The Two Undefeateds
| 29
|
by Falcon02520
I know that this game is weeks away, but I have a compare-contrast essay due for english class. I decided to write it on the New England Patriots vs. the Indianapolis Colts game up-coming in week nine. I figure that it may as well be posted here since it's already written. Enjoy...
Week nine of the National Football League schedule is set to kick off on November fourth. During this week the New England Patriots will head to Indianapolis to take on the Colts. After the first six weeks of the season, both the Colts and Patriots are the only undefeated teams left in the league; 5-0 and 6-0 respectively. Both teams have many similarities; they win by playing all three aspects of the game; offense, defense, and special teams. Both teams are also much different; the Patriots have smart defensive players and a brilliant scheme, while the Colts have a bunch of play-making, young talent.
Both of these teams have the resources required and the ability to win when they face off in November. And, as the saying goes, “Any given Sunday,” either team can win. Though, when the game is broken down between the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots, who face off during week nine, the Patriots look to have a better chance of winning the game.
The biggest aspect of each of these two teams is at the quarterback position. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are the two best quarterbacks in the NFL this year. Quarterback rating uses a complicated formula to determine how good a quarterback is playing. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are the leading two in quarterback rating; 128.9 and 108.6 respectively. They are also the two most accurate passers in the league; Brady has a 72.5 completion percentage and Manning has a completion percentage of 69.7.
Then again, both players have managed games a little differently this year. Brady has used the passing game to rack up an insane amount of points every game. Manning has used the passing game to establish a comfortable lead, then he hands the ball off to the running game to put the opponent away. Brady leads Peyton in most statistical categories so far this year including passer rating (128.9 to 108.6), touchdowns thrown (21 to 10), yards per game (295.2 to 263.8), and pass completion percentage (72.5 to 69.7). The advantage at the quarterback position goes to the New England Patriots.
The rushing game is arguably the most important part of the offense. This year Joseph Addai of the Colts and Laurence Maroney of the Patriots (both in their second year in the league) were supposed to be among the top rushers in the league. Unfortunately for them, injuries have hampered their production and participation in some games. Both teams have been forced to go to their reserves at the position, and both teams’ reserves have responded with excellent play. In rushing yards per game, the Colts are ranked fifth, and the Patriots are ranked seventh, out of thirty-two teams.
The two teams use rushing plays for different reasons. The Colts use their game to work the clock and put teams away at the end of the game. The Patriots use their rushing attack as a change-up to their passing attack. This means that the Patriots use it to keep the opposing defense honest and make them realize that they must defend both the rush and pass. The Colts use the rush to set up the pass while the Patriots use the pass to set up the rush. With both starting running backs out or not, these teams are even in this category. But because Addai is scheduled to be back from injury before Maroney, the advantage goes to Indianapolis.
Another aspect to the offense are the receivers of each team. Both teams have a variety of receivers. The Colts have future Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison, receiver Reggie Wayne, rookie receiver Anthony Gonzalez, tight-ends Dallas Clark and Ben Utecht, and running back Joseph Addai who can all contribute to the passing offense. The Patriots also have big time pass catchers; future Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss, receivers Donte’ Stallworth, Jabar Gaffney, and Wes Welker, tight-ends Benjamin Watson and Kyle Brady, and running backs Sammy Morris, Laurence Maroney, and Kevin Faulk. These are both amazingly talented receiving corps. Indianapolis’ group has not changed much since Peyton Manning threw for a single season record of 49 touchdowns in 2004. Tom Brady’s mostly new group this year is on pace to break Manning’s record. Through six games this year, Brady has 21 passing touchdowns. At this rate he would end up with 56 touchdowns by the end of the season. Advantage this year in pass receivers goes to the New England Patriots.
The strength of these two teams is that they play all sides of the ball well. That includes defense. The cliché about defense in the National Football League is “Defense wins championships.” Defense also wins games, and these two teams know how to win games, manage the clock, and play defense. Each team has a brilliant defensive mind in their head coaches; Tony Dungy and Bill Belichick have combined to win three of the last four Super Bowls.
When it comes to points allowed so far this year, the Patriots have allowed only 15.3 per game. This makes them the sixth best defense as far as points allowed are concerned. The Colts on the other hand have allowed 17.6 points per game. This ranks them eleventh among defenses. The Patriots are winning by an average differential of twenty-three points per game. The Colts have won their five games by an average differential of fifteen points per game. Although this is a respectable number, the Patriots clearly have an advantage as far as beating teams down.
Special teams are a very important part of football. Both of these teams are very consistent when it comes to special teams play. Neither team has a great, big-name kick-returner, but the Patriots are ranked fourth in kick return yard average with one return touchdown. Whereas Indianapolis is ranked fourteenth in the league in kick return yards average with no return touchdowns. Kickers Adam Vinatieri (IND) and Stephen Gostkowski (NE) have each missed only one field goal this season. Vinatieri has the experience of making pressure kicks, having made several during the post-season, and during Super Bowls. Gostkowski has the leg that Adam lacks; Stephen has a range of near 53 yards from which he can kick a field goal where Vinatieri is getting old and has a range of only 48 yards. Neither team has been forced to punt too often; Indianapolis and New England is tie with only each other for thirtieth in punting attempts this season. New England has the advantage in special team because of their kick return abilities and kick coverage skills (which rank twelfth to Indy’s rank of twenty-one).
The head coaches for each team (as mentioned above) have brilliant minds. Bill Belichick and Tony Dungy have each won the Super Bowl. Both coaches are consistently in the play-offs every year and both understand how to win. Dungy has a career winning record of 128-70 (.646 %) with the Colts. In his career Belichick has a winning record of 130-84 (.539). By these numbers, it would appear that the coaching edge goes to Dungy, when in actuality Belichick has proven to be a better coach. The reasoning to this is that Dungy has won a Super Bowl and Belichick won three (in a four year span).
Indianapolis does have the advantage at the running back position. The Patriots have advantages on all other sides of the ball; quarterback, receivers, defense, special teams, and coaching. When a team has this many advantages over another team, it is obvious who is the better team. That team is the New England Patriots.
| This user thinks that Dallas Cowboys aren't really people. |
