The Colts Are Just as Good as the Patriots Thus Far in 2007

Everybody has been talking about the Patriots since the summer of 2007. The Patriots' acquisition of Randy Moss made them the preseason favorite to win the Super Bowl. The Patriots received even more attention after week one of the season and the CameraGate/SpyGate/WhateverGate scandal. The way the Patriots have decimated their opponents thus far has people wondering if the Patriots can go 19-0. Yes, the New England Patriots are an excellent football team in 2007 and deserve to be recognized as one.

Then there's the Indianapolis Colts. You remember those guys, don't you? You know, The team with the best quarterback of my generation and possibly of all time. The team with possibly the most disrespected defense in all of football. As a matter of fact I'm pretty sure that the Colts are the reigning and defending Super Bowl champions.

Yet the media and fans alike are already handing the Vince Lombardi Trophy to the New England Patriots. Not so fast, everybody. The Patriots are very good in 2007 but they definitely are not in a "league of their own" as most experts would have you believe.

After week five in the NFL both teams stand at 5-0. The Patriots have won those five games by an average of 23.40 points. The Colts have only won their five games by an average of 15.20 points, roughly a touchdown and two-point conversion less than the Patriots. That single fact doesn't tell the whole story when it comes to which team is playing better.

All of the Patriots' five wins have come against teams that, at the end of week five, did not have .500 records. The Jets appear to be spiraling towards a six-win record at best. The Chargers hadn't shown up for the 2007 NFL season yet when they played against the Patriots. The Bills are rough to say the least. The Bengals may just have the worst defense in the NFL. The Browns are an improving team but are nowhere near the Patriots when it comes to overall talent.

The Colts, on the other hand, have simply played against better football teams. They started out their season by dominating the Saints, a team that is without a doubt the biggest disappointment thus far. From there the Colts defeated the Titans (3-1) on the road, the Texans (3-2) on the road, and Denver (2-3) and Tampa Bay (3-2) in convincing fashion at home.

Tom Brady is having the best season of any quarterback in the NFL thus far. That doesn't take away the fact that Peyton Manning is having yet another stellar season. In five games this season Manning has passed for ten touchdowns while only throwing two interceptions. He has a completion percentage of 69.7 percent and a quarterback rating of 108.6. Manning has done all of this, mind you, while the Colts have played better teams than Brady and the Patriots have seen thus far.

Much has been made about how the Patriots have decimated their opponents despite missing some of their best players due to different reasons. Don't forget that the Colts haven't been 100 percent during the 2007 season. In week five alone the Colts were missing five starters including Marvin Harrison and Joseph Addai. The Colts still managed to put up 33 points against a very good Tampa Bay defense.

Nevertheless, the fact remains that the Patriots are going to receive more attention from the media for most of the 2007 season. The Colts will host the Patriots in week nine in a game that many people, including myself, see as a preview of the AFC Championship Game. Just don't be too shocked, readers, if the Colts defeat the Patriots in that match-up. Perhaps then the Colts will receive a little more respect.