This Sunday, the 18th of January, 2015, the NFL presents the AFC Title game. The Indianapolis Colts will play at the New England Patriots with the game played in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Gametime is scheduled for 6:45 PM ET and it will be televised on CBS TV. The NFL bettingodds are favoring New England at -6 ½ and the Ov/Un is 53 ½ and the moneyline at -270.
The Patriots are playing at home with a restructured defense and a very health TE Gronkowski (The Gronk), after struggling in the 1st four weeks of the season at 2-2, then finished at 12-4 to win their Eleventh AFC Title in the past 12 seasons. Finishing the 2014 season the offense and QB Brady were at their best, as they ended the season ranked 4th in the scoring column. Their defense was supported by 2 newbies in Revis and Browner who gave them the extra strength.
In their divisional round game last week, two times they were down by 14 points, and their QB Brady brought them back to a heart-shocking win 35-31, which allowed a pass to this AFC Title game, for their 4th consecutive time.
In this comeback win, QB Brady threw for 3 touchdowns as he completed 33 of his 50 pass attempts for 367 total yards. As expected he was assisted by the Patriots All-World TE Gronk, who had 7 receptions for 1 TD on 108 yards, as he also opened patterns for his teammate receivers, by getting the majority of the Ravens defensive coverage on himself.
On the Patriots defensive side their LB Collins continues to be a defensive star for the Pats, with 11 tackles in this game last Sunday. So with this 2014 Patriots team, their Coach Belichick has the opportunity to win and advance to their first Super Bowl appearance since back in 2011.And all that’s in the way of the Patriots going to their 8th Super Bowl is nothing other than the Indianapolis Colts. Yes, the Colts can win, but the Patriots are unquestionable favorites.
The Colts, now known as Horseshoe Luck, come into this AFC Title game also struggling at their start of the 2014 season a 0-2, and then won the next 6 of 7 games to finish the regular season at 11-5 and their 2nd consecutive AFC Title. QB Luck had a 2014 season breaking Peyton Manning’s single season passing record as QB Luck exceeded 4,761 yards passing.
Then the Colts shocked the sporting world as the improbable team made the NFL Final Four by dominating the Broncos with their 24-13 win, with a great team effort, which gives them some credibility as to their being Super Bowl ready, and the win was not just about their QB but a team effort.
In their win over the Broncos, the Colts offensive line gave QB Luck flawless protection, as he was hot hit once in the game. Then their defense limited the Broncos and Manning to under 300 offensive yards, and that made for the difference between the two teams in this divisional game.
As in most cases the Colts QB Luck is the main player that makes difference, and is the Colts trump against the rest of the NFL. His numbers in the last game were not staggering, but he was very accurate and managed the game with great proficiency. Thus, it appears he ready to occupy the fields with the Rodgers, the Mannings and the Bradys, and the only thing stopping from their 1st Super Bowl appearance since back in 2009, is the big bad Patriots of New England.
But if you bet on NFL at an offshore sportsbook, then get ready for a outrageous game, as if the Colts manage the Patriots, the way they did Denver last week, and with a little better defensive effort, and their offensive line allows the Horseshoe Luck to do his thing, they could very well be the surprise team to make in to Super Bowl XLIX.