| | Barring unforseen injuries, in late-January, the AFC Championship Game
between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts
will decide who will win the Super Bowl. They are by far the two
best teams in the NFL. I don't think I've seen a year where there is no
one even close. The only team that has a remote chance to ruin the
matchup is if the San Diego Chargers play up to their talent level.
However, they will have to win a playoff game against the Pats or Colts
on the road because they are too far back to snag one of the two byes
in the AFC Playoffs. The game that may decide who has homefield in that
game will be on November 4th when the Pats travel to the RCA Dome. The
question is which of these two juggernauts is better?
The Indianapolis Colts are the defending champions, and they will have
the benefit of having to play in the playoffs this year without the
pressure of never winning the big one. Their defense has clearly
carried over the momentum they gained from last year's playoffs. They
have allowed the fourth fewest points in the NFL. It is truely amazing
how improved this defense is, and the difference maker is Bob Sanders.
When he is in the lineup, the Colts' defense is much, much better. With
the defense playing well, the Colts are able to play a rugged type of
game. This allows the offense to take a much different approach than in
year's past. They can grind it out with Joseph Addai, who is a terrific
young back. Reggie Wayne has taken over, for now anyway, as Peyton's #1
target. Marvin Harrison clearly isn't the same wide-out he once was,
but still very valuable. To beat the Patriots this year though, the
Colts will have to revert back to the shoot-em-out type of team. That
really shouldn't be a problem for Peyton and co., as it will just be a
matter of if can
they outscore the Pats. Other than Adam Vinatieri, the Colts' special
teams has always been a weakness and continues to be so.
The New England Patriots added Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth, and some
guy named Moss this offseason. With those additions the Patriots have
been transformed from a good offense to perhaps the best the NFL has
ever seen. They haven't scored less than 34 points yet this season, and
they are on pace to shatter the NFL points in a season record. Tom
Brady has been unconscious this season, and is on pace to throw a
record 61 TD passes (Peyton 49). Wes Welker has been unbelievable for
this team. The Pats have always been great on 3rd down, so adding a 3rd
down WR like Welker makes them unstoppable. The scary thing about this
team is that they haven't put a solid run game together yet. Laurence
Maroney has only rushed for 283 yards this season, and missed three
weeks due to injury. So, when he gets fully healthy, that will only add
another threat to the high-octane Pats offense. The Patriots' defense is
one of the best in the league, but may not be as strong as it was in
recent years. I wonder if that is because the Pats have gone from the
grind it out type winner in years past to the scoring machine they are
now. The intensity of holding the other team's offense in a 17-14 game
is a little different than holding them when they have a four touchdown
lead. It may not matter though.
Who am I taking? I will take
the Patriots, as so far, they have been the most impressive team by
far. They were a 3rd and 4 completion away from beating the Colts last
year with Reche Caldwell as their best receiver. Now they have the
three headed monster in Moss, Welker, and Stallworth. As improved as
the Colts' defense is, I still believe the Pats' defense will be better in the
big spot. The Colts must beat the Pats on Nov. 4th to give themselves a
shot at homefield in the AFC Championship. They will not win a game in
Foxboro in late-Jan. If the Pats win on Nov. 4th, they will have a
great chance to go undefeated, and they will embrace it unlike the 2005
Colts. I can't wait for that matchup in 12 days at 4:15 on CBS!
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| | Posted 10/24/2007 12:12 AM - 15 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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