On theory alone why the Patriots will beat the Colts

[TTTBone]

It's amazing how few Pats fans there were 6 years ago, now everyone is suddenly a Pats fan.

Kinda like Packer fans before the Favre era.

Ummm, sorry, we Packer fans (and I'm old enough to know) proudly endured through the Starr/Gregg/Infante era (you know, all those years when the Vikings were busy losing Super Bowls). Unlike the Vike "hop-on, hop-off" attitude, we'll stick with the team through good and bad. Record sellouts during these "worst in the NFL" years. Don't get me wrong, we're the first to criticize our team and coaching, but Packer fans stick with the team in the best and worst of times.

[mannubhai]

I agree with Mann about Peyton being hot, but lets backtrack a bit. Against Denver, Indy played at home (on turf) against a team that took them lightly. Shanahan did one of the worst coaching jobs in the NFL in preparation for that game against Indy, he figured he would just walk over them once again. Belichick will not take this game for granted. Against KC .. Peyton had another great game against another VERY SUBPAR defense effort. Vermiel had 2 weeks to prepare and thats the best they could do, his defensive coach will lose his job, it has already been reported.
On his second point I once again agree that Peyton now has Stokley as a weapon, but if there is enough pressure on Peyton will he have anough time to find Stokely?
As of the Patriots offense they have been underestimated all year. Each week they score as many points as it takes to win the game. Just take a look at their individual game scores.
As for the running game being awful, just watch the game on Sunday they will put up 100 yds on the ground, provided they dont turn the ball over and or fall behind. As it is The Pats ran the ball for 4.0 yards per carry this past Sunday against the best runstop defense in the NFL in the Titans.
As for comparing Dungy to Belichick- Tony Dungy is not on the same playing level as Bill Belichick, to even compare them is a joke.
Mann also brought up how lucky they have been, and yes he is right but in order for luck to pay off a team has to be in position to capatilize on it, as the Pats have proved when they have gotten lucky.
Finally as for the streak ending, anything is possible as I alluded to in my posting, I just hope the streak lasts 2 more games.

No team in the NFL will take any game lightly and the Broncos were playing in the playoffs. I disagree that Broncos and Mike Shanahan thought Indy at home would be a walk over and hence under prepare for the game. I agree that Denver did not play their A game, but one got to give credit to the Colts to make the adjustments to win. Again no NFL team coach takes the other team lightly.
On the second point, putting pressure on Manning; I agree that NE can blitz , real good. Put you are talking abt Manning , a 6 year pro, Co-MVP. I am pretty sure Manning has seen those before. Stokley considerably increases his option.
NE has to score to win..no doubt..either defensively or offensively. But it is not like they blew apart some decent team.
As for Smith averaging a healthy 4 yard per carry, I think it was a outlier; does not account to conclusion that running game is great. It is mediocre at the best.
As for being able to capitalize, that is healthy sign for the Patriots. Teams have to be opportunistic to win games. NE have done a great job so far.
Tony Dungy and Brian Belichick are comparable- why not..both coaches find ways to win. Belichick is better, it is that simple. But Tony Dungy is good too, you cannot discount him. After all he got his team on the verge of SB too, didnt he?
Anything is possible, I can agree to that.

[Transmogrifier]

Spoken like a true homer.

I can't wait until they lose so all the Pats fans shut up. They have the most annoying fans since the 80s 49ers fans. It's amazing how few Pats fans there were 6 years ago, now everyone is suddenly a Pats fan.

King, you can really be quite the pain about this. There are bandwagon fans in EVERY sport, for EVERY winning team. Get over it. Don't paint all of us with the same brush, ok?

Now, although a homer, the man makes some good points.

How about we get back on topic. Peyton's last big game in the cold was a huge blowout...it could haunt him. He doesn't have the nice turf, the home crowd or heat. It makes a big difference especially for a fast, finesse team. I could see a lot of dropped balls.

[VHawk15]

In my opinion, the Pats road ends here. I have to give them credit, they've had an amazing win streak. But in order to win all of those games, NE held opponents to a very low amount of points. By doing this, their offense was able to do just enough(running and passing) in order to win the game.

But, Manning and his Colts are simply on fire. I think it will be very hard for even the Pats D to keep up with the Indy O. Heck, the Colts haven't punted once all play-offs.

[brdmaverick]

Spoken like a true homer.

I can't wait until they lose so all the Pats fans shut up. They have the most annoying fans since the 80s 49ers fans. It's amazing how few Pats fans there were 6 years ago, now everyone is suddenly a Pats fan.

what's eatin you?

Boston is known greatly as being a baseball town, but don't be fooled. Around here it's not like the Pats are number two, it's more of a 1A, 1B situation.

Pats fans have been very loyal, just take a look at what kind of weather elements the fans have had to endure, and yet they keep showing up. Boston fans are very passionate about their sports.

There's nothing wrong in taking pride in your team.

There is a big game comin up this weekened, and we Pats fans are definitely not looking past it. THe Colts are a very tough team to beat, and we just barely got by in the first game. We have a lot of respect for the Colts, but time and time again the Pats have managed to find ways to win, and I don't think this weekend will be any different.

[Transmogrifier]

In my opinion, the Pats road ends here. I have to give them credit, they've had an amazing win streak. But in order to win all of those games, NE held opponents to a very low amount of points. By doing this, their offense was able to do just enough(running and passing) in order to win the game.

But, Manning and his Colts are simply on fire. I think it will be very hard for even the Pats D to keep up with the Indy O. Heck, the Colts haven't punted once all play-offs.

You're right, VHawk, in that the Pats get by with their defense. Their MO has been the offense just doing enough to get by. When watching games, I look for the defense to make a big play, a la Bruschi's sure interception for a touchdown that was negated with the false start.

The first Indy game was odd in that the Pats went up 21 early and were shredding Indy. Can that happen again? I don't think so, but I wouldn't put it past Brady.

And then the D gave up quick points--which I also don't see happening again. Had the Colts had some creative play calling, they probably would have won that game.

My point? If this game was in Indy, with the way the Colts are playing, I'd be very afraid. But with the game in the Razor, it looks completely different to me. It very well could be the homer in me, but Belichik and Brady just seem to do what needs to be done. I expect the same...

[Canadian Seahawk]

(p.s.- It would be so boring to watch NE play in the SB. I would rather watch Indy play for the SB.)

it wasnt boring when they beat the Rams.

[Guest]

The pro-Pats arguments
are more persuasive.
But we have learned one thing beyond the respective merits of the teams: Pats fans are hateful and truly evil !

[brdmaverick]

In my opinion, the Pats road ends here. I have to give them credit, they've had an amazing win streak. But in order to win all of those games, NE held opponents to a very low amount of points. By doing this, their offense was able to do just enough(running and passing) in order to win the game.

But, Manning and his Colts are simply on fire. I think it will be very hard for even the Pats D to keep up with the Indy O. Heck, the Colts haven't punted once all play-offs.

The Pats have done just enough to win games. They can get by with their D ( 9-3 win vs. Browns, 12-0 wins vs. Miami and Dallas), but when the D is struggling, the offense has been there to pick up the slack (38-30 win vs. Ten, 38-34 win vs. Indy, 30-26 win vs. Den).

Yes, I am definitely a homer, but you can't blame me for taking pride and sticking up for my team. Don't get me wrong, I am not overlooking the Colts, they are on fire at the moment and pose a serious threat to the Pats Super Bowl hopes. Whatever the Pats have done in the past 13 games has worked, which I beleive justifies me into thinking that whatever they do this week will work as well.

They aren't pretty, they just win.

[fattsmagee]

Its like WEEI said, This AFC championship game is the super bowl. Which ever team wins that game cough cough, pats.... will win the super bowl against a badly undertalented Carolina team or an undeserving Philadelphia team.