[Lefty Noob]

If you're Belichick, how do you scheme for the Colts. Do you prepare for Manning and the passing onslaught you traditionally see out of Indy, or do you get ready for the new, run-first Colts offense that seems to have reared it's head in the playoffs? On can Brady's receivers be good enough to help him put points on the board against what seems to be a much improved Indy defense. Those are the two big questions entering this one, I think.

[cwstech]

Everyone is saying that the Pats are going to shut down the Colts like they always have. I just don't see it happening. I think Manning has a lot to prove to not only the fans of the Colts, but to himself. Every analyst on ESPN this season has compared him to Marino and how he could not win the big one. With the the targets that he has this years, and the growing strength of the defense, I could see this being the year that the Colts win it all. I'm not giving a prediction. But they could very well shock everyone.

Either way, this will be a great game, a classic as always. I just wonder how the Vinateri factor will come into play.

[goblue35]

I have to go with the colts. If you notice peyton sucks in cold weather and every time they played the pats they are at foxborrow where it is cold. This year it is in the dome so it wont be cold so i have to go with the colts.

[ThePundit]

Originally Posted by Nuke

At the risk of sounding like a jerk...you are all dead wrong!!! The Patriots may let the Colts have a regular season win here or there who cares? The Pats are a team built for the post season pure and simple! Hell they should have beaten the Broncos last year! As I said in another thread no matter how mighty Peyton Manning looks the Patriots defense seems to know his every move before Peyton does. The Colts are defeated ladies and gents because i'm sure the defense against the Colts has already been drawn up. Sun Tzu from The Art Of War; "Every battle is won before it is fought." Hey i'm a Jets fan so I have no love for Belichick's crew but reality is reality. The New England Patroits are the 2006 AFC Champs. Next up the Bears or Saints.

Nuke: why do you dismiss the fact that the Patrots were lucky to win on Sunday. They were thouroughly outplayed by the Chargers. I still
don't know how the Chargers lost that game.

[Nuke]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

Nuke: why do you dismiss the fact that the Patrots were lucky to win on Sunday. They were thouroughly outplayed by the Chargers. I still
don't know how the Chargers lost that game.

But they DID lose that's the point. Like the Niner's of the 80's and Steelers of the '70s the Patriots just find ways to win no matter how or why and if that means taking advantage of boneheaded mistakes then so be it. There is no asterisk after the W column for championship teams. The Patriots will soundly defeat the Colts just like they always do. The Colts choke in the playoffs anyway and if you make one mistake versus Tom Brady in the playoffs it usually means your season is over.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Nuke

At the risk of sounding like a jerk...you are all dead wrong!!! The Patriots may let the Colts have a regular season win here or there who cares? The Pats are a team built for the post season pure and simple! Hell they should have beaten the Broncos last year! As I said in another thread no matter how mighty Peyton Manning looks the Patriots defense seems to know his every move before Peyton does. The Colts are defeated ladies and gents because i'm sure the defense against the Colts has already been drawn up. Sun Tzu from The Art Of War; "Every battle is won before it is fought." Hey i'm a Jets fan so I have no love for Belichick's crew but reality is reality. The New England Patroits are the 2006 AFC Champs. Next up the Bears or Saints.

The man quotes Sun Tzu...classic...Nuke, I believe the Chinese general also had a few things to say about "Home field advantage"...

[Nuke]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

The man quotes Sun Tzu...classic...Nuke, I believe the Chinese general also had a few things to say about "Home field advantage"...

The Patroits will take the Indy crowd out of the game. Besides, dynasties don't get bothered by a lot of screaming fans.

[ThePundit]

Originally Posted by Nuke

But they DID lose that's the point. Like the Niner's of the 80's and Steelers of the '70s the Patriots just find ways to win no matter how or why and if that means taking advantage of boneheaded mistakes then so be it. There is no asterisk after the W column for championship teams. The Patriots will soundly defeat the Colts just like they always do. The Colts choke in the playoffs anyway and if you make one mistake versus Tom Brady in the playoffs it usually means your season is over.

I agree, in the playoffs, a win is a win. But I think the Colts want it more than the Pats. This is the most important game of Manning's life and I expect him to shut everybody up, once and for all.

You know what would be cool? If the Colts are down 2 pts, the last play of the game and Vinatierri has to try a 45 yard field goal.

[kenman923]

If the Patriots win again, I am sure that whoever replaces Matt Millen as GM of the Detroit Lions will be looking to make Bill Belichick an offer he can't refuse.

[Nuke]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

I agree, in the playoffs, a win is a win. But I think the Colts want it more than the Pats. This is the most important game of Manning's life and I expect him to shut everybody up, once and for all.

No doubt that Peyton wants this more than the Pats and at home everyone will be psyched up but that could work against them. The Pats are calm and cool and a couple of big plays and the crowd is out of the game. Plus Peyton wanting this AFC Championship crown has resulting in him pressing almost like he has something to prove as to which it's up to the individual whether he does or not. If you force things against the Pats D the game will be a rout for Brady and Co. Peyton needs to read the Pats D and study film, then he'll have a chance. He needs to use that emotion not have it destroy his chances in 48 hours.

[GoBlue2008]

I am a lions fan first, but the Pats are my other favorite team. I need someone other than the lions Tom Brady is amazing and he will not be beat by the Colts. He is way too good in the post season.

[ThePundit]

Welcome Go Blue. That's quite a discrepancy in teams you root for. The best organization in Sports vs. the Worst.
Anyway, this is from PatsPulpit

Good Ref for Patriots .. Maybe

The Boston Herald's John Tomase is reporting that referee Bill Carollo's crew will work the AFC Championship game this weekend.

This is good news for the New England Patriots, because Carollo's crew generally "let's the boys play." That means (we hope) that there will be less of a chance for ridiculous, one-way illegal contact and pass interference calls that the Indianapolis Colts thrive on.

Pats Pulpit :: A New England Patriots Blog
Will the refereeing crew make a difference?

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

Will the refereeing crew make a difference?

Could be. Is this the same crew that officiated the playoff game between these two teams a few years ago, where there was debate about how much contact was being allowed in the secondary? If so, it's VERY good news for the physical Patriots defensive backs.

[Nuke]

The only way the New England Patriots lose tomorrow is if they don't show up and they forfeit. That's the Colt's only hope.

[Nuke]

Originally Posted by Nuke

The only way the New England Patriots lose tomorrow is if they don't show up and they forfeit. That's the Colt's only hope.

I'm man enough to admit I was wrong and I was. You guys who took a more acute view of the game were right and I was just going by the past encounters. Congrats to you guys and the Colts who showed the Nuker wrong.