Patriots-Colts Week 11 Predictions
BOSTON (CBS) -- The 98.5 The Sports Hub, WBZ NewsRadio 1030 and WBZ-TV Sports teams make their predictions for Sunday's Patriots-Colts game in Indianapolis.
Scott Zolak, 98.5 The Sports Hub
The Patriots are coming off their bye and I'm very excited to see if they pick up where they left off or if they come out stagnant.
This is a big test on the road in a noisy environment. But I think the Patriots match up well against the Colts. Going back to the games last year, and looking at the defense of Indianapolis, it's not where they want it to be. And with Rob Gronkowski healthy, I like the Patriots to roll in this one. The Colts will score some points, but it really won't be as close as the score indicates.
Patriots 34, Colts 23
Andy Gresh, 98.5 The Sports Hub
I don't think the Colts have the ability to slow down the Patriots' running game up front. I'm with Zo on this, the Pats will pull away in the second half. If the Colts don't hang early it's going to get ugly.
Patriots 41, Colts 17
Jon Wallach, 98.5 The Sports Hub
The Colts defense is bad, and their secondary is really bad. They have guys starting for them who were castoffs by the Patriots when their secondary was horrible, so that should tell you just how bad they are.
The Patriots' offense is doing exceptionally well, but Indianapolis, unfortunately, also has a very good offense. This should be a high scoring game, but the Patriots' defense is better so I see them coming away with the win.
Patriots 35, Colts 31
Rob "Hardy" Poole, 98.5 The Sports Hub
Just one safety this week. There will be a hole in the roof at Lucas Oil and that polar vortex is going to rain snow and cold down on the field.
But the Patriots will still win.
Patriots 7, Colts 2
Adam Kaufman, 98.5 The Sports Hub/WBZ NewsRadio 1030
I'm not taking this game for granted, necessarily, but I was far more concerned about the Patriots' match-up with the Broncos than this trip to Indianapolis.
If the Pats can contain Andrew Luck - whom Bill Belichick is 2-0 against - what else do the Colts have? Their dynamic offense, which ranks first in the NFL at 32.2 points a game, is singularly dependent upon the QB's success. Even running back Ahmad Bradshaw is more effective as a pass-catcher.
Indy's defense had a good run for a handful of weeks and can certainly force the turnover and get to the quarterback, but Tom Brady's line has kept him safe for more than a month and his offense has protected the football all season. With 40 points a game since the start of their 5-game winning streak, the Patriots are a wrecking ball. The Colts, meanwhile, have given up an average of 37.5 points in their last two. Brady also happens to have a 10-2 career record in domes, and Belichick's New England teams are 10-4 following a bye.
So, while the Pats are 'dogs going in, there are plenty of reasons to be confident in them finally nailing down a good road win.
Patriots 37, Colts 21
Steve Burton, WBZ-TV Sports
The Patriots are due to stub their toe sooner or later. But that is more likely to come in Green Bay than Indianapolis.
The Pats have yet to win at Lucas Oil Stadium, but they have the defense to get it done Sunday night. And Tom Brady knows that the Colts cannot cover Gronk.
Patriots 34, Colts 24
Dan Roche, WBZ-TV Sports
If this game was held in New England, I would predict a Patriots blowout. However, the Pats are just 2–2 on the road this season and Indy's crowd will be pumped up. This is a good game for the Patriots to continue to grow as a team. Tough road game, but certainly winnable. I think Tom Brady and Josh McDaniels will take a long look at the Pittsburgh-Indy game when it comes to beating the Colts. The Pats' D and special teams should do enough to help the Pats improve to 8-2.
Patriots 48, Colts 31.
Levan Reid, WBZ-TV Sports
I am going back and forth with this game for a reason. When you look at these teams on paper, I feel the Pats have the better squad. So why are the Colts three point favorites? That makes no sense to me. It's almost as if somebody knows something.
Tom Brady has never won in Lucas Oil Stadium. With that said, Andrew Luck has never beaten the Patriots. So something has to give. Both teams are coming off their byes. Lets break down the game.
How are the Colts going to slow down Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady? All week long people have made the comparison that the Colts' defense is like the Chiefs' defense. Maybe that's true but the Pats are a better team than they were in Week 4. Offensively, they have an identity now and guys understand what they have to do to get open and make this offense go. New England has scored first in their last five games and it has resulted in five victories. They will need to do that this weekend.
It's the Pats defense that can make the difference in this game, mainly their secondary with Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, Patrick Chung, Devin McCourty. That group is playing their best football. Reggie Wayne said this is going to be the best New England group he's faced. He's been in the league for 14 seasons and seen many of what the Pats defenses have had to offer.
Neither team is running the ball well. So can the Patriots put a stop to the big plays that the Colts have and slow down their offense?
Today, I'm saying they can. Tom Brady will get his first win in Lucas Oil Stadium and the Pats will come off their bye to get their sixth in a row.
Patriots 35, Colts 30
Tune in to Patriots-Colts on 98.5 The Sports Hub – the flagship station of the New England Patriots. Pregame coverage begins at 5:30pm, with three full hours of postgame coverage following the game. WBZ-TV gets their coverage started with Patriots GameDay at 11:30am, and following the game tune in to myTV38 for Patriots 5th Quarter.
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