The Patriots lead the all-time series 44-28, including a 2-1 record in the playoffs. The Pats are 20-16 in road games in the series, including a 14-8 mark in Indianapolis. The Colts have won four of the last five meetings between the teams, but before that, the Pats held a six-game winning streak in the series.
The Colts are trying to win their 18th consecutive regular-season game, which would tie the Patriots (2003-04) for the second-longest streak in NFL history. The Patriots and Colts each have 109 regular-season victories in the 2000s, which leads the league.
When and Where
Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, 8 p.m. (NBC)
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Ind.
Records
Patriots 6-2 (2-1 AFC East)
Colts 8-0 (3-0 AFC South)
Skinny
In the long run, this game is more important for the Patriots, who are trying to catch up to the Colts in the AFC standings. Because of that factor, the Pats haven’t been shy this week to put the importance of this game on a pedestal.Surely, the Patriots’ victory against the Dolphins last week gave them a tremendous chance to make the playoffs, but if the Patriots have any thoughts of earning home-field advantage — not to mention a first-round bye, considering there are three other 6-2 teams in the AFC — they’ve got no choice but to beat the Colts.
After this game, New England’s seven opponents have a combined 30-27 record, while Indy’s opposition has a 28-29 record. The difference is basically negligible, which means the Patriots can’t simply hope the Colts will go in the tank in their last seven contests.
This game should essentially determine each team’s January travel plans. Just another Sunday? Not a chance.
Projected Starters
PatriotsOffense
Quarterback: Tom Brady
Wide receiver: Randy Moss
Wide receiver: Wes Welker
Running back: Laurence Maroney
Tight end: Ben Watson
Tight end: Chris Baker
Left tackle: Sebastian Vollmer
Left guard: Logan Mankins
Center: Dan Connolly
Right guard: Stephen Neal
Right tackle: Nick Kaczur
Defense
Defensive tackle: Vince Wilfork
Right defensive end: Mike Wright
Left outside linebacker: Pierre Woods
Middle linebacker: Jerod Mayo
Middle linebacker: Gary Guyton
Right outside linebacker: Adalius Thomas
Left cornerback: Darius Butler
Right cornerback: Leigh Bodden
Strong safety: Brandon Meriweather
Free safety: Brandon McGowan
Specialists
Kicker: Stephen Gostkowski
Punter: Chris Hanson
Long snapper: Jake Ingram
Holder: Chris Hanson
Kick returner: Brandon Tate
Punt weturner: Wes Welker
Colts
Offense
Quarterback: Peyton Manning
Wide receiver: Reggie Wayne
Wide receiver: Pierre Garcon
Running back: Joseph Addai
Fullback: Gijon Robinson
Tight end: Dallas Clark
Left tackle: Charlie Johnson
Left guard: Ryan Lilja
Center: Jeff Saturday
Right guard: Mike Pollak
Right tackle: Ryan Diem
Defense
Left defensive end: Robert Mathis
Left defensive tackle: Antonio Johnson
Right defensive tackle: Daniel Muir
Right defensive end: Dwight Freeney
Weakside linebacker: Philip Wheeler
Middle linebacker: Gary Brackett
Strongside linebacker: Clint Session
Cornerback: Jacob Lacey
Cornerback: Jerraud Powers
Strong safety: Melvin Bullitt
Free safety: Antoine Bethea
Specialists
Kicker: Matt Stover
Punter: Pat McAfee
Long snapper: Justin Snow
Holder: Pat McAfee
Kick returner: T.J. Rushing
Punt returner: T.J. Rushing
Stat Sheet
Patriots
With a victory, the Patriots would have 124 wins this decade, including postseason games. The 1990s San Francisco 49ers had 125 wins, which is the NFL record for victories in any decade.
The Patriots are 71-17 after Nov. 1 since 2001.
The Patriots are 15-13 all-time on Sunday Night Football, including a 2-2 mark against the Colts. They’re 3-4 on Sunday night games broadcast on NBC, with an 0-2 record against Indy.
Since joining the Patriots, head coach Bill Belichick is 8-5 against the Colts. He is 10-7 against them overall.
Quarterback Tom Brady has thrown for 300 yards in a team-record 27 games. He has 300 passing yards in three consecutive games for just the second time in his career.
Brady has completed 144 of 216 passes (66.7 percent) for 1,662 yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions in seven career regular-season games against the Colts.
Wide receiver Wes Welker is the sixth player in franchise history to have three consecutive seasons with at least 50 receptions, joining Ben Coates, Irving Fryar, Marv Cook, Terry Glenn and Troy Brown.
Welker has caught at least 10 passes three times this season. Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson set the league record last season with seven 10-catch games.
Wide receiver Randy Moss needs eight receptions to become the 11th player in NFL history to reach 900. He is also 10 catches behind Jacksonville’s Torry Holt for 10th on the all-time list.
Welker has caught 15 passes for 98 yards and one touchdown in three career games against the Colts.
Moss has 63 career 100-yard games, which is second all-time and 13 behind Jerry Rice.
Moss is 87 receiving yards shy of 14,000, and he is 92 yards away from passing James Lofton for sixth on the all-time list.
Moss has caught 16 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns in three career games against the Colts.
The Patriots have converted 85 of 134 fourth downs since 2002, and their 63.4 success rate is the best in the league in that time.
Colts
The Colts are averaging 315.0 passing yards per game, which is tops in the league and 20 more than the Patriots, who are second in the NFL.
The Colts are converting a league-best 51.0 percent of their third downs. They have converted 47.8 percent of their third downs since 2002, which is the best mark in the NFL since then. The Patriots are tied with the Saints for second with a 43.0 percent mark.
Quarterback Peyton Manning has completed 303 of 490 passes for 3,668 yards, 28 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in 14 career regular-season games against the Patriots.
Manning has 125 career victories, tying him with Fran Tarkenton for the fourth most all-time.
Manning has thrown 80 of his 349 career touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, his lowest total in any quarter.
Wide receiver Reggie Wayne has caught 32 passes for 446 yards and two touchdowns in seven career games against New England.
The Colts have been flagged for 665 penalties since 2002, which is the third fewest in the league in that span. The Jets (599) and Seahawks (635) lead that list. The Patriots, meanwhile, are seventh with 712 penalties.
The Colts are an NFL-best 32-12 in November since 1999.
Dallas Clark has 195 receptions since 2007, which is third among tight ends in that span. His 20 touchdown receptions lead all tight ends since 2007.
Black and Blue
(From Thursday’s practice report)
Patriots
Linebacker Eric Alexander (groin) did not practice.
Wide receiver Julian Edelman (forearm) did not practice.
Defensive end Jarvis Green (knee) did not practice and is not expected to play.
Center Dan Koppen (knee) did not practice.
Left tackle Matt Light (knee) did not practice.
Safety Brandon Meriweather (foot) did not practice.
Running back Sammy Morris (knee) did not practice and is not expected to play.
Wide receiver Brandon Tate (knee) did not practice.
Running back Fred Taylor (ankle) did not practice and is not expected to play.
Defensive end Ty Warren (ankle) did not practice.
Tight end Chris Baker (shoulder) had limited participation.
Linebacker Tully Banta-Cain (groin) had limited participation.
Quarterback Tom Brady (right shoulder) fully participated.
Defensive back Shawn Springs (knee) fully participated.
Tight end Ben Watson (back) fully participated.
Wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez (knee) did not practice and is not expected to play.
Cornerback Kelvin Hayden (knee) did not practice and is not expected to play.
Quarterback Jim Sorgi (right shoulder) did not practice.
Kicker Adam Vinatieri (right knee) did not practice.
Defensive end Dwight Freeney (not injury related) fully participated.
This Date in Patriots History
In 1992, the Patriots overcame a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit and beat the Colts 37-34 in overtime at the RCA Dome. Quarterback Scott Zolak completed 20 of 29 passes for 261 yards, two touchdowns and one interception to lift the Patriots to their first of two victories on the season.
The Patriots are 2-5 all-time on Nov. 15.
Overheard
“I like Pacquiao. I’m not saying he’s going to win, but I like Pacquiao.”
–Running back Kevin Faulk on Saturday night’s world welterweight championship between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto
Press Box
PatriotsVince Wilfork is concerned with football, not money.
Time to get sentimental: Here are one writer’s five favorite moments from the Pats-Colts series.
Safety Brandon McGowan is more than just a hard hitter.
Colts
Get to know new Colts head coach Jim Caldwell.
The Colts were impressed with a local kid who was in their camp last summer.
The Colts have a real hero off the field.NFL
The NFC East has seen a drastic change in the last month.
Statistically, Adrian Peterson is not the best running back in the NFL.
Despite limited chances, Michael Vick is happy in Philly.
Outlook
The Patriots should not act like Balloon Boy and stay on the ground. Forget playing conservatively and trying to keep the ball away from Peyton Manning. The Dolphins played that strategy to perfection in Week 2, holding the ball for 45 minutes, and they still lost.The fact is the Patriots should play their fast-paced, air-it-out game that has been so dominant for the last few years. The Colts’ secondary is still scrambling to put enough healthy bodies on the field, and that’s something Tom Brady and his receivers need to exploit. Pass first, and use that to open room for the running game that has been a nice compliment in recent weeks.
This will be rookie left tackle Sebastian Vollmer’s biggest task to date, as he’ll square off against Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney, whom Brady said is the best pass rusher in the game. Vollmer has held steady in place of Matt Light, but Freeney is a different monster. If the rookie keeps Freeney in check, it might be worth wondering if Light gets Wally Pipp’d and loses his job.
Defensively, the Patriots’ secondary, as a whole, is better than the Colts’ receiver. Naturally, wideout Reggie Wayne is having a career year, but Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie really shouldn’t cause too many problems for cornerbacks Leigh Bodden, Darius Butler and Shawn Springs.
However, tight end Dallas Clark is continuing to shoulder the responsibility of Manning’s second receiver. Bill Belichick called Clark a “competitive” blocker but an elite receiver, and Clark will be safety Brandon McGowan’s responsibility. McGowan has already had excellent games against Atlanta’s Tony Gonzalez and Tampa Bay’s Kellen Winslow, and if he can contain Clark over the middle, Manning will be more likely to make a mistake throwing to the outside in higher-risk situations.
Let’s be real — there’s no set way for a defense to stop Manning, but if the Patriots can confuse him, they’ll give themselves a fighting chance. Before the snap, the secondary and linebackers have to do a great job of disguising their coverage schemes and blitz packages, and it’s all about discipline for the Patriots. They’ve got to stay with their disguises as long as possible in order to keep Manning from recognizing the defense and calling the appropriate offensive play.
Additionally, linebacker Tully Banta-Cain said it’s important to get into the backfield and hit Manning. While a number of Patriots defensive players said it’s frustrating playing against Manning because he gets rid of the ball so quickly and is seemingly impossible to sack, Banta-Cain said Manning gets “happy feet” in the pocket when he senses pressure.
And the Patriots know as well as anyone that Manning can become mistake-prone when he is uncomfortable.
The Patriots are in a good place entering this game, and the Colts might have overachieved to this point under first-year head coach Jim Caldwell.