Patriots and Colts Clash in AFC Rivalry | IXGAMES
The rivalry will go down as one of the greatest of this generation, but when the New England Patriots host the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship this Sunday, there will be little time for nostalgia. These days Peyton Manning is out and Andrew Luck is in, but that doesn’t help the 7-point underdogs in their matchup against New England. With an 11-5 regular season and a 10-5-1 record ATS, Indianapolis is a respectable team ready to handle lofty expectations. The Patriots started slowly, but grew dominant in the last three quarters of the regular season. Tom Brady may have only thrown 257 yards per game and 33 touchdowns in 2014 (compared to Luck’s 298 yards per game and 40 touchdowns), but his 367 yards thrown against Baltimore last weekend serve as a testament to just how dangerous this squad can be.In addition to the explosive passing game, the Patriots have one of the league’s most impressive rush defenses. Whether the AFC clash comes down to a battle of quarterbacks or a defensive battle, it will be a match to remember. Currently oddsmakers favor New England with a seven point spread, which makes the Colts all the more intriguing.