Many months ago when the National Football League announced its 2007 season schedule, one game stuck out. It's finally here as week nine is upon us.
The game is the rematch of the AFC Championship game from last season. The game stars the Indianapolis Colts hosting the New England Patriots.
The NFL couldn't have planned this matchup better. Not only is it between the premier teams in the NFL, with the premier quarterbacks, but it is also the only undefeated teams left this season and the latest matchup of undefeated teams in NFL history.
On one side you have the Colts, who have gone undefeated but haven't dominated like fans are used to. Peyton Manning has fewer touchdowns, fewer yards, a lower quarterback rating, a lower completion percentage and more interceptions during seven games than last season in the same amount of games.
Marvin Harrison has missed the equivalent of three games (two complete games and portions of two others) and is on pace for his career's fewest amount of catches, yards and touchdowns.
Despite all that, the defending Superbowl champion Colts are 7-0 for the third consecutive season.
On the other side is the Patriots. Tom Brady, known as the best in a clutch but who doesn't put up the gaudy statistics of Manning, is having a Manning-like season. Brady's quarterback rating this season is higher than Manning's was in 2004 when he set the single-season record at 121.1. Brady is on pace to shatter the single-season touchdown record with 49, which was set by Manning in 2004 with 11. Simply put, Brady is on pace to have the best season by an NFL quarterback ever, and he's done it all with his top running back missing for a significant amount of time.
Also on the Patriots' side is Randy Moss, arguably the all-time most talented wide receiver. If he continues at this rate he will have 94 catches, 1,558 yards and an NFL-record-tying 22 touchdowns this season.
The Patriots' offense is on pace for 662 points this season, breaking the 1998 Minnesota Vikings' record by 106 points.
All of this adds up to what should be one of the season's best games. At the very least, it will be the most hyped. All week long we will be witnesses to the quarterback showdown, the battle of the champs, the regular season AFC Championship game or whatever ESPN hype machine Chris Berman coins this game.
Colts bandwagoners, and there are plenty, will be wearing their shiny new jerseys all week long. Right along with them will be the Colts haters, most likely wearing Chicago Bears or Cincinnati Bengals gear. You'll know who they are by the obscenities they yell at the aforementioned Colts bandwagoners.
So who will win? Anybody have a coin? The favorites should be the Patriots because they are on fire.
Then again, the game is in Indianapolis where the Colts have a 13-game win streak dating back to the 2005 playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
You really can't go wrong picking either. As for me, I'll go with 38-27 Patriots because I'm one of those Colts haters mentioned before.
Write to Levin at levintblack@gmail.com
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