This weekend is what those in the football world deem "championship weekend", with the NFC and AFC championship games both taking place to determine who will represent each conference in Superbowl 49. There's plenty of focus on the NFC matchup which is the Green Bay Packers versus Seattle Seahawks, storylines about Aaron Rodgers' calf and Richard Sherman's defense are flying around.
But there's another game being played on Sunday, and it happens to be the Indianapolis Colts taking on the New England Patriots.
Andrew Luck has been nothing but un-Lucky against New England every time they've met, and their Week 11 matchup earlier in the season was no different. Luck had two TD's and one interception in that game, but it was his defense, or lack there-of, which ultimately cost him the game.
Patriots rookie RB Jonas Gray rushed for 201 yards and four touchdowns against the Colts during their meeting in the season, and the Patriots beat down the Colts, 42-20. New England's fans feared the Baltimore Ravens more than they fear these Colts and if you ask a Pats fan, they'll tell you the AFC Championship was played last week. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick knows the danger of hubris and is preaching to his team to not sleep on these Colts, who have a very skilled young quarterback running the show.
Belichick had nothing but praise for the third year quarterback out of Stanford saying, “He’s got an excellent arm, can make all the throws, got a lot of poise in the pocket, a big, strong guy that’s hard to tackle, can extend plays with his legs and his playing strength. He’s got good vision, does a good job at the line of scrimmage changing plays, using the snap count, things like that. He’s really a complete quarterback and does a great job.”
New England beat the Baltimore Ravens with a very heavy passing game, not even bothering to rush it in the second-half of that Divisional game. However, don't expect the same out of the Patriots this time around. With such success coming against the Colts on the ground, expect the attack to continue. LaGarrette Blount rushed for four touchdowns against the Colts in last year's Divisional game and with Jonas Gray having such success this season against Indy, it looks like Tom Brady's arm won't have the workout it had last week.
With cornerback Darrelle Revis more than likely matching up against Luck's favorite target, T.Y Hilton, and a lack of running-game from the Colts, it's hard to see Indy lighting up the scoreboard. If New England's defense has taken this week to build off of their win against Baltimore, it can only be a better defense. The Colts have weapons to make this an interesting game with Fleener and Moncrief as well, but with Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman leading the pass game, it's Tom Brady and his Patriots that have the most offensive punch.
Andrew Luck may be a tad hesitant to throw in the way of Revis and the Patriots other lockdown corner Brandon Browner who came over from the Seattle Seahawks during the off-season. With the Patriots as 6.5 favorites going into the game, look for them to still take it one play at a time.