I'm convinced its Pats and Colts neck and neck to the end

[Ring 6]

Best record and homefield advantage will go down to the last game, or close to it.
These teams will meet in the AFCC, which still looks like the 'true' SB.

Advantages/Disadvantages

-Colts have the head to head game at home.
-Colts have beaten us in recent matchups
-Hard to say which offense is better. Pats are clearly better on D.
-The Colts seem to me to be more susceptible to being upset. Especially since their division plays them tough and our divsion is horrendous.
-We play a tougher schedule from here out.
-Neither teams seem to hurt much by injuries. I think the Pats have more depth, but Indy seems to plug holes better today than ever.

My prediction is that the head to head game will be decided by the offensive lines. Both offenses are scoring almost at will. Both offenses will need to run effectively to be at their best in this game. Both offenses would be stopped best by pressure on the QB. The OL that protects the QB best, and blocks best in the running game will win. (OF COURSE THEY ARE BLOCKING AGAINST DIFFERENT DEFENSES, SO THE PLAY OF DEFENSE IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT)

I think the head-to-head will ultimately decide home field advantage.
I think either team could win the AFCC on the road against the other but it will be very difficult to. I think who wins the reg season game will have zero impact on the AFCC except for whether it determines home field.

I think, other than the QB, both teams will survive any injuries they have and meet in the AFCC.

 

[BradyManny]

Indy continues to surprise me, and I agree about them "plugging holes" as good as ever.

To be honest, I thought they were the 3rd best team in the AFC last season when they won the Super Bowl and I thought they didn't get any better over the offseason.

But Manning is Manning, and as long as he's QB, I think they are likely to be contenders. I agree, it's us and them right now and Nov 4th is going to be very interesting and illuminating.

Why I give the edge to the Pats is that it seems we have our offense running at the same level of lethalness that they are accustomed to, and our defense is - by far - quite superior. Once Seymour is back and Harrison is acclimated, it's hard to envision anybody scoring a lot of points on us, even the Colts, and when you have an offense as good as ours, that's tough to beat. So if you are right and the game is won on the line of scrimmage (OL v DL), I clearly give the edge to the Pats.

 

[shmessy]

It is neck and neck right now, but here is where I'm feeling great about the Pats vis a vis the Colts:

Depth.

The Patriots have SCARY depth and battle tested second stringers (except for QB). The Colts? No.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Their backups aren't too shabby, it's only if they have to dig deeper that the depth issue will haunt them. 14 players without a pre 2007 NFL snap including 9 2007 draft picks on the roster. The keys for them will be keeping Sanders and Clark on the field. They can survive at least short term without Marvin or Addai if Clark is available.

Indy appears to have 3 potentially tough matchups remaining: NE at home, followed immediately by SD on the road (if the turnaround isn't an anomoly) and Baltimore. And they do have to deal with the JAGS twice yet and Vince one more time. We have Dallas, but if we get past them that just leaves Indy on the road, Pittsburgh here and Baltimore. Not sure Baltimore is that tough a matchup for either, either. And we have had Ben's number let alone on our turf. The AFCE is toast, and while we do have the 'Skins and Giants they are both NFC teams and playing here.

It's gonna take 15-1 or 14-2 with the head to head W for HFA, and that will be throughout. The key for both may be maintaining focus as the slog through the riff raff.

 

[Deus Irae]

Indy appears to have 3 potentially tough matchups remaining: NE at home, followed immediately by SD on the road (if the turnaround isn't an anomoly) and Baltimore. And they do have to deal with the JAGS twice yet and Vince one more time. We have Dallas, but if we get past them that just leaves Indy on the road, Pittsburgh here and Baltimore. Not sure Baltimore is that tough a matchup for either, either. And we have had Ben's number let alone on our turf. The AFCE is toast, and while we do have the 'Skins and Giants they are both NFC teams and playing here.

Jacksonville is going to have an excellent shot to beat the Colts before Baltimore even gets to them.

 

[cstjohn17]

You are correct sir. Anything can happen in the play-offs but both teams have:
- superior QBs
- proven systems
- coaching stability
- front offices that know how to evaluate personnel, specifically taking players that may not fit elsewhere and placing them in posiitons to excel
- confidence

The Pats - Colts matchups are all time classics, up there with San Fran and Dallas. As I football fan I can't wait to see them play in November.

 

[Metaphors]

Jacksonville is going to have an excellent shot to beat the Colts before Baltimore even gets to them.

I've said all along that the Colt's season starts after their bye week:

@JAX

Monday night on road, physical defense, physical running game.

@CAR

Short week on road, physical defense, Carr beat them last year

NE

No further explanation needed

@SD

Primetime on road, physical 3-4 defense, physical running game

The Colts could fall anywhere between 4-0 and 0-4 during this stretch. Whatever the record, any team playing that schedule has to expect to be bruised and exhausted. The bye week came at the perfect time this year for the Colts since they will need to be healthy and rested to do well over that 4 week stretch.

 

[ALP]

if the game depends on the lines...ill also have to give the edge to NE...

colts have a rookier on their O-line, and an undrated guy as a DT...

pats have one of the best o-lines rit now, with depth as well, and their D-line is famous...with amazing depth again

 

[jaytyme]

werent borth harrison and sanders hurt last week.....anyone have an injury update?

 

[MoLewisrocks]

werent borth harrison and sanders hurt last week.....anyone have an injury update?

Harrison, Sanders, Addai all out last week along with the MLB Morris to IR. Didn't miss a beat because TB is an NFC team and it's RB core self destructed between the previous Sunday and the first quarter and Garcia's receivers all developed the dropsies. They got up early on a Manning pick but it was all downhill from there. By the end their CFL backup RB was making Addai look like a luxury.

Whatever the opposite of snakebit is, that's what the Colts are. Charmed I guess. They have yet to pay the price for lack of quality depth. I think all 3 are expected to be good to go post bye.