Slow Rolled in Indy

For almost three and a half quarters on Sunday afternoon, Peyton Manning and the defending Super Bowl champions almost made New England fans believe their team could be beaten. Almost made them believe that perhaps the critics were right. Maybe those experts that so wildly picked the Colts to win the game, weren't so wild after all. It was a heavyweight fight, and the champs were winning.

The Patriots simply looked over matched. Tom Brady spent more time on his butt in that game than he had all season long. And on the other side, Peyton Manning felt virtually no pressure, from a team that prides itself on the pass rush in their 3-4 defense.

Maybe we had missed something. Maybe with all of the media attention the Patriots had gotten since "camera-gate," the defending champs really had gotten overlooked. They had after all, won twelve straight games, including their first seven this year by an average of just over 17 points. They were the defending champs. They had home field. And for most of the game, they had the lead.

But then again, the Patriots had a secret weapon. It wasn't Tom Brady, it wasn't Randy Moss, and it wasn't Adalius Thomas. It was a man possessed. It was a man that doesn't wear a helmet. Their secret weapon was no more than the monotone, and often boring Bill Belichick. A man that is so even keeled it gets a little bit creepy. The Patriots had just won one of the most hyped regular season games in the history of the NFL, and you'd have thought they lost. Now in fairness, they did play poorly, and as a coach, he does realize that there is a lot to work on during their bye week. But he was no different after this game, than he is after any other game. Perhaps the only time that he's happy and smiling is after a Super Bowl win. Which it seems, is right where they're heading.

The statement by the Pats might have been more resounding had they blown the Colts out. But make no mistake, the statement made by squeaking it out, was just as effective. The Colts were manhandling the Patriots. They doubled Tom Brady's season interception total in one game. They were up by ten points with just over eight minutes left in the game. Joseph Addai was having a career day, and even without Marvin Harrison, Manning looked right at home throwing to Dallas Clark.

So what does this game say to the rest of the NFL? What does it tell the seven remaining opponents the Patriots have left? And the teams they could potentially play in the playoffs? It says watch out, and pay attention, because you're witnessing history. For weeks, fans and experts had debated the best team in the NFL. For weeks it came down to one of two teams, the Colts, or the Pats. So if there was no clear cut favorite before this week, there is now.

Of the Patriots remaining seven games, two intrigue me as possibly good games. Three stare at me as sure fire wins. One game has history written all over it, and one has all the makings of what could perhaps be the funniest game ever played in the NFL. At the Ravens on Monday night, and Steelers at home the following week should be good for a half. The Dolphins, Bills and Eagles better just get out of Brady and Moss' way. The Giants game could have historic implications if the Patriots really make it to the Meadowlands 15-0. But the funniest game of all, will be the Jets at the Pats in week 15. If Bill Belichick is a man possessed, then Eric Mangini is the reason. The current Jets coach, and former Belichick protege was the whistle-blower in the camera-gate controversy earlier in the season. If people thought those post game handshakes were cold before, wait until the Patriots drop 50 points on the Jets. It will give new meaning to "running up the score."

My friend texted me last Tuesday during the Red Sox World Series victory parade in Boston that the "Pats should have just had their parade today too." I laughed. I'm not laughing anymore. Look, the Pats played their three worst quarters of football this year all in the same game, and they won. They were down by ten points to the second best team in football with eight minutes to go in the 4th quarter, and they won. Tom Brady doubled his interception total for the season, and they won. And the game was indoors, AT Indy, where the Colts play much better, and the Patriots won. So if there's a team in the NFL that thinks they can take on the Patriots, please let me know. See you in Arizona.