Cory Puffett
Indianapolis Colts at
New England Patriots
January 11 – 8:15pm
(CBS)
Andrew Luck truly is Captain Comeback. Take Peyton Manning’s
two highest season totals for game winning drives, they only add up to three
more than Andrew Luck’s. Fourth quarter comebacks are a different story, but
Luck is still doing it earlier than Peyton ever did.
Take Tom Brady’s two highest season totals for either stat
and they’re only one more than Luck’s through just his rookie and sophomore
seasons.
The problem, though, with being Captain Comeback is that you
have to trail first. There are two things wrong with that. One, you can’t come
back every time. Two, if you find
yourself with a lead in the fourth quarter you may not know what to do with it.
That second problem is what bothers me this weekend. New
England is not going to put up a ton of points. Quote me on it; I’ll be eating
my words if I’m wrong anyway so it’ll make no difference to me if you bring it
up. If the Colts lead in the fourth quarter, and it’s not by at least ten
points, look out. Not only may Indianapolis not know what to do with that lead,
but also Tom Brady is dangerous in crunch time no matter who he has.
I’ve watched Tom Brady play with little offensive talent
before. I’ve seen him look like a fool for three and a half quarters of a
football game. But it doesn’t matter how badly he’s been playing, Tom Brady in
the last five minutes of a ball game with a single-digit deficit is a “baaaad
man,” to quote Stephen A Smith.
And the thing is, his receivers aren’t all that bad. Sure,
it’d be nice if Deion Branch were out there for him instead of suiting up for
Indy this weekend. But Danny Amendola is healthy. Julian Edelman is healthy.
Kenbrell Thompkins is healthy. And Michael Hoomanawanui isn’t an awful tight
end – he did have three touchdown
catches his rookie season in St. Louis.
Aaron Dobson is questionable right now, but even without him
I’ve seen worse receiving units than this, and this one actually has one of the
all-time great quarterbacks to get them the ball.
New England also has a pretty solid group of running backs
with Ridley, Vereen, Blount and Bolden. I’ll be looking for New England to use
them to wear down the Colts early in the game to set up Brady for some
late-game success if Indy’s offense can’t close the door.
For Indianapolis, Andrew Luck has to take advantage of
Brandon Spikes going on injured reserve this week. He’s a big part of New
England’s defense. With him out, there will be no need to force deep throws
down the field, his check downs should rarely be covered.
It also creates an advantage in the run game for the Colts.
Spikes is one of New England’s leading tacklers on the season and even though
he’s not bad in pass coverage, run stopping is definitely his forte.
I don’t know much about the Patriots’ backup for Spikes, but
I think it’s safe to assume that he won’t need to be the first guy the linemen
go after when they block for Donald Brown, who is having a heckuva few weeks.
The numbers may not look superb for him, but he’s going to have to be an
integral part of Indy’s game plan if they want to play in this year’s AFC
Championship game.
I will make my official prediction for this game on Friday.
Tomorrow I will preview the two Sunday divisional round games.
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