Patriots-Colts Week 9 predictions
BOSTON -- This Sunday is a big one for the New England Patriots.
Hosting the Colts in their final game before the bye week, the Patriots will pass the midway point of the season either one game above .500 or one game below .500.
With a couple of games against the Bills, plus a trio of tough road games in prime time left on the schedule, this home date vs. the Colts feels like one the Patriots will really want to win if they hope to reach the postseason again.
Will they do it? Here's how our WBZ team sees it playing out.
Steve Burton, WBZ-TV Sports
The Patriots will go over .500 this weekend with a win over the Colts. The defense can dominate young and inexperienced quarterbacks and they'll be facing one in Sam Ehlinger.
The New England offense should find themselves in the end zone multiple times this weekend.
Patriots 28, Colts 10
Dan Roche, WBZ-TV Sports
The Colts bring a formula similar to what we've seen from recent Pats opponents like the Jets, Browns, Bears and Lions. The Pats D will need to be physical against the run after the Colts ran for 135 yards and a touchdown their loss to Washington last week. Quarterback Sam Ehlinger simply managed the game (17/23, 201 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT) like Zach Wilson, Jacoby Brissett, Mitchell Trubisky, etc.
If the Pats can stop the run and force some turnovers, they'll be in good shape. Meanwhile, the offense needs another step in the right direction from Mac Jones.
Patriots 24, Colts 14
Michael Hurley, CBS Boston
The Patriots aren't exactly rolling, but they're in a better spot than the Colts, who benched their starting quarterback last week and fired their offensive coordinator this week. Considering their head coach is the one who calls the plays, it's hard to imagine that move making an impact on the woeful Colts offense.
Jonathan Taylor -- who absolutely killed the Patriots last year -- is hurt, and Sam Ehlinger won't be able to save the Colts. (Young, inexperienced quarterbacks tend to find Gillette Stadium to be a bit of a house of horrors.)
Patriots 24, Colts 9
Matthew Geagan, CBS Boston
The Patriots need this win heading into their bye week, because things don't get any easier in the future. Both of these teams are trying to figure things out on offense, but I like the New England defense to force a couple of turnovers that will swing this one in the Patriots' favor.
Patriots 27, Colts 13
WBZ-TV has you covered for Sunday's Patriots-Colts game! Pregame coverage begins at 11:30 a.m. with Patriots GameDay, with the Pats and the Colts set to kick things off at 1 p.m. After the game, switch over to TV38 for full reaction and analysis on Patriots 5th Quarter!
