The most hyped NFL regular-season game in years finally takes place Sunday afternoon in Indianapolis when the 7-0 Colts host the rampaging, 8-0 Patriots in the game many are calling Super Bowl 41.5.
The two biggest stars in the league, Colts QB Peyton Manning and New England QB Tom Brady, will be on the field. The winner will have a huge leg up for homefield advantage in a potential playoff rematch. The Patriots have only lost once in their last 14 games - and that was against the Colts in last season's AFC Championship Game. The Colts enter having won 12 straight after joining the 1929-31 Green Bay Packers as the only teams to open three consecutive seasons 7-0.
"I really think that's why you're in the league, for games like this," Colts coach Tony Dungy said.
This is the first time in NFL history two teams are playing each other with undefeated records through at least seven games.
"Two undefeated teams, and obviously with the history between these teams, it makes for a great matchup," Brady said. "You know anytime you play the Colts it's always an exciting game for all the players and all the coaches. You know when you're playing them, you're playing the best."
The Colts are home underdogs for the first time in more than five years, with New England -5.5 point NFL betting favorite on WagerWeb.com.
If ever a defending Super Bowl champion that was unbeaten deserved to be an underdog, it might be against this Patriots team.
The Patriots are on pace to shatter the NFL's season scoring record, and Brady's 30 touchdown passes inhalf a season put him just 19 short of the league record that Manning set in 2004. The Patriots haven't scored fewer than 34 points in a game or won a game by fewer than 17 points. Their average margin of victory this season is 25.5 points.Randy Moss has caught 47 passes for a league-high 779yards and an NFL-best 11 touchdowns while Wes Walker has 56 receptions for 613 yards and six touchdowns and Donte Stallworrth has 26 catches for 411 yards and three scores.
All eight of the Pats' wins have been by at least 17 points, and they posted the most lopsided victory of any team this season last Sunday with a 52-7 rout of Washington.
It was the eighth straight game Brady has thrown for at least three touchdowns -- an NFL record to start a season. Brady has thrown only two interceptions and completed 74.2 percent of his passes.
"They're a great football team and I think we've proven over the last eight weeks that we can play at a pretty high level ourselves," Brady said.
Manning hasn't exactly been a slouch, tying for second in the league in QB rating behind Brady at 102.9. Manning has 13 touchdown passes, compared to three interceptions.
Manning has completed 152 of 232 passes for 1,833 yards and 13 touchdowns and the Colts have scored at least 29 points in six of their seven games despite top receiver Marvin Harrison being hurt at times with a knee injury.
Will Harrison play Sunday? (NFL injury report)
Coach Tony Dungy said the All-Pro will be a game-time decision.
"Our dilemma is that the doctors thought if he (Harrison) plays, he could have continued issues with it," Dungy said Friday." If we give him another week off, he probably would not have the same issues down the stretch. But he wants to play."
The Indianapolis defense, meanwhile, leads the NFL by leading 165.4 passing yards a game and could be the key factor against New England. However, New England's rush defense has been good, giving up just 87.0 rushing yards per game.
The lowdown: Indianapolis is giving up 14.6 points per game, compared to 15.9 by New England, and both teams have a plus-11 turnover margin to lead the league. I could give you more numbers, but they are all pretty much equal. In what should be a fascinating game, I think Harrison will play but not at 100 percent. But I think being at home gets Indy a cover, but that the Patriots pull out a 3-point victory.
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