It’s undeniable. We cannot debate it any longer. And on Sunday night we got the defining reason on why the Indianapolis Colts are the best football team in the league right now.
This season the argument has come down between two teams, the Colts and the Saints. Let’s look at how each team did in week 10.
The Saints traveled to St. Louis to battle the Rams in what seemed to be another easy victory for the unbeaten team. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees was 18-for-26 for 223 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Not horrible but certainly not where he should be at the moment.
The 9-0 Colts stayed at home to take on the 6-2 Patriots.
The Patriots had the Colts beat for most of the night until something happened. Peyton Manning did what Peyton Manning does. Make a comeback.
On the night Manning threw for 28 for 44 for 327 yards and four touchdowns. He slowly and surely picked apart the Patriots secondary with a flurry of short passes.
Now let’s talk about the decision by the Patriots head coach Bill Belichick to go for it on 4th down. Now as a football coach, one thing you fear is giving Peyton Manning the ball with time to drive the field and beat you. He has done it numerous times, even to the Patriots.
I can see where the coaches decision seems like a smart one, but the fact is, is that you are going to take a gamble knowing that if you lose you are going to give Peyton Manning the ball with excellent field position with plenty of time.
Manning was given 1:57 on the clock, three timeouts, and the ball on the Patriots 29 yard line. That’s an eternity for the three time MVP.
If I were in coach Belichick’s shoes, I would not have even thought of risking it. You have a better shot at getting an interception in the middle of the field rather than right in the endzone. The question now is that do you trust your defense enough to stop them in inside 30 yard line? I guess coach Belichick did.
So, my say is that the Colts are the best team in the league right now. But hey, that could very well change next week.
To watch highlights from the Colts-Patriots game, click here.
