There is a blueprint.
Let the Colts run to their hearts content. I remember Edge James running on the Patriots, and they'd lose.
Exactly, let them help you eat up time.
You play with 5 or 6 DBs in the game at all times. You have 5 or 6 players max in the box. You blitz one extra man for half the plays, which means you always have 6 or 7 guys flooding the passing lanes.
And disguise your alignment as best you can. The goal is to hurry Manning, even moreso than sacking him. Disrupt the Colts timing routes by pressure, jamming receivers and jumping routes if you have backside help.
You let the Colts help you chew up the clock, and then you make the most of your opportunities on passing.
Without a healthy Dwight Freeney, the Patriots beat the Colts every time.
I'd reverse the opening post and ask, do you think Payton's blueprint was actually just stolen from watching the Patriots games?
Indeed!
Good post Upstater1