AFC Championship Game Preview: Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots

The Indianapolis Colts will travel to Gillette Stadium to take on the New England Patriots. The winner will take a trip to Arizona for this years Superbowl. Last week proved to be challenging for both teams. The Patriots were 4 point winners over Baltimore in a close game throughout. The Colts didn’t have as much of a problem as New England did but the victory over Denver can not be understated. Andrew Luck finally beat the ghost of Peyton Manning, taking a much needed monkey off the young kids back. Can Andrew Luck defeat Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in consecutive weeks?

WHY THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS WILL WIN

1.Luck is on their side

Many of you may not realize this but Andrew Luck may very well wind up being the best quarterback that we get to see in our lifetime. Luck is the once in a generation type player that will win a ring just a matter of when. In order to be the best you have to beat the best. Who better than a showdown in Foxboro with Tom Brady and the Patriots. If the Pats are unable to get pressure on Luck he becomes the guy in the video game assassins creed…..Yes he is that good. In fact he is so great that Pats coach Bill Belicheck had this to say ‘

‘like a sixth receiver you have to cover,”

. The X factor becomes that Indy offensive line. In particular the Colts will need to contain dangerous pass rusher Chandler Jones. Interestingly enough both Jones brothers will be playing against each other while MMA fighter Jon Jones is expected to be in the stands. The assassin Andrew Luck will most likely have the time to throw which could spell the end for New England’s season. Luck also has no problem making large comebacks during the postseason, just ask Chief fans what happens when Mr. Luck is in the zone.

2. The Colts Have The Necessary Elements

Head coach Chuck Pagano is the former defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens. The Colts employ a very similar defense to Baltimore which often gives Tom Brady all he can handle. Pagano’s coaching specialty rests in the teams secondary. His corners are physical and have been playing their best ball as of late allowing 11 points a game over the last three games. Vontae Davis, the Colts number one corner is the true definition of a shut down corner and is vastly under rated. Greg Toler and Darius Butler are the other corners who establish a lot of press coverage. This could diminish the production from the Patriots smaller wide receivers. Then there is Sergio Brown a hard hitting safety looking for revenge. Brown and Rob Gronkowski got into an altercation in the week 11 game and will be hunting for heads this week. Brown was angry over Gronkowski’s celebration when the game was already won for New England. The other safety Laron Landry is quite the hard hitting safety as well. There will be no easy catches for the Pats.

The Pagano 3-4 defense also anchors some mammoths up front. Corey Redding and Arthur Jones are the known studs anchoring the ends. Then there is 340 pound Josh Chapman from Alabama who eats anything in his path. The Colts also have a pair of excellent linebackers in D’Qwell Jackson and Jerrell Freeman. The Patriots are highly unlikely to put up 35 points but will likely need another high scoring out put from Tom Brady with that Andrew Luck guy on the opposite sideline. The Patriots will be missing center Bryan Stork which will help the Colts win the line of scrimmage.

3. The Assassin Has Weapons

Whether its T.Y. Hilton doing T.Y. Hilton things or Reggie Wayne doing Reggie Wayne things the Colts have to many weapons. The Denver secondary regarded as the leagues best were unable to keep this deep group in check. What makes one think that Darrell Revis and a bunch of parts can contain the Luck side kicks? The scariest group may actually be the tight ends. The Colts have their own version of Hernandez (2011 Hernandez) and Gronk in Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener. Don’t forgot about Hakeem Nicks and Donte Moncrief who also have a large role in the offense. Did you remember I already named 6 players that can wreak havoc any given Sunday? The Colts do not have much of a running attack but who really cares. Starter Daniel “boom” Herron does enough to get by. The Colts made Trent Richardson a healthy scratch last week and dismantled Peyton Manning. Did the benching of Richardson spark the team for another win in New England?

WHY THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS WILL WIN

1. Foxboro is a unfriendly welcome to the cold for the Colts

The Colts play their home games inside the dome of Lucas Oil Stadium. The Colts often times fell victim to the New England cold weather during the playoffs when Peyton Manning was the team’s quarterback. Shouldn’t we expect the same from a team that plays so much inside a dome? Patriots quarterback probably doesn’t mind the cold after his comments last week.

“I know exactly what to wear. I know how many layers to wear every degree,” Brady told CSNNE’s Tom Curran on Wednesday. “I’m a (bleeping) machine, man, I’m a (bleeping) machine! C’mon baby!”

The outdoor conditions will likely play a huge factor for the Patriots victory. The current forecast calls for rain Sunday something that could also aid New England by potentially slowing the Colts passing game.

2. Belicheck has his bag of tricks ready to go

Patriots coach Bill Belicheck always holds something back in preparation for the playoffs. Last week vs. Baltimore the Patriots ran a wide receiver pass for a touchdown in addition to multiple four lineman sets. The Ravens were so confused they question whether their tactics were even legal. Without these game plans New England likely walks out a loser. You already know offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Belicheck have some contingency trick plays built-in. The Patriots will be hungry to win this week. Coach Belicheck has not won a Superbowl since the spygate scandal. A Superbowl win post spygate would finally wipe away the bad taste everyone has in their mouth from that era.

3. The Patriots defeated Indy 42-20 Week 11

A 22 point beat down in Indianapolis should give Patriots fans some confidence heading into this game. The Colts looked so inferior that unknown tailback Jonas Gray rushed for over 200 yards in the Pats victory. Rob Gronkowski also threw Sergio Brown “out of the club” bully defenders left and right. So why would anyone think this matchup will be any different? Gronkowski knows this game is not to be taken lightly

“It doesn’t matter about the last game. Teams change. Teams get better. Teams get worse,” Rob Gronkowski said. “Definitely the Colts are playing unbelievable right now. They’ve won two playoff games. They’re very, very good. Definitely got to be ready. I would agree, they’re definitely going to be the best team we’ve played all year. They’re ready, they’re prepared, they’re fast, they’re big, they’re physical. Just got to be prepared ourselves and got to be ready.”

Then again would expect anything but a politically correct answer from a Patriots player. A 22 point victory inside the dome has to result in a victory at home a few weeks later not?

WHY YOU WILL REGRET PICKING THE PATRIOTS

This game figures to be close especially with the Colts seeking revenge after an ugly loss week 11. The 7 point spread seems a bit high in this case. My prediction is that the Colts pull off the upset out right though. The Colts are just that X factor team this year that comes out of seemingly no where and make a Superbowl run. Still convinced the Patriots will walk away victorious? Consider the Following……. You forgot that the Colts have the assassin Andrew Luck and he is absolutely the better quarterback at this stage in his career. You forgot that Peyton Manning is not the quarterback leading the Colts into New England to choke in the cold weather. You Forgot that the Colts have former Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri who could pull some karma cheese if the game is close. You forgot that the older brother always wins so pick Arthur over Chandler. You also forgot the college football championship featured a 2 vs. 4 game with Oregon and Ohio State. Does that mean the Superbowl is destined to be 2 vs. 4 Green Bay and Indianapolis? My superstition may prove to be correct. Andrew Luck’s quest for a Superbowl has only just begun. By the time the rest of the world figures it out you will have already been too late.

Prediction Colts 31-27

Current Playoff record is 6-2 and yes I did take the Colts last week. https://defpen.com/afc-divisional-playoff-preview-indianapolis-at-denver/