ESPN Clayton: 1st and 10... NFC East
Indianapolis Colts at Dallas Cowboys
This is the best of the eight interconference games. The AFC leads the NFC 22-18, and this week will determine where the series is heading with the top teams in the AFC playing top teams in the NFC. The Colts come to Dallas with a 9-0 record. For weeks, Peyton Manning has faced varied defenses. The Patriots tried to pressure him. The Broncos and Bills stayed in safe zone defenses, trying to limit Manning's ability to make big plays. The problem with playing it safe against Manning is that it makes life a little easier for the Colts. Manning can work his magic against soft zones, as evidenced by the Colts' five drives of eight plays or more against the Bills and his nearly flawless performance at Denver, when he was 32 of 39 for 345 yards and three TDs. More importantly, this keeps the Colts' defense off the field. Considering the problems the Colts have stopping the run, that's a big plus. Though the Broncos and Bills stayed in the game until the end, they still had to face the reality Manning could get the ball last and either get the game-winning points or run out the clock. Bill Parcells will have to pick his poison, and you figure he's probably going to go with more pressure packages. Manning won't have wide receiver Brandon Stokley (knee injury) on the field to create matchup problems against a linebacker in the 3-4. Plus, Parcells will want to pound the ball on the ground to wear down the Colts' defense. The Colts have back-to-back games against NFC East foes, with the Eagles to follow Nov. 26. If they win, they could be within a few weeks of wrapping up the AFC South.
This is the best of the eight interconference games. The AFC leads the NFC 22-18, and this week will determine where the series is heading with the top teams in the AFC playing top teams in the NFC. The Colts come to Dallas with a 9-0 record. For weeks, Peyton Manning has faced varied defenses. The Patriots tried to pressure him. The Broncos and Bills stayed in safe zone defenses, trying to limit Manning's ability to make big plays. The problem with playing it safe against Manning is that it makes life a little easier for the Colts. Manning can work his magic against soft zones, as evidenced by the Colts' five drives of eight plays or more against the Bills and his nearly flawless performance at Denver, when he was 32 of 39 for 345 yards and three TDs. More importantly, this keeps the Colts' defense off the field. Considering the problems the Colts have stopping the run, that's a big plus. Though the Broncos and Bills stayed in the game until the end, they still had to face the reality Manning could get the ball last and either get the game-winning points or run out the clock. Bill Parcells will have to pick his poison, and you figure he's probably going to go with more pressure packages. Manning won't have wide receiver Brandon Stokley (knee injury) on the field to create matchup problems against a linebacker in the 3-4. Plus, Parcells will want to pound the ball on the ground to wear down the Colts' defense. The Colts have back-to-back games against NFC East foes, with the Eagles to follow Nov. 26. If they win, they could be within a few weeks of wrapping up the AFC South.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:29 PM
<< Home