Colts just as good as Pats -- minus all the attention
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- It's New England Patriots this, Tom Brady that. We have Randy Moss-mania and Bill Belichick in his subtle way telling those "spygate" critics where to shove it.
But while the Patriots are basking in the spotlight that is their amazing 7-0 start, the Super Bowl champions -- yes, it is not the Patriots -- are quietly going about their business with a workmanlike precision.
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| When active, safety Bob Sanders makes the Colts' D better. (AP) |
If the Colts' dominating 29-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday night says anything, it says this: Don't forget about us just yet.
The Colts might not be putting up the high-flying circus numbers that Brady and that crew are, numbers Indy has put up in the past, but it's quite apparent that this year's Colts team is better than the 2006 version -- and quite the challenger to the Patriots in the AFC, even if many aren't noticing.
"Go ahead and talk about New England," Colts receiver Reggie Wayne said. "That's less we have to worry about, less people in our locker room. We know what we have to do each week, which is win games. It's cool. But one thing is we've been in this situation when nobody is talking about us. They can have it. They deserve it. They're balling. But there's going to be a time when you talk about us. It's going to come soon enough."
It's hard to imagine a defending Super Bowl champ being unbeaten after six games and still not getting much attention.
Maybe the Colts should thank the Patriots. In the past, the Colts have had to deal with all the unbeaten talk and the pressure that comes with it. For now, that burden is on the Patriots. How many of you have asked whether the Colts can go undefeated this season? Not many, right?
The Colts and Patriots meet in two weeks in Indianapolis, and despite the fact the Colts have defeated the Patriots three consecutive times, you'd think they will be the jayvee trotting out to meet the varsity when the two teams play at the RCA Dome.
"We know how good we are," Colts corner Marlin Jackson said. "Let them talk about the Patriots. We can't worry about that."
It's funny now how things have flip-flopped for the Patriots and Colts. In years past, it was always the Colts offense against the Patriots defense that people were excited to see. Now it will be the Patriots offense against the Colts defense, which isn't to dismiss how good the Indianapolis offense can be, but it's because the Colts are so much better now on defense.
This Colts defense isn't like some recent versions. Ten months ago on this very same field, the Jaguars ran through the Colts for an embarrassing 375 yards, setting off doubts as to whether they had enough to win a Super Bowl. This time, the Colts held the Jaguars to one touchdown and 226 total yards.
In addition, they had two interceptions, two fourth-down stops, a safety and knocked Jaguars quarterback David Garrard from the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury. When it was over, writers and television talking heads went around the locker room searching for what has changed from the last time they met the Jaguars.
