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New England Patriots as good in 2009 as ever, Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning says
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Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning
When it comes to the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning says things don't change much year to year.
The roster may change.
A few of the coaches may change, too.
But Manning, who on Sunday night will face New England for the 18th time -- and a 10th time in the last seven years -- say the important things remain the same.
“They have some different guys,” Manning said Wednesday as the AFC South-leading Colts (8-0) -- along with 8-0 New Orleans one of two unbeaten teams remaining in the NFL -- prepared to play the AFC East-leading Patriots (6-2) at Lucas Oil Stadium Sunday at 8 p.m.
"Everybody wants to say, 'Tell me how different they are,' or, 'Is there a dropoff here or there?' You just don't see it. They've had different guys through the years. They've picked right up where the great player before him left off.
"You can tell the older players who were there who are no longer there have taught these young guys a lot. They've been good mentors to them. You can tell these guys have learned from these guys. It will be a really tough test for us.”
The Patriots, winners of five of their last six games, have won five of the teams' nine meetings since 2003, winning in the regular season in 2003, 2004 and 2007 and beating the Colts in the postseason following the 2003 and 2004 seasons. The Colts won the 2005, 2006 and 2008 regular-season meetings and won the AFC Championship Game following the 2006 season.
The Colts won last season's meeting, 18-15, and haven't lost in the regular season since.
“The media is going to hype this game up like it's the halfway Super Bowl,” Colts three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Reggie Wayne said Wednesday. “I guess you can look at it like it like this game is important, but every game is important.”
The Colts, a playoff team the past seven seasons and the AFC South champions from 2003-2007, are one of two unbeaten teams remaining in the NFL. They have won a franchise-record regular-season 17 games and are one of four teams in NFL history to win at least 17 consecutive regular-season games.
New England, which holds the league record with 21 consecutive victories (2006-2008), won the AFC East from 2003-2007 before last season becoming the second team in the last 20 years to miss the playoffs with at least 11 victories.
The Patriots, following a 1-1 start, have won five of the last six games, winning their last three games by a combined 121-24.
"It's going to be a great test for us,” Manning said. “We all know that. They're playing really good football. . . . It will be, I think, our toughest test of the season.”
Since a 40-21 Colts victory in New England in 2005, all four meetings between the teams have been decided by a touchdown or less. The Colts beat the Patriots, 27-20, in Foxboro, Mass., in 2006, then rallied from a 21-3 first-half deficit for a 38-34 victory in the AFC title game.
The Patriots again traveled to Indianapolis the following season, and with each team unbeaten in early November, New England rallied from a 20-10 fourth-quarter deficit for a 24-20 victory in the final game between the teams in the RCA Dome.
“There have been some classic games between these two teams,” Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell said. “You can't discount that when you have two teams that have had the kind of success both teams have had over the years. There have been some pretty good battles.”
The Colts have the AFC's best record, with New England tied for second with Pittsburgh (6-2), Cincinnati (6-2) and Denver (6-2).
“That’s not what we’re thinking about, what’s going to happen down the road," Manning said. "We’re thinking about what is going to happen on Sunday. It’s an AFC game. It’s a home game. It’s the first game of the third quarter, as we kind of break the season down.
"All those reasons, alone, are enough to make you want to win the game.”
Reviewing Bill Polian’s Weekly radio show:
Part 1: Bob Sanders likely to return. Here
Part 2: “We are always going to want the football” Here
Part 3: Matchup with New England Patriots “One of 16″ Here
Part 4: Jerraud Powers Rookie of the Year? Here
RECENT COLTS NEWS
* S Bob Sanders placed on injured reserve. Here.
* LB Tyjuan Hagler on IR. Here.
*** CATCH UP WITH ALL THINGS COLTS ON INDY FOOTBALL REPORT. HERE
*** READ JOHN OEHSER'S INDIANA PACERS COVERAGE. HERE.
*** COFFEE WITH THE COLTS: NEXT DAY LOOK AT COLTS-TEXANS. HERE
*** TEXANS-COLTS GAME STORY. HERE (INCLUDES PHOTO GALLERY)
*** QUOTING THE COLTS. WHAT THEY WERE SAYING AFTER HOUSTON. HERE
*** IFR EDITOR JOHN OEHSER ON COLTS DE DWIGHT FREENEY: HERE
MAGNIFICENT SEVENS: WEEKLY COLTS THOUGHTS . . .
Magnificent Seven I: Seven training camp thoughts and observations
Magnificent Seven II: On the Colts' defensive tackle position and WR Reggie Wayne
Magnificent Seven III: On the Colts' running backs and offensive line
Magnificent Seven IV: On the Colts' offense, OG Ryan Lilja and WR Anthony Gonzalez
Magnificent Seven V: On S Melvin Bullitt and QB Peyton Manning
Magnificent Seven VI: On RB Donald Brown and the start of the season . . . at last
Magnificent Seven VII: On WR Reggie Wayne, the OL and blitzing
Magnificent Seven VIII: On WR Reggie Wayne, QB Peyton Manning and DE Dwight Freeney
Magnificent Seven IX: On DE Robert Mathis, S Bob Sanders and DE Dwight Freeney
Magnificent Seven X: On QB Peyton Manning's start and life without DT Ed Johnson
Magnificent Seven XI: On RB rotation, DE Dwight Freeney and S Bob Sanders
Magnificent Seven XII: On WR Reggie Wayne, TE Dallas Clark and running game
Magnificent Seven XIII: On offensive balance and resting QB Peyton Manning
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