncing of opponents by a combined score of 94-7 to the inferior Bucs and Titans, a lack in production by star receiver Randy Moss.  However, throughout the contest, New England’s resiliency rang true, and Moss came alive, connecting with Brady for 147 yards, and a key third quarter touchdown and two point conversion that gave them a seven point advantage that the Patriots would not relinquish. 

            Meanwhile, In Indianapolis, all is right with the world.  At this point in the season it seems the Colts are the team of destiny, finding any way they can to win games, even if they need help from the opposition.  Down by three with one second on the clock, Houston Texans kicker Kris Brown pushed a 42-yard field goal attempt wide left, handing the Colts their 8th win of the season.  It was a historical day in Indy as quarterback Peyton Manning hung 318 passing yards on the Texans secondary, the 7th 300+ yard day for Manning this season, and the most 300+ yard games through the first eight games of any teams season in the history of the NFL.  As if that weren’t enough for the history books, the Colts also secured their 17th straight regular season win, tying the 1933-34 Chicago Bears for third most regular season victories in a row.  The only team with more consecutive regular season wins?  That would be the ’03-’04 (18 wins) and ’06-’08 (21 wins) New England Patriots.

            This match up will showcase what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.  New England has been firing on all cylinders thanks to Brady’s ability to rally from last season’s injury, and will need him to match up throw for throw with Manning for the Patriots to be able to steal one on the road.  However, the true test will be the rushing attack for both teams.  Laurence Maroney and Fred Taylor have been an effective combination for the Patriots, though they have only 5 touchdown runs between them, but the biggest spotlight will be on the Colts rushing threat Joseph Addai.  With 5 rushing touchdowns of his own, Addai has been a jack-of-all-trades, working his way into the passing game with 2 receiving touchdowns, and even having a touchdown pass on his highlight reel this season.  The Colts will live and die on Addai’s production, and with that being the case, I like the Colts marching on to 9-0 for the season, and setting the table for an epic AFC title game against the Patriots come January.

Final Score: 24-20 Colts