NFL.com: Colts vs. Patriots Among League’s Top ‘Spicy Feuds’
According to NFL.com Media Columnist Adam Schein, the Indianapolis Colts are involved in one of the NFL’s top ‘spicy feuds’ heading into next season. For those buried under a rock during the entire offseason, it’s involves none other than a familiar nemesis in the New England Patriots. Hold the hot sauce, this one’s already plenty spicy enough per Schein:
"5) Indianapolis Colts vs. New England PatriotsThis has been a nice rivalry, based upon animosity — and, actually, mutual respect — for quite some time. The matchup originally gave us the Peyton Manning-vs.-Tom Brady series. So many epic battles over the years — in the regular season and the playoffs — so many living legends and future Hall of Famers facing off. In the new millennium, Colts-Pats has always had a little extra spice and sizzle. And when Peyton’s Colts tenure came to an end, Indy brought another transcendent competitor into the fight: Andrew Luck.Now, in the wake of last season’s AFC Championship Game blowout — and the ensuing Deflategate drama — this rivalry’s already-piping-hot flames just got doused with gasoline.Safe to say the Week 6 showdown in Indy won’t lack hype. Depending on the outcome of his suspension appeal, this could be Tom Brady’s first game of the season. Brady and the Pats will be looking to take out months of anger on the Colts, driven to prove last January’s result had absolutely nothing to do with football air pressure. And Luck — who’s 0-4 against Bill Belichick’s Patriots, having lost each game by 21-plus points — will aim to prove he can indeed beat the AFC’s best.If the Football Gods shine on us, the mid-October matchup won’t be the only Pats-Colts showdown on this season’s docket. How about another AFC title game chock full o’ legacy implications? Don’t think we’d get another 38-point rout."
Jan 18, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; Indianapolis Colts cornerback Vontae Davis (21) breaks up a pass intended for New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) in the second quarter in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Whether it’s frustration from blowout losses on the Colts end or the Patriots seeking revenge for the former ratting them out regarding Deflategate, this one’s going to be interesting this season. While the rivalry has been heated, it’s been completely lopsided in the Patriots favor, who have won all 4 games during the Andrew Luck era including handing the Colts two consecutive season-ending blowout losses.
There will be plenty of hype heading into the two teams’ Week 6 primetime matchup on Sunday Night Football, where a certain non-bearded #12 will be potentially returning from his 4 game suspension. The Patriots will be looking to prove a point that the deflated footballs played no result in the outcome by beating the Colts senselessly yet again.
The Colts, well they just want to prove that this team can finally beat the Patriots, and that their offseason additions of a handful of highly regarded veteran players like Frank Gore, Andre Johnson, and Trent Cole weren’t all for naught.
Jan 18, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots fans hold up a sign referencing Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (not pictured) before the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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