AFC Championship: New England Patriots @ Indianapolis Colts

Colts -3
These two teams doing battle is special. It is special because the same key people on both teams are still in place. This isn’t just about the Colt’s revenge; it’s about Manning and Dungy’s revenge. It’s about Brady and Belichick doing it again to those guys. The Kicker position for both these teams has been more high-profile than any other team’s in recent history; the Colts former K for all the wrong reasons and their current kicker, New England’s former kicker, for all the right reasons.

The Patriots have become the Yankees of the NFL. It was only a few years ago that another Boston team was attempting to overcome mystique, the Beantown football team is trying to hold on to it. The Pats won last week due to a play within a play, some mystique you might say. That is not to knock them, but they didn’t line up and beat the Chargers, they mystiqued them. Troy Brown saved Brady and created the opportunity for Brady to redeem himself. Without Brown’s strip Brady’s reputation as a clutch playoff QB would have taken a pretty big hit. But it didn’t, and he is, and they are, so there you have it.

The big question I have with about the Colts is, are they really playing better defense or have the played two mediocre offenses the first two rounds of the playoffs? Herm Edwards and Brian Billick combined to look like the worst two offensive minds this side of General Custer. Indianapolis is allowing an average of 12 pts per game over their last 3 games, but it has been against the Ravens, Chiefs and Dolphins.

Since 1999 the Colts have only missed one post-season (2001), the Patriots have failed to qualify for the playoffs 3 times (1999, 2000 and 2002). But before last year, they won the Super Bowl every time they did get in the playoffs. What was the difference last year? They played on the road against someone other than Pittsburgh. Prior to their loss at Denver the only road wins they had in the playoffs were at Pittsburgh, who was notorious for losing Conference Championship games at home.

The Colts were always done in by the weather, no defense or their inability to pick up for Peyton when he struggled. This year is different. The Colts now have the clutch kicker; the Colts now get the playoff game at their place and the Colts are finding ways to win without scoring 30+ points. New England has gotten this far yet again and it’s tough to go against them. However, the Colts seem to have found the Patriots number and the dome should work in their favor. I am playing the Colts minus the 3 and playing it at 2-stars.