Colts get another crack at old nemesis Brady
Tom Brady’s NFL legacy runs right through Indianapolis.
He beat the Colts in his first career start in 2001. Nine years later, he matched Brett Favre’s NFL record for consecutive home wins (25) with a victory over Indy. He even threw his 500th TD pass at Indianapolis in 2018.
So when Brady makes yet another November trip to Lucas
Oil Stadium today, his first with Tampa Bay, Colts fans don’t want to see their old nemesis celebrating another milestone moment.
Even Brady acknowledges it will be different.
“It’s a team I’ve played a lot of games against, and pretty meaningful ones,” Brady said. “I don’t think any of those will have any effect on this game this weekend. It’s a totally different opponent, totally different style of play. It’s going to be a great game.”
Brady’s memory bank is filled with images of seasons past such as “Deflategate,” Indy’s botched fake punt, even claims about Willie McGinest faking injuries to slow down the Colts’ offense late in a 2003 game.
But those 19 games all came while Brady was in New England. This time, the Bucs and Colts face different challenges.
Brady’s bunch includes some of his old bandmates, such as tight end Rob Gronkowski and receiver Antonio Brown, and some new talent the Colts know well. Running back Leonard Fournette faced the Colts twice a year while with Jacksonville, and Bucs coach Bruce Arians won his first Coach of the Year Award in 2012 when he filled in as Colts coach Chuck Pagano was treated for cancer.
And as so often happened with the Patriots, Brady returns to Indy as the defending world champ.
Overall, Brady has tormented the Colts, going 15-4 with 38 touchdown passes. This year he is once again tormenting the league — he’s second in the NFL with 3,177 yards passing and has a league-high 29 TD passes.
But this time, the Colts may have a solution.
They’ve won five of six to get back in the playoff hunt, have a defense that leads the league in takeaways with 25, and an increasingly strong ground game that could keep Brady on the sideline for long stretches.
Indy’s Jonathan Taylor is the league’s first 1,000-yard runner this season and has tied the NFL record with eight consecutive games of 100 yards from scrimmage and at least one touchdown.
But will it be enough?
“I’ve always thought he’s the best ever,” Colts coach Frank Reich said. “I mean, he’s incredible, an incredible player. I just marvel at his arm strength at 44 years old. As much as anything, it just boggles my mind.”
RAMS AT PACKERS
At the other end of the standings spectrum from the Jets and Texans, two of the contenders for the top spot in the NFC meet at Lambeau Field. The Rams have lost three straight just once during Sean McVay’s five-year coaching tenure. In Cooper Kupp they have the league’s most productive receiver. Kupp has 85catches for 1,141yards to lead the NFL in both categories. His 10 touchdown receptions are tied for the lead with Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans. Aaron Rodgers is bothered by a toe injury, and the Packers are down to a third-string left tackle, Yosh Nijman, because of injuries. But the Packers join the Buccaneers as the only NFL teams that are undefeated at home this season. Green Bay has allowed just 44points at Lambeau, the lowest total yielded through the first four Packers home games of a season since 1969.
TITANS AT PATRIOTS
The Titans’ impressive winning string ended in the awful weather last weekend, while the Patriots extended their run to five straight wins by routing Atlanta. New England has a profitable habit of meeting opponents who are undermanned, and that could be the case again in this one. No team has come close to the 82 players who have been in at least one contest this season for Tennessee. Being on the road doesn’t seem to bother Tennessee: The Titans are 4-1 away from Nashville in 2021 and 13-3 over their past 16road games. The Patriots are allowing a league-low 16.1points per game. They have finished top 10 in fewest points allowed in each of the past nine seasons, the longest current streak.
BROWNS AT RAVENS
As the Browns try to find their mojo, they head to the wrong place. The Ravens have dominated this series since the team moved from Cleveland, and Baltimore coach John Harbaugh is 22-4against the Browns. Cleveland has dropped 10of the past 13against Baltimore, with two of the wins coming in overtime. However, the Browns have replaced the Ravens with the league’s most dangerous ground game. And standout right tackle Jack Conklin could be back after missing three games with an elbow injury. Lamar Jackson should be OK to start after missing the win at Chicago with an illness. In his previous game, he was overwhelmed by Miami’s blitzing. Myles Garrett leads the NFL with 13 sacks and the Cleveland club record is 14. The Browns lead the AFC with 29 sacks. In a scheduling quirk, the AFC North rivals will meet twice in three weeks.
VIKINGS AT 49ERS
Not quite a wild-card elimination game, but close enough for late November. The Vikings have lost 10of the past 11road games in the series, with the only win in that span coming in 2007. They’ve won their past two matches this month and showed, at last, an ability to close. Also, the Vikings are the 18th team since the merger to lead each of their first 10games by at least seven points. Early leads will be important against a Niners squad that has come alive behind the work of dynamic receiver/ running back Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle. The 49ers have opened the game with an 18-play TD drive and 20-play FG drive the past two weeks.
FALCONS AT JAGUARS
The Falcons have allowed 100 yards on the ground in five consecutive weeks and eight times in 10games this season. Good news perhaps for Jags RB James Robinson. The Falcons have won three straight in the series, slightly more than doubling Jacksonville on the scoreboard in those games. The most recent loss is part of the Jaguars’ worst stretch in franchise history against the NFC. Jacksonville has lost 14 consecutive games, 0-3 this season, and is 7-44 in its past 51 games versus the NFC. Atlanta’s gone 130-plus minutes and 26 offensive possessions without a touchdown, going consecutive games without a TD for the first time since 1987.
STEELERS AT BENGALS
Cincinnati is trying to sweep Pittsburgh for the first time since 2009, but the Steelers are 32-20 at Cincy. The Bengals have won the past two meetings, including a blowout victory two months ago. Before that the Steelers had won 11straight going back to 2014. Pittsburgh’s Chris Boswell has never missed a field goal against the Bengals (23for 23) and just one extra point (32of 33). They’ll
need Ben Roethlisberger to continue his recently improved performances. The 39-year-old quarterback has a 104.3 passer rating over his past five games, throwing nine touchdowns against no interceptions. The Bengals have five of their last seven games at home.
CHARGERS AT BRONCOS
Look for a concentration on the run game for both sides. L.A’.s Austin Ekeler is the only player in the AFC with 500 or more rushing yards (573) and 400-plus receiving yards (405). He had four TDs last week in the win over Pittsburgh. Denver’s RB duo of Melvin Gordon II and rookie Javonte Williams have combined for 221 carries for 1,036yards and six TDs. Gordon has with five TDs, Williams has a 5-yard rushing average.
EAGLES AT GIANTS
The Giants fired offensive coordinator Jason Garrett this week; his unit, despite some talented skill players, has been abysmal. A sign, sort of, that emphasizes those struggles: tackle Andrew Thomas caught at 2-yard TD pass, becoming the Giants’ first offensive lineman to catch a TD since 1960. Philly has found the offensive firepower on the ground. The Eagles have 870 yards rushing in the past four games. They’ve rushed for 200-plus yards in consecutive games for the first time since 1978. Last week, Philadelphia rushed 50times, its most since Oct. 5, 1997, against Washington. With Jordan Howard out, Miles Sanders and Boston Scott should get most of the work, along with versatile QB Jalen Hurts.
PANTHERS AT DOLPHINS
Another team struggling to stop the run is Miami, which has won three straight anyway. Good news for Panthers Christian McCaffrey, who when healthy is as effective as any NFL running back. Since 2018, McCaffrey has averaged 134.1 yards from scrimmage per game, the most in the NFL. His 11 career 100-yard receiving games are the most by any NFL running back in history, too. Flags could fly here. Carolina is the NFL’s most-penalized team through 11 weeks, flagged 81 times. The Dolphins have 75 penalties, one more than in all of 2020.
JETS AT TEXANS
When the Jets visit the Texans, there are no playoff implications — or even dreams. Both teams are 2-8, deservedly so. Yet the winner might eliminate itself from competition for the top overall spot in next April’s draft. Consider that Detroit and Jacksonville also are tail-enders with a solid shot at the NFL’s worst record, and either the Jets or Texans will move ahead of the other, barring a tie. Houston got its second victory last week at AFC South leader Tennessee, which was plagued by injuries and turnovers. The Jets have a win over the Titans and one over the Bengals, both playoff contenders.