Bullz-Eye's NFL Game of the Week
11/01/2006
NFL Home / Sports Channel / Bullz-Eye Home
ALSO: Got your own take on this week's game? Visit The Scores Report, the National Sports Blog.
We’ll be dissecting one big NFL match-up every week throughout the season, whether it's a long-standing rivalry, a divisional clash or a game with playoff implications.
Want to get in on the action? Visit our NFL Live Lines page to compare the spread from four major handicappers before picking your winner. Good luck!
This week’s match up: Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots
Date: Sunday, Nov. 5
Time: 8:15pm ET, NBC
RESULT: Colts 27, Patriots 20
Why to tune in:
No other team has graced the Game of the Week pages more than Indianapolis. When you’re 7-0, however, the honor is always well deserved. Last week the Colts traveled to Denver and impressively dissected the Broncos in a 34-31 win. This week, Indy goes to New England to take on its most hated playoff nemesis in the Patriots. The winner of this contest will likely get home field advantage honors in the AFC. There isn’t any bigger motivation than that for Peyton Manning, who is already shivering at the thought of heading into Foxboro in January. The water cooler talk throughout the week will probably involve Manning vs. Tom Brady, but can you really be wrong with either one of these two quarterbacks? Manning is the ultimate offensive coordinator and dissector of a defense, but Brady’s cool approach and pinpoint accuracy is often unrivaled. Forget the talk; this game is worth the hype.
When the Colts have the ball:
Is that a run game brewing in Indianapolis? Rookie Joseph Addai has given the Colts an added dimension on offense – one that had been missing earlier this season. Addai is starting to prove that the loss of Edgerrin James to Arizona in the offseason is a moot point. The rookie from LSU runs hard and, more importantly, is giving Manning a receiving threat out of the backfield and picking up blitzes (much like James used to do). The offensive line for Indy doesn’t get enough credit for how they continue to keep Manning upright. The signal caller often has all day to throw the ball and, as evidenced last week in Denver, Manning with time is the scariest site in the NFL. Champ Bailey took away Marvin Harrison last week, which left Reggie Wayne virtually uncontested on the other side. New England can stop the run just fine, but is giving up an average of 218.9 yards through the air. While head coach Bill Belichick is the master designer of defensive schemes, he’s going to have his hands full with trying to shut down a Colts offense that is throwing for nearly 275 yards a game. The play of Rodney Harrison has been superb as always, but will he become neutralized if Manning is able to pick apart Asante Samuel and Ellis Hobbs on the outside?
When the Patriots have the ball:
Is that a run defense brewing in Indianapolis? Absolutely not. While the play of Manning carried the Colts to a win last week against the Broncos, the defense tried to let Denver run away (pun intended) with the game. The Patriots can hammer the ball and as well as Addai has played this year, New England has a rookie runner that is starting to make headlines himself. Talk about running hard, Laurence Maroney is often a bulldozer and will see plenty of open lanes in the belly of the Indianapolis defense. Corey Dillon is also showing he still has plenty left in the tank and the potent run game is always huge for Brady. The former Michigan QB has been as great as ever and is coming off a thrashing of the Vikings in Minnesota last Monday night. The guy has new receivers every year, but it never matters. Brady just throws to a spot and that spot is often occupied with an open receiver. The guy is fantastic and will be even better with Colts safety Mike Doss out for the season. Defensively, Indy is in trouble; after all, if Jake Plummer was able to have a good amount of success against the Colts, how much success do you think Brady will have?
Prediction:
Last week I figured the Broncos run game would eventually be the difference in the game. I was right, but didn’t factor in how big of a stud Manning is and the ability he has in carrying a team on his own. I think the same thing is going to happen in New England this Sunday night. The Patriots are going to be able to run the ball successfully, but with Manning on the other side, is it really going to matter in the end? Hmm, Indy overcame its fears of Foxboro in a convincing win last year, but Belichick is the master planner. The Colts defense won’t stop Brady, but the Pats don’t have anyone remotely in Bailey’s class to take away at least one side of the field.
Here’s the advantage: New England is coming off a road game on Monday night, which means less time to prepare for Belichick. Plus, I don’t think Foxboro is as daunting as it used to be for Manning and the Colts: Indianapolis 38, New England 27.
Questions or comments on this game? Send them to astalter@bullz-eye.com.