New England just simply won't be able to get it done tonight

shamrock

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and I'm a lifetime Patriots fan living 2 minutes from Foxboro.

People just don't realize how injury hampered this team is because to his credit coach B never uses or refers to injuries as factors.

On offense every receiver except for branch is injured. That includes Troy Brown, David Givens,tim Dwigt and Bethel Johnson.

Cory Dillon played last week, but only because after Patrick pass blew his hamstring, Dillon was the only back available, even though he admitted after the game he hadn't practiced in 3 wee ks because of ankle and knee injuries. Kevin Faulk is out for the season, as I mentioned Patrick pass is injured, Amos Zeorwoae was cut this week, and Heath Evans was signed as full back. Obviously Dillon will be playing injured.

Anybody knowing anything about offensive line knows left tackle is crucial for right handed qbs, Matt Light is gone for season, Patriots also starting rookie at l guard. They lost Joe Andruzzi from last season. Second year Koppin at Center, 2 young guys on right side Neal& Ashworth. That's why they haven't been able to incorporate talented Te' s into passing game, because with inexperienced line they have to pass protect (Watson & Graham).

On defense Seymour has been injured for weeks, he is there primary all pro run stopper. Also Jarvis Green, Hill, McGinnist, Warren are all injured. Only Vince Wilfork is healthy.

Ted y B is back at LB, ALTHOUGH HE IS Rusty without a doubt. Mike vrable has been moved from outside to the inside with Tedy strictly because Chad Brown & Monte biesle simply couldn't play Patriots football, Brown got his first inactive of his 13 year career last week against Buffalo. So you one guy coming off the stroke, and one that never played inside before 2 weeks ago. Ted Johnson has Retired, Roman Phiffer gone to Oakland, Roosevelt Colivin healthy.

Lastly and most injured are db' s, Law gone to Jets, Tyrone Poole on injured reserve, those were your starting corner s. Also injured are James Sanders, Gus Scott, Chad Scott, and most importantly Rodney Harrison. This has led the Patriots to take guys like Hank Poteat & Arturo Freeman off the street to play their nickel and dime packages. Samuel & Wilson healthy, Starks absolutely S ux.

No rain tonight, relatively warm around 50, little windy maybe 15mph.

Field in terrible condition, soccer played last night on field Chicago against revolution. Field in terrible shape which New England wants to slow Indy down somewhat.

listen New England simply beat the Hell out of Colts last couple years, completely out physical them. With these injuries that will be very difficult. Patriot strategy last several years was to simply punish the Colts, hit their receivers & James so hard they wouldn't want next ball. That will be difficult with these players and injuries.

Offensively Patriots plan was to get short passes & take advantage of Colts poor tackling, especially in the secondary. Colts historically last several years have not been a good tackling team, much like many pro teams these days. Word is they have improved, we will see.

You saw last week Holcomb pass all over the field on Patriots, his completion percentage was ridiculous, and Patriots didn't pressure him at all. I just think Indy has everything for them in this situation including coming off bye Week. Don't like to say it, but Indy wins here getting monkey off their back.
 
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CWood97

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Thanks Shamrock, good info.

I can't help but thinking that vegas knows all the things you just mentioned, yet they still open the game at 3 knowing they are going to get very heavy Indy action. Why not open it at 6.5 or 7 to get some two way action if NE is in that much trouble.....
 

ScreaminPain

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Good Job,Shamrock. I was going to start a thread on this subject, but you did such a good job I'll just pile on.

You made valid points about the Pats defense. Holcomb threw for 262 yds against them last week and MaGahee ran for another 136. That's KELLY HOLCOMB, not Manning, and that's coming off an extra week to prepare (bye week). :scared

The game before Plummer threw for 262 yds and Denver ran for 177 yds.

The injuries have definitely taken their tole. I just don't see how N.E. can stop all the weapons at Mannings disposal.

My model shows this game being won by 16 points. I'm going to give the 4' and not even sweat it. :mj14:
 

lay the wood2

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Nice Work

I like both the Colts and the Under. Stronger lean towards the U.

Good luck tonight and hopefully we start the week off right.
 

shamrock

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wood, difficult to answer your question. 6 might be more appropriate line, but remember this Patriots team has beaten Colts 7 St. times. They have only lost 1 game in over 2 seasons at Foxboro. The National public sees those types of numbers and plays New England. Look in this forum plenty of action on New England Already. But if you watched last Sunday night, that was the Patriots, not a fluke, they luckily came from behind and beat a bad Buffalo team. They came off the bye and played that poorly not because they forgot how, but because they are extremely beat up team right now.
 

shamrock

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Dillon playing tonight, and Randall Gay starting cb tonight, this helps somewhat as Gay played last season playoff game against Indy. So he understands scheme
 

TouchdownJesus

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Dillon beat me in Fantasy football with those 2 garbage TD's. If Pass hadn't gotten hurt, I'd have won easily.
Although, Dillon got me to the champ. game last year with 2 TD's in week 15.
I have also won many a game in Madden using Dillon with Bengals as well as a drafted team in a season with friends using their own drafted teams.
 

shamrock

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Patriots still have the heart of a champion, but simply don't have the horses. Not having Richard Se ymore is huge, he demands a double team on every play, sometimes triple, Patriots couldn't pressure Manning all game. Combination of no pressure and inexperienced and injured db' s spells trouble, Manning had all the time he needed, and Harrison & Wayne ran circles around guys like Gay, Stone, and worst of all Starks (who I said would be awful), he was benched second half.

Dillon tried to tough it out, but as you saw, he is injured, no explosion to the hole or ability to accelerate and break tackles.

Good news was extremely young offense line 2 rookies, 2 second year players played pretty well, got more experience and protected qb ok.

Ellis Hobbs rookie cb got some experience after Starks was benchd played pretty well and got some repetitions.
 
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