Colts-Patriots Preview

           In a match-up that is so perfectly scripted that you wonder if it’s fixed, the Indianapolis  Colts and the New England Patriots will provide many story-lines in the AFC Championship game.

After starting off the season 9-0, the Colts were poised to have the NFL’s top record again. However, they took a turn for the worse, finishing 3-4 in their last seven games for a 12-4 record. Their run defense was historically bad, giving up a league high 173 rushing yards for game. Just like that, the Colts went from Super Bowl contenders to pretenders seemingly heading for another disappointment.  The Colts were matched up against the Chiefs, with top running back Larry Johnson ready to demolish the Colts run defense.

To the surprise of everyone, Johnson was held to a dismal 32 yards on the ground in a Colts 23-8 victory. Another challenge faced them as they squared off against the best defense in the league, the Baltimore Ravens. Although the Ravens held the Colts out of the end-zone, the Colts did the same to the Ravens and won a battle of field goals in a 15-6 upset.

The Patriots dynasty was seemingly over. Despite a 12-4 record, the Patriots were deemed a team that would not get far in the playoffs. It was a sensible assumption, as they lost star safety Rodney Harrison for the entire postseason, and faced a pesky opponent in the New York Jets. Lead by head coach Eric Mangini, student of the Patriots mastermind Bill Belichick, the Jets defeated the Pats in their second regular season encounter. A Jets was possible, probable to some. In the end, the Pats showed why they have won three Super Bowls in the past five years with a 37-16 win over the Jets. Up next lay the team with the best record in the NFL, the San Diego Chargers.

Led by MVP Ladainian Tomlinson, who shattered the record for most touchdowns scored in a single season, the Chargers were a favorite to win the Super Bowl. They had many chances to bury the Patriots, but could not cash in on any of them. In the end,  quarterback Tom Brady led his team to yet another game winning drive, increasing his playoff record to a staggering 12-1.

This Sunday, these two rivals, the Yankees and Red Sox of the NFL, square off for a visit to Miami, home of Super Bowl XLI. Although the Colts defeated the Patriots earlier this season, they have been beat again and again by them in postseason play. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning’s legacy is on the line, as he is still without a championship ring. To make his first Super Bowl, he must beat the golden boy, Tom Brady. Brady has three Super Bowl rings in his pro career as experts wait to see if he can lead his team to yet another. After trading star wide receiver Deion Branch in the off-season, it would be amazing if Brady could lead this injury-plagued team to another league. Some might say it would put him among the elite quarterbacks in NFL history, if not the elite.

The Colts success depends on their newly rejuvinated defense. After safety Bob Sanders returned from injury, the Colts have had a fire lit under them in an amazing turn around. Sanders has proved to be a big difference so far, but can he continue to do so?

Ironically, the biggest storyline of all could be a kicker. After hitting clutch field goals multiple times to help the Patriots become a modern dynasty, Adam Vinatieri was let go by the Patriots, only to sign with the Colts. The Colts winning on a field goal would be the Patriots worst nightmare. Not only do their rivals finally move one step closer to glory, but it would be because of a poor decision in their front office.

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