Hollywood could not have written a script that could do justice to what is inevitably staged to happen Sunday, November 4Th at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. Two teams, both riding waves of immense success, will meet in a never before seen battle on the Gridiron....    

For the first time in the eighty-eight year history of the National Football League, two undefeated teams with seven or more wins will face off against each other. So much hype has surrounded this game that is has been dubbed Super Bowl XLI and a half .     

The (8-0) New England Patriots are set to take on the (7-0) Indianapolis Colts in what will, no doubt, be the most intense game of the season.    

In order to do justice to this match-up, I will examine both teams, their players and their Head Coaches. I have to say that these two teams are as different as night and day in just about every aspect, except for one. . .they are both Undefeated.    

BILL BELICHICK :  

In every great war story there has to be a brilliant, but hated general. I could think of no better description than this to describe such a man.  

Bill has had much success in his time as Head Coach of the New England Patriots. He has been solely responsible for laying out each battle plan in order to create this now Dynasty.    

A highly respected Coach for many years, whose probably the most hands on Coach in the NFL, Bill is involved in every aspect of his team. From the Offense, Defense and Special Teams, Bills hands are right in there, directing each play like a well-choreographed dance.  

And while this is a bit unheard of in a time of very expensive Offensive Coordinators, Defensive Assistant Coaches and numerous others, who are hired to make the Head Coaches job that much easier, Bill remains cemented in his way, or no way.  

Unfortunately, this season Bill was caught cheating by filming the defensive calls in the season opener against the Jets. As usual, the media jumped on a name for the scandal, which has stuck. SPY-GATE! The reason I even bring this up is to allow you to see where the chip on Bills shoulder comes from.    

Unlike most, who would find them self in this type predicament, Bill instead became defensive, and barely apologized, if that is what you can call it. Since then the New England Patriots have been using the mentality that it is, "Us against the world!"  

*Quote From Bill on Sundays Game* 

"It's the next game, he replied." 

                                     

      

 TONY DUNGY:  

Most are aware of  the trials, tribulations and tragedy that have affected Colts' Head Coach Tony Dungy on and off the field. It is how he has handled these situations that have given us an intimate picture of this most beloved Head Coach. . . .  

Dungy first became a household name when he was the coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During his time there the team went to four consecutive playoffs. Dungy built a team that was good enough too win the Super Bowl, but unfortunately it would come the following year after the Bucs fired him for not making it to the Super Bowl. Talk about irony.  

This almost made Tony walk away from football all together, but fate intervened and a new door opened in Indianapolis. It is here where his faith, quiet authority and his strong desire to persevere would pay off.  

Dungy is a master when it comes to knowing how to get the best out of his players. He plans a brilliant battle attack, but allows for his players to make the necessary changes when need be. Working as a team has allowed them many things, but none more important then winning Super Bowl XLI last February against the Chicago Bears.  

Unlike his opponent, Dungy will go into this game looking ahead to the rest of the season. Remaining undefeated is not a priority on his list. The number one priority on his list is leading his  fifty-three players and sixteen coaches back to the Super Bowl.

                                    *Quote from Dungy on Sunday's match-up*    

“It's going to be fun,” Dungy said. “It will be fun, and it will be two good teams that know each other, but nothing more than that, really.”      

 

 DUELING QUARTERBACKS:   

Undoubtedly Manning and Brady are the best quarterbacks in the entire NFL. They both have Super Bowl wins, Super Bowl MVP awards, and both have been in numerous Pro-Bowls. These two have met a total of eight times in their careers, which would explain the deep seeded rivalry between them. But, if there was a recipe to create the perfect QB, it would have to be based solely on these two. . . .  

Their passing skills alone are flawless. When both release that pigskin it appears to be effortless on their part. It is a purity that is rarely seen in a game where most quarterbacks scramble to get the ball off.  

For both, it almost seems as if they have all day to access where their deadly accurate aim will be placed. With Manning and Brady together, keeping it in the air all day, this game will likely be referred to later as the "Day of the Aerial Attack."  

 Tom Brady:   

This season for # 12 has become a Cinderella story in the making. Brady has thrown for thirty touchdowns in only eight games. It seems that there is no doubt that he is enjoying the role reversal this year between him and his adversary Peyton Manning.   

In previous seasons, it had always been Brady who has had the Super Bowl rings, but lacked severely behind Peyton in best overall Stats. With all that now changed, we have come to see a poised Brady who takes charge of his offense with supreme command.  

With thirty touchdowns, nineteen short of Manning's record, a total of 2,431 yards and only two interceptions, this guy is a freight train who has yet to be stopped. While relying on his receivers heavily, Brady has been able to exploit them with his pin point accuracy. He is a mechanical QB, who appears to be more robotic than human at times.  

If you think that Tom Brady is being humble about his success think again. With the team being called cheaters all season, Brady has developed a boulder, not a chip, on his shoulder. When being asked about the upcoming game against the Colts, Brady had this to say. . .                                          
                        

                                     *Quote from Brady on Sunday's match-up*  

"They are a great football team but I think we have proven over the last eight weeks that we can play at a pretty high level ourselves. You can’t turn the ball over against the Colts. It’s usually seven points. You can’t punt the ball to them because it’s usually seven points.”  

Of course there will be no trash talking between these two, but the tension is definitely there. With so much at stake, it is very clear the Tom Brady will bring everything he has in his arsenal Sunday. And though I am not certain about this, I feel that Brady has an ax to grind in Indy during this match-up. He wants to walk away from a game, that could possibly define his entire career, victorious, because anything less than that just would not do.    

 PEYTON MANNING:  

What a year this has been for Peyton Manning. He is the reigning Super Bowl MVP and has won the last thirteen home games in Indy, as well as twelve consecutive wins. On Sunday's his face is all over everywhere with his plethora of television commercials.    

Last Sunday against the Panthers Manning tied and then broke Johnny Unitas' team TD record with a total of 228.  But, this Sunday holds much more weight than anything Peyton has done since February.  

While it is true, statistically speaking, Peyton has not been as good this season, he has benefited from the stability of his offensive combined with that cannon he calls an arm, which has allowed him to lead them to week nine undefeated.   

With the weapons Peyton has at receiver and running back,and playing at home in front of his adoring fans, we may very well see Manning at the top of his game. There is no doubt that Peyton has the faster arm of the two, and that where Brady is mechanical, Manning is more human than robotic.  

Peyton has thrown thirteen touchdowns for a total of 1,833 yards with only three interceptions this season. He seems to have a knack for always knowing where to throw the ball, and knowing where the rush is coming from. It is actually uncanny that he always seems to know exactly how much time on every snap he has to throw the ball. Peyton is a clutch player, and has always held command of that offense.

                                   
*Quote from Manning on Sunday's match-up*     

“They’re playing great and it’s well-documented what we think about the  Patriots,  their organization and how good of a team we think they are. You just don’t want to give an inch,” Manning said. “You don’t want to come out flat and lose one. In the AFC now, you can’t afford to lose one.”    

Manning knows that this is one of those career defining moments, and I am sure that he wants this win as much as Brady does. But I think he also understands that it is more important to maintain a hard earned two game lead in the AFC South. Still with that being said, it is a certainty we will see Peyton Manning at his best this Sunday.    

 

MATCH-UPS:  

I am not sure if anyone else is aware of this, but there are more players than just Manning and Brady playing in the game tomorrow.  Here, I am going to briefly match Patriot and Colts player by posistion.

ADDAI vs. MARONEY:  

Both of these guys are great running backs, but Joseph Addai is the better all-around back. He can pick up a blitz well, catch out of the backfield and over all is the better runner of the two. Amazingly they match up in size almost perfectly. The only thing different about  Maroney is he is  a bit better at being more versatile than Addai.    

RECEIVERS:  

Colts: 

What a group the Colts have. There is no doubt that they are three of the best receivers in the NFL. Marv Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark. These are the guys that make Peyton look good. In tough situations you can always count on their combined experience together to get them through.    

Wayne and Harrison are excellent route runners. I honestly believe that Dallas Clark may have the best game of his career this Sunday, especially if Dungy does not clear Harrison to play. Clark will be called upon to step up the intensity of his game.    

Pats: 

The Patriots do not have a shabby group of receivers' either. Between Moss, Welker and Stallworth they have both put up impressive numbers combined for a total of 1,803 yards. Among the three of them they have twenty touchdowns, with the most (11) going to Moss.    

It seems with every snap Moss finds away to get wide open, and Welker has the ability to go underneath. The only thing going against these guys is that they have not been together long. Still eight consecutive victories can only make you imagine just how great they will be after being together for a few years.

DEFENSIVE ENDS:  

Colts: 

Dwight Freeny is a defensive end who causes offenses to worry whenever they are on the opposite side of the ball as him. This season he has eighteen tackles, four forced fumbles and 3.5 sacks. When playing Freeny it has been said that he has to be doubled teamed at all times, otherwise he will be face to face with the QB quickly. I think Brady should be a tad worried about Freeny Sunday, because he has been nursing a right shoulder injury most of the season.    

 Pats: 

Richard Seymour has been out most of this season, but made his return in the game against the Washington Redskins. It is apparent that there still may be some issues over whether or not he is 100%. If he can play without pain this game, and play well, he could be a force to contend with. Still, his stats from the past '06 season are not as good as theyshould have been. Therefore, with too many if's concerning Seymour, I am really not expecting a big game for him.

SECONDARIES:    

Colts:

Marlin Jackson absolutely ranks the best in this group. This season he has already had a total of forty-eight tackles and one interception. While he has not recorded any sacks yet, he will be the one who dominates the field Sunday.    

Colts:

Bob Sanders has thirty-eight tackles, one interception and two and a half sacks. Between Marlin and Bob I am giving them the advantage in this match-up.

Pats:

Rodney Harrison is not having the kind of  year that I am sure he would like to be having, but he does have sixteen tackles, with no interceptions and two sacks.    

Pats:

Asante Samuel also is not having a great season. He has only recorded seventeen tackles, with zero sacks. The one bright spot for him and the Pats defense is he does have four interceptions.    

SPECIAL TEAMS :   

 Colts:

It has been said that if this game comes down to a field goal, Adam Vinatieri could be the key to a Colts victory. This season Vinatieri is 14/15 with his longest kick from thirty-nine yards. Adam's average is just slightly below the leagues leading kicker( Patriots Gostkowski) in the NFL. But the most important fact is that Vinatieri was the kicker for the Patriots ten out of twelve years in his career. So this is personal for Adam, which in my opinion gives him the advantage.    

Pats:

Having to fill big shoes after Vinatieri left, Stephen Gostkowski is leading the league with 10/11 attempts, his longest being from forty-five yards. This week he will face off against Vinatieri in what could very well be a game decided by the kickers.

*Side Note: It will be worth watching to see if either team will "Ice" the kicker the way Buffalo did to Dallas.*        

 

Summary:    

New England has outscored this season's opponents by at least seventeen points. Brady's passing rating is incredible at 136.2 yards. Randy Moss is on course to breaking a team record this weekend with most touchdown catches. In all the teams the Patriots have played only two teams have scored more than twenty points on them, the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins. Odds have the Pats by four and a half over the Colts.  

If for some reason Brady was unable to finish this game, back-up QB Matt Cassell would have to come in....the Patriots would then have to say, "Goodbye" to the rest of their season. It is the only position that the Patriots have no depth to.  

This is a serious issue that one would think Belichick would never have allowed to happen. With Brady already suffering from an injury to his right shoulder, Cassell coming in, if Tom goes down wrong on that shoulder, is a real possibility.   

So what do the Colts need to do to win this game?    

With Dungy being able to figure out Belichicks game plan in the last three games, I think it is safe to say that this will also be the case tomorrow. Many adjustments have been made to Indy's defense this season to allow for more coverage in the backfield, as opposed to blitzing on every play.    

Still, pressure has to be applied to Brady constantly. If he is allowed to much time in the pocket, Brady will take full advantage of the situation. Make him feel pressured. If at all possible sack him as many times as you can. Keep Moss double-teamed at all times, never letting him get open in the backfield. Stallworth should be covered as often as possible, but be more concerned with Moss.    

The Patriots quarterback and dynamic trio have not been together long enough to gel in such an intense game like this. Let's not forget that though Randy Moss seems to have changed his bad-boy ways, simply because he has yet to be shutdown. But, I can almost guarantee, should that happen, we will see his bad-boy ways return.  

My choice for the winner of this game has to be the Indianapolis Colts by six over the New England Patriots. The Colts, first and foremost, are the reigning Super Bowl Champs. They are at home playing in front of their fans, and they have won the last three match-ups against the Patriots. And while there is no denying that the Patriots appear to be unstoppable, I just feel very strongly that the Colts are the brick wall that will stop them.

   Final Score: Colts 34- Pats 28    

All in all, this is probably the best game that will occur in the NFL this entire regular season. Two equally consistent and well organized teams will give a game for the record books. So kick back and relax, because  this game has been dubbed the "BIGGEST RIVALRY" ever in the National Football League!