Colts vs Patriots: Behind Enemy Lines

The Indianapolis Colts play host to the New England Patriots in one of the most anticipated games on the year. There is no shortage of storylines for Sunday Night Football this week, so we decided to get some intel straight from the source.

We spoke with the editor of Musket Fire, Connor Fulton, for some inside information on this week’s opponents.

1. Do you buy the narrative of “the Patriots are pissed at the league and taking it out on everyone” or is this just a case where the Pats are better than their opponents? Could the caliber of opponent maybe have something to do with these lopsided scores?

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Not trying to cop-out of this question, but it’s a combination of both. The caliber of opponent has played a factor, but it’s not like the Patriots’ competition has been that bad. The combined record of their opponents is 9-11. What’s telling about the “pissed-off” narrative, however, is the margin of victory: the Patriots have beaten the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys by a combined score of 73 points, or just over 18 points per game.

Look, the post-Spygate comparisons are hard to ignore. Now that the Patriots are further resembling the rebellious Oakland Raiders of the 1970s, they have closed ranks that much more. There is definitely a “prove-it” source of motivation. To answer the question directly, the Patriots have been better than their opponents, but the dominant score lines have stemmed from the volcanic activity that Deflateglate brought about.

2. What has made the offense so effective this season? Is the difference just that everyone is healthy to start out the season?

The foundation for the top-ranked offense in the league has been provided by a stout offensive line, one which has reached double-digit numbers in terms of personnel combinations. The Cowboys game was the first time we really saw Tom Brady under duress, and the Pats still walked away with no turnovers and a 24-point victory. A relatively clean bill of health through the first four games was certainly helpful, and it will be interesting to see the offense adjusts to life without left tackle Nate Solder going forward.

What has really set the Patriots apart, however, is the emergence of Dion Lewis. Earlier this week at Musket Fire, a closer look was taken into Lewis’ past, and it’s clear that he’s left a trail of broken ankles on his way to the NFL. With Lewis a constant threat both rushing and receiving, a defensive coordinator has yet another source of insomnia the night before a game against the Patriots. Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski certainly don’t mind the 5-foot-8 electric plug making plays and freeing-up space for them.

3. How has the defense managed to be so effective despite the losses of the team’s starting corners and nose tackle? Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, and Vince Wilfork were all integral parts to this teams success, how is Bill Belichick replacing them?

The losses in the secondary have been offset by the ascendance of a ferocious front seven, one which boasts no shortage of rising stars. Dont’a Hightower is quickly becoming the Luke Kuechly of the AFC and Jamie Collins is tracking toward Defensive Player of the Year honors at some point in his career; those two interior linebackers are the focal points of a defense that is averaging four sacks per game.

The secondary in particular is being anchored by the steady play of Devin McCourty in the back end. Evidently, Malcolm Butler is not a one-trick pony; he has five passes defended on the season, the same amount as Aqib Talib. The Patriots didn’t let the Mass Cornerback Exodus of 2015 happen before making a plan, and that plan has worked pretty well so far.

4. What needs to happen on Sunday for the Patriots to leave with a win? Or rather, what would slow the Patriots down and give the Colts a real shot in this game?

It’s a little counter intuitive, but the path to beating the Patriots, especially when they are the visiting team, starts with stopping the run. Forcing Brady to carry the entire offensive load doesn’t always work, but the likelihood of defeating the Pats increases when a team can blitz without fear of the run. The Colts have improved their defensive line, so stopping LeGarrette Blount and Lewis is their best bet.

To answer the first part of the question, the Patriots need to establish the run early and use Blount throughout the game. From there, Brady can step back in the pocket and orchestrate a 40-plus points with Edelman, Gronk and Lewis.

5. Is there a player you would like to take from the Colts roster and add to the Patriots?

I’m a big fan of Phillip Dorsett. He flashed in the preseason, and while his adjustment to the Colts’ offense has taken some time, Dorsett is only going to get better from here on out. Andrew Luck uses Dorsett in the same way I could see Brady utilizing his talents. Dorsett lining up on the same side of the ball as Edelman, Gronk and Lewis is food for thought.

6. What is the best- and worst-case scenario for the Patriots? Who wins and why this week?

Best-case scenario be characterized by the defense preventing a touchdown for the second week in a row while the offense posts 30 points for the third time this season. Worst-case scenario would involve the Patriots’ offense stalling for the first time this season and the defense faltering due to the rowdy LucasOil atmosphere, culminating in a late Adam Vinatieri field goal to win it for the Colts.

Not surprisingly, the Patriots’ editor has the Pats winning this one. A tight first quarter will give way to the Patriots opening it up in the second half, eventually winning by a score of 37-17.

Next: Gronkowski a Matchup Nightmare

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