Dud3s

It's really hard to say who's going to win. NE's offense is just killing everyone and not breaking stride. But Peyton is also Peyton, and can read defenses like no other.

I'm going to roll with New England. I just can't see them losing, and their team is just way too stacked.

I think the Colts have a better defense than the Patiots, barely. I'll probably catch some heat for this, since the entire country has some kind of Boston boner, but I also think Peyton's a better QB.

Considering the Colts were the last team to beat Brady & co. this will definitely be the most closely-matched game we see all year. I think it's going to be a shootout.

I do agree about Peyton being the better QB. If he had the receivers that Brady had, he's be putting up those same numbers I bet.

The more I think about yesterday's game, the more The Patriots are starting to leave a bad taste in my mouth. I think running for a TD in the last five minutes when you're up 45-0 is a little unsportsmanlike. I know they're good, but we get it. Lay off.

I thought the same thing when I saw the final score, Jen-sized. I mean, even if they had 2 TDs on the board, maybe it would've been okay but c'mon...52 points was just overkill and totally unnecessary.

They kept Tom Brady in until halfway through the 4th quarter. Then his backup ran 15 yards for a touchdown.
They went for it on 4th-down TWICE when they were up by 38 and 45 respectively.
I used to be pretty indifferent toward the Patriots but I'm starting to hate them now.

They went for it on 4th-down TWICE when they were up by 38 and 45 respectively.
I used to be pretty indifferent toward the Patriots but I'm starting to hate them now.

That's why I like them this year. The league pissed on them for cheating (everyone does it) so now they are in total eff-you mode. And this game will be like the Cowboys game. Pats will win because they actually have a D.

Wait, why are you people complaining that the Pats are "too good"? First of all, if you're playing the game to win, you want to lock away the game. The best way to do it is to build an insurmountable lead, and history has proven that anything less than 34 points isn't insurmountable. Besides, what is the offense supposed to do after attaining a lead, just stop trying? Hell, they were giving playtime to backups! So what if they run for a touchdown in the last few minutes. It's the defense's job to stop them, not the offense's job to let the other team stop them. "Alright, Bob, when you get the ball, just stand there and let yourself be tackled. We don't want to seem like jerks." Frankly, as a defensive player, that would be adding insult to injury, as if telling me "I don't think you're good enough to keep up with me, so here you go, I'll let you get this move." Likewise, it's not the defense's job to let the offense score, so if the offense hasn't been able to score on you all day, you don't suddenly say "Alright, here you go, you can have these points."

As for the Colts vs. Pats: That's going to be a phenomenal game, I think. Frankly, that could be the Super Bowl right there (reminds me of the days when the Super Bowl could have taken place during the NFC championship, with the Cowboys playing the 49ers). As much as I love the Colts (and for the most part it's because I think Tony Dungy is the best coach in football, though I've been a fan of Manning's since his UT days) I think the Pats will win this one. The only way they don't is if (a) Manning can keep the ball away from the Patriot's secondary, and (b) if the Colts can pick off Tom Brady. In other words, turnovers will determine this game, plain and simple. If turnovers are kept to a minimum on both sides, Pats will win it.

Of course, the Colts have home-field advantage, in a closed stadium. Meaning: much, much louder than they'll be used to, and trust me Indi fans will bring on the heat. Unless the Pats shut down the Colts quickly, it's going to be a looooong (and exciting) game.

No worries, though: they'll re-play during the AFC Championship game.

The real question isn't in this game, though. The real question is: Will either St. Louis or Miami win a game this season, or will we have the first season ever with 2 winless teams? I don't know much about the Rams, but Miami stinks out loud. And it doesn't get any better from here for them.

The league pissed on them for cheating (everyone does it) so now they are in total eff-you mode.

They still have a first-round pick. No doubt Belichick will get some kind of bonus to compensate for the fine money. He didn't even get suspended. I think it was a slap on the wrist seeing as it wasn't even the first time they'd gotten caught.

If they'd tried to run the ball on those fourth-downs it would have looked a lot less arrogant.

It's pro sports though, this isn't college or amateur hour. If the other team that has million dollar players can't stop the other team that has million dollar players it is their own fault. They don't stop in hockey, basketball, soccer or baseball so why stop in football?

Running the ball or even kicking a field goal. It's not as if going for touchdowns is the only option.

Yes, I'd say 34 points is not enough of an insurmountable lead maybe in the 2nd quarter. Or even the 3rd or beginning of the 4th. But you have to also look at how much time is on the clock. It's not a foreign concept that teams choose prudence and respect for the game over running up the scoreboard.

It's certainly not the worst offense in history though and I might see where Belichick would want everyone in the NFL to piss off...

To answer Gnorb: The fins still play Buffalo and the Jets (twice each I think) and the Rams still have the 49ers so chances are good to pull one out.

They kept Tom Brady in until halfway through the 4th quarter. Then his backup ran 15 yards for a touchdown.
They went for it on 4th-down TWICE when they were up by 38 and 45 respectively.
I used to be pretty indifferent toward the Patriots but I'm starting to hate them now.

I am of the opinion that you must do all possible to protect your lead, even if that means "running up the score" like the Patriots did against Washington. I just do not see the point of holding back. That is one of the reasons teams fear the Pats this year.

By no means am I a Pats fan (my team has been and always will be the 49ers, even though they've sucked for a decade) but I like what I see so far.

It's pro sports though, this isn't college or amateur hour. If the other team that has million dollar players can't stop the other team that has million dollar players it is their own fault. They don't stop in hockey, basketball, soccer or baseball so why stop in football?

I have often why there was this double-standard against the NFL. The other professional sports allow "running up" so why are NFL teams held to some other standard of not being "allowed" to do the same thing. It just makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

I've always had something against Tom Brady and the Patriots. Maybe it's the fact that they are good, or maybe it's because they are from Boston. Either way, they come across as egocentric fools that I can't really stand.

I'm hoping the Colts kick their asses, but I know it'll be a close game. It's not so much turnovers that'll decide the game, but more of the conversion of those turn overs into points.

I definitely see nothing wrong with the Pats running up the score on other teams. It's actually enjoyable to watch. Sports is competition, and you play to win, period. They shouldn't let up on opponents, and if I was a coach, I'd do the same damn thing.

For the record I didn't think it was cool when the Rangers did it to the Orioles this past season either. No double standards here. :)

The first play in OT in the Packers-Broncos game was pretty sweet. :)

@estarla: that was a pretty sweet play methinks!

I have this stock certificate on my wall in my living room. It's a share (worth $200) of Green Bay Packer stock from 97 and has my name on it. It's not publicly-traded yet people joke with me all the time about the value going down since their SuperBowl days. I'm just sayin', don't be jealous because your team isn't publicly owned! Meh. They've issued stock about 4 times whenever they've needed money.

I'm happy and even pleasantly surprised by their record thus far this season. Green Bay fo life. And Favre too, even if he plays til he's 60. Well, maybe not.

Well, that was a tangent. I say Pats...reluctantly. By 17 points.

About the Patriots making big plays while up on huge points: They have a huge chip on their shoulder since that Jets cheating thing and Belichick is a great coach the way he pushes harder each week, regardless of matchup. Indianapolis? Train harder. Miami? Train harder.

You can say Manning might be better than Brady, just not having the recievers, but then again, what if NE had the RBs? That's the one gap in their offense right now.

I'm biased because Brady (and Welker) have led me to first place in the 9R Fantasy Football pool, but the two teams are incomparable. Both undefeated, but NE is undefeated.

Oh, and Manning threw less than 50% against Carolina. And left due to (a very dirty and unacceptable play) injury.

NE 48, IND 24 ;)

NE 48, IND 24

Ditka 173

NE 37 IND 24

"Ditka 173"

I tried, and searched, but I don't get it. Should I? The 173 thing doesn't seem to fit for me.

Seems as if the thoughts are pretty unanimous for the Pats. I am not so sure that the game is going to be as high scoring as everything believes.

This is going to be the offensive shootout of the year. Two huge quarterbacks with great targets = high scoring. Also, New England = high scoring.

The defenses are respectively very good, but that won't change the fact they'll be over powered. Indy's defense will be at least ;)

@ConnorWilson: the statement refers to an old Saturday Night Live joke where a bunch of guys are predicting the scores for Chicago Bears games during the time when Mike Ditka coached them (c. 1985). The joke goes that the guy was so good that he alone could score hundreds of points, and if two teams met on any field, no matter how good, he would beat them both.

And now this isn't funny at all.

As for the predicted score:

IND 24
NE 19

Those are the first numbers that popped out of my fingers. It's like a random pick at the lotto. Also, I'm really hoping for the upset.

That was a pretty good game. Colts just lost it at the end. The score was around where I thought it was going to be. I definitely didn't think it was going to be high scoring.

What did you think about the game?

Played out like it should just that Brady was a bit cocky at the beginning, but got his head right in the 2nd half. Moss is a beast and Colts had no WRs except Wayne. They really had no chance with that.

Moss is a beast and Colts had no WRs except Wayne.

True that. Dallas Clark was a non-factor.

As for the predicted score:

IND 24
NE 19

Damn close of a guess, although it was NE with the 24 and IND with the 20.

I thought it was a good game for 53 minutes. The last 7 minutes were painful to watch if you were hoping that IND would pull it out. Fun game nonetheless, and an interesting look at what will surely be the AFC title game.

Wow, at least Brady came alive a little in the last 10 minutes or so. I had Drew Brees sitting on the bench for fantasy, which turned out to be a bad move. Luckily Adrian Peterson showed LT who's on top.

I thought the Vikings/Chargers game was better. 109 yard return on a missed field goal, 3 AP touchdowns and the Vikings finally get some confidence.

That made it a good game if you were a Vikings fan, it was a blowout though. The Indy/Pats game lived up to the hype because it was actually a great game where the 2 defenses showed they deserve some respect as well.

Cool, my prediction was almost right... except backwards.

The next question is, of course, whether anyone thinks they can end up 19-0.

The Pats still have to face the number 1 and 2 defenses, in Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Indy showed that by having a defense you can beat the Pats, even though Indy lost. It remains to be seen but I think the road to 19-0 will be a lot tougher than most think.

The other thing is this ... if the Pats do go 18-0, their last game is -vs- NYG. The Giants will, most likely, be playing for a playoff spot whereas NE will have it all locked up. Risking injuring your starters merely for a 19-0 record will be a stupid move, especially considering if the team did go 19-0 only to *not* win the Super Bowl.

No matter what, should be exciting to watch how it plays out methinks!