Matchup Preview: Indaianapolis vs New England

"You the Best, no You the Best"

The Situation:  Anytime these two teams play, it is an epic battle.  This is the eighth season in a row that these two teams have faced off.  Indianapolis comes into this game 6-3, after a 23-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.  New England has the best record in the league, along with a few other teams, at 7-2.  Last Sunday night the Patriots defeated the Steelers behind 2 TDs from rookie tight end Rob Gronkowski.

The key matchup in this game starts at the quarterback postition.  Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are inarguably two of the best QBs in the league.  To show how evenly matched these two phenomenal players are, Brady has 17 TDs and 4 ints and Manning has 16 TDs and 4 ints.  Both of these guys have also lost key weapons this season that would give them an excuse for their numbers to drop, but that is not the case.  By now you are very familiar with Randy Moss being traded by New England and the Colts have been riddled with injuries to their receiving core.  Notably, Dallas Clark at tight end is out for the year and Austin Collie will look to return from a concussion suffered against Philadelphia.

Indianapolis looks to continue their dominance of the AFC South with a win on Sunday afternoon.  Jacksonville and Tennessee are both 5-4 and Houston (which started off the season hot beating Indy) has slowed down.  With this win, the Colts could take a two game lead over the closest division foe.  New England is battling the Jets for the AFC East division crown.  Both, teams face very tough tests on Sunday as New York plays a tough Houston team.

The Outcome:  Its hard to pick a winner here.  Both teams have the same situations.  Great offenses with declining running games and sub-par defenses.  So, for that reason we must focus on the defenses to see who has the edge.

New England’s defense has a slight edge in the secondary.  Brandon Merriweather is a thumper and rookie Devin McCourty has played well.  Patrick Chung can also be a game changer at the other safety position like in the game against Miami on Monday Night where he blocked two kicks.  The front seven isn’t an area of strength for the Patriost anymore, but ILB Jerod Mayo has 105 tackles already this season.

Indianapolis has Dwight Freeney on that defensiveine (complete with spin move).  Advantage Colts.  Oh yeah, playing oppisite Freeney is Robert Mathis who has 7.5 sacks on the season.  The secondary is banged up and the linebackers aren’t exactly Pro Bowlers, but you can’t argue with the production at the defensive end spot.

I want to give the slight defensive edge to the Colts.  But, like I said when these two teams matchup it is Brady vs Manning.  I think Manning is doing more with less this year.  Jacob Tamme is replacing Dallas CLark and has 24 receptions in his last three games.  Tom Brady is making his two tight ends look like future Pro Bowlers himself in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez (both rookies).  But Peyton Manning is 6′5″ 240, rocket laser arm and that is why his Colts will prevail in sudden death overtime 31-28.  Tom Brady is still living the dream, though, and hopefully we can get a rematch in the playoffs.