This feels real familiar. Peyton Manning is playing like the MVP of the league. The Colts are undefeated. Tom Brady is getting free calls from the refs and the Patriots are on top of the AFC East. Over it already. I’m going on record saying I HATE Patriot week. After living in Connecticut for four years and hearing every single media outlet bow down at the throne of Brady…I can’t stomach the Patriots. Whew. Glad that’s out. Now on to the game.

To say this game is important is an understatement. Four times since 2003, the winner of this regular-season game also became the AFC champion. Three times, the winner brought home the Lombardi Trophy. This game isn’t just relegated to team talk. Every sportscaster from New York to LA will ask the question: Who would you rather have as your QB? The guy with three Super Bowl rings and one MVP award or the guy with three MVP awards and one Super Bowl ring. My answer remains- it depends on how you want to win. Do you want to win in the last minute or do you want to be up by 20 in the 4th quarter? My money will always be on Peyton, the guy that will give me a comfortable lead. Manning has thrown for 2,545 yards and remains on pace to break Marino’s single-season record for yards passing.

New England’s offense could present a difficult test for a young Indianapolis secondary that is without safety Bob Sanders and cornerback Marlin Jackson for the rest of the season.
Brady has regained his form recently, throwing for 1,020 yards and 10 touchdowns during a three-game winning streak and could be too much for the replacement unit the Colts are starting.

On the other side of the ball the Colts defense needs to rattle Brady. If they can get to him the Colts should have no problems. Dwight Freeney and the rest of the line should be able to handle the banged up Patriots O-Line…I hope.

The Patriots will be pumped as they try to stop the Colts from joining them as the only teams to finish a 16-game regular season undefeated. Indianapolis also needs four victories to match New England’s 21-game run in the regular season from 2006-08 — an NFL record. Man I hate Patriots week!