Pats will steamroll the Colts

[Snarf]

It's not even going to be close.

 

[onegameatatime]

My thinking too. I do not see how their DBs stop the passing game, how the small line stops the running game, and I see us getting pressure on Manning (not so much sacks, but hurries).

I do not see much improvement there, but we have Maroney, new WRs, AT, and Rodney.

I see a 15-20 point win.

 

[RobAllan]

I'm going to call a 4TD win. I know that seems extreme, but I see the Colts as the top of the NFL. And I see the Pats right now as something so far beyond what the NFL has ever seen that nothing is competition.

 

[shmessy]

I respect the Colts. This will be one hell of a game.

I can see any number of outcomes for this one.

 

[tombonneau]

I can't believe it, but I tend to agree.

Everyone talks up the Indy D, but look who they have played:

Saints (when they were in disarray in week 1 -- took them over a month to start to get the O going)

Titans
Houston
Denver
Bucs

Gave up 20,24,20,14 to these teams, all with mediocre Os.

Then they gave up 7 each to the Panthers & Jags, facing David Carr and Quinn Gray.

Meanwhile, the Pats D, which for some reason is overlooked, have played:

Jets
Chargers
Bills
Cincy
Cleveland
Dallas
Miami
Washington

Of those, SD, Cincy, Cleveland & Dallas all must be top 10 Os (without even checking to confirm).

Those 4 are better than any O the Colts have faced.

Yet, the Colts D is somehow become better than NEs. I've watched their games, they have a good not great D.

And it just doesn't match up well against our O. Their spark plug is an undersized hard hitting safety who was able to be effective in our last meeting bc we couldn't go deep and just played to his strength which is the middle of the field.

I fully expect the Pats to abuse Indy deep early & often. They have no one who can play with Moss.

Honestly, we are talking about two first time starters at corner and they are supposed to guard Moss?

I think people are overlooking how completely mismatched this secondary is going to be against our WRs.

There only hope is our D lays a total egg and it's a shoot out, but I expect our (healthy) D to be ready to redeem the AFCC.

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

I respect the Colts too. They are the 2nd best team in the league.

Unfortunately for them, the Patriots are on a mission to utterly annihilate anything and everything that doesn't have a flying Elvis on the side of it.

Pats win big. ... by 3 TDs and a 50 cent piece.

 

[patsox23]

I find it very hard to disagree with you. I do think Indy's defense has improved - and NOT just Bob Sanders presence. Their CBs are much better than the dreck they had out there last year. But is the secondary better than Washington's? I don't know. I have to think at BEST it's comparable. And they had an impossible time trying to keep up.

Obviously Indy is the best time we've played this season. I'm not sure they're the toughest match-up, though. Dallas gets my vote for that one.

 

[DynastyDriven]

We better hope that Kyle Brady is ok because we're going to need an extra body to chip and double team Freeney to give Tom some time to throw

 

[Mack Herron]

We better hope that Kyle Brady is ok because we're going to need an extra body to chip and double team Freeney to give Tom some time to throw

Brady said in preseason that his innjury--whatever it is--is "manageable". I expect that he is "managing" it, and we will see him out there. I would not be surprised to see Watson there either, though he did not practice last week. On the other hand, this team is so loaded that they will massacre the Colts with anybody on their roster.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

Kyle Brady is fine and will play......... All indications are to that effect.


As to the other stuff, I agree. I watched every game this year (a few times even), and I keep going back to a quick "miked up" shot they had during the Cinci game. The two defenders were on the bench looking winded after an NE score and one looked at the other and said (in a absolute dejected voice): "This isn't even fair, it's like playing 7-5 out there".

They cut away fast (it was kinda an embarrassing moment for them), and I thought is was a goofy exchange. Yet as more and more games go by, I see EXACTLY what those guys were saying. EVERY defense (good ones and bad ones alike) have been completely befuddled out there. The presence of Moss has not let defenses play the way they want to play. Our Offense dictates to the opposing D (that's never good) They MUST double Moss (and even that doesn't always work) which allow untold other options for the offenses to exploit. Options that Brady is totally exploiting, and the fun thing is, it changes every game.

Indy will be no different, Their D is improved, but as someone said, they are on par with, say Washington..... They will not have any easier of a go at it. What they have is an offense that can score almost at will, which separates them from other teams. That said, I believe our D vs. their O is a much better match up then Our O and their D.

I won't say blow out, but I'd suggest we win comfortably, like 10-14 points, as in 38-24 (perhaps 27).

 

[Underoath]

My thinking is it will be a blowout, and I really think it should be, I think our team is THAT good. But somehow I still think it'll be a close game.

 

[Mainefan]

It will be interesting to see what the football world says if we win, say, 42-7.

 

[skri65]

In no way at all do I see this being a blowout. The Colts have an offense that can move at will (I know we've been able to stop them before, but that was at home and that was in the playoffs, and that was long ago). They have a defense that can stop the run and put pressure on the QB.

I am amazed by the confidence you all have. The Colts are a great football team. I see it being close.

 

[jct]

PATS 63
COLTS 21

nuff said.

 

[tombonneau]

In no way at all do I see this being a blowout. The Colts have an offense that can move at will (I know we've been able to stop them before, but that was at home and that was in the playoffs, and that was long ago). They have a defense that can stop the run and put pressure on the QB.

I am amazed by the confidence you all have. The Colts are a great football team. I see it being close.

I don't think this offense is as good as it was last year. With Harrison hurt, that is a huge blow. He was amazing last year.

The line is starting a rook LT who has already gotten hurt.

I'm not ready to say the other Gonzo is any sort of improvement from Stokely, at best it's a wash.

And every other position has pretty much held to the same level.

Granted, it is still the best offense we'll face all year, but I don't know that it can score at will like in years past.

 

[Satchboogie3]

I don't think the Colts have an Offense that can move at will. So far this season I have seen the Colts sucks in the first half of many games when they face a solid-great defense. However, by the 3rd and 4th quarter, the opposing team's defense is warn down (because their offense sucks, the D is on the field all day. Indy hasn't faced a good offense yet) and the Colts are able to move the ball more effectively because of it. That is why you see the Colts in a tight game through the first half, and then blow them out in the second half.

Now that the Colts have to face the best defense in football AND the best offense in football, they won't be able to do that. Our offense will be able to move the ball at will, which will mean our defense won't be on the field too long. If we get a lead (which we will), Manning simply won't get enough possessions to make a comeback.

 

[jaytyme]

I don't think the Colts have an Offense that can move at will. So far this season I have seen the Colts sucks in the first half of many games when they face a solid-great defense. However, by the 3rd and 4th quarter, the opposing team's defense is warn down (because their offense sucks, the D is on the field all day. Indy hasn't faced a good offense yet) and the Colts are able to move the ball more effectively because of it. That is why you see the Colts in a tight game through the first half, and then blow them out in the second half.

Now that they Colts have to face the best defense in football AND the best offense in football, they won't be able to do that. Our offense will be able to move the ball at will, which will mean our defense won't be on the field too long. If we get a lead (which we will), Manning simply won't get enough possessions to make a comeback.

tightest analysis i've read here so far.
given equal special teams play and turnovers (surely not a given),
our offense will be on the field at least 35 minutes.
margin of victory will be around 20.

 

[Horace's Ivories]

I can't believe it, but I tend to agree.

Everyone talks up the Indy D, but look who they have played:

Saints (when they were in disarray in week 1 -- took them over a month to start to get the O going)

Titans
Houston
Denver
Bucs

Gave up 20,24,20,14 to these teams, all with mediocre Os.

Then they gave up 7 each to the Panthers & Jags, facing David Carr and Quinn Gray.

Meanwhile, the Pats D, which for some reason is overlooked, have played:

Jets
Chargers
Bills
Cincy
Cleveland
Dallas
Miami
Washington

Of those, SD, Cincy, Cleveland & Dallas all must be top 10 Os (without even checking to confirm).

Those 4 are better than any O the Colts have faced.

Yet, the Colts D is somehow become better than NEs. I've watched their games, they have a good not great D.

And it just doesn't match up well against our O. Their spark plug is an undersized hard hitting safety who was able to be effective in our last meeting bc we couldn't go deep and just played to his strength which is the middle of the field.

I had the same thoughts after reviewing Indy's wins and although I very much respect the Colts it certainly seems the Pats are positioned for a big win barring massive turnovers/injuries. Your other point about having played into Sanders strengths via middle of the field- what made it worse was we didnt have great middle of the field receivers. So now this year we can attack deep and into their supposed strength and have success in both areas.

 

[amazinPats]

I say Colts will bring it within two touchdowns by the end of the game. They score during garbage time.

Pats: 42
Colts: 27

 

[wdkantro2]

I find it real tough to predict this one. It could be the Pats by 3, the Colts by 3, or the Pats in a blowout. And yes, I can see the possiblity of a blowout, but I certainly wouldn't predict it. I think it will be like the first 3 quarters of the Dallas game. It will be a decent contest for awhile but the Pats will put some space between them in the beginning of the fourth quarter.