Game of the week

Patriots at Colts, 4:15 p.m. ET | Preview | Endzone, Part 1 | Part 2

The line: Patriots by 5½

The injuries: New England's Eric Alexander (knee), Mel Mitchell (groin), Sammy Morris (chest) and Eugene Wilson (ankle) did not practice Thursday. The Patriots put Morris on injured reserve Friday, ending the running back's season.

Dallas Clark gives the Colts a unique weapon. (Getty Images)

Left tackle Tony Ugoh (neck), wide receiver Aaron Moorehead (team decision) and safety Bob Sanders (team decision) did not practice Thursday, either.

The story: Shortly after the Colts put up 32 second-half points on New England in last year's AFC Championship Game, Bill Belichick resolved to move to the heavy artillery to compete with the Super Bowl champions. So he went out and acquired wide receivers Wes Welker, Donte' Stallworth and Randy Moss and voila, suddenly he is running a blitzkrieg instead of a spread offense.

A week ago the Patriots scored 52. The week before that it was 49. Then 48. The Patriots haven't scored fewer than 34 points in any game, and, yeah, I'd say that's making a statement.

What does it all mean for Indianapolis? The Colts are unbeaten too, and haven't lost at home since the 2005 playoffs.

But in the tidal wave of attention given the Patriots, the Colts have been ... well, forgotten. They don't mind. In fact, they like this flying-under-the-radar routine. But they should be wary because New England was within a minute of making it to the Super Bowl the last time these two met with Jabar Gaffney and Reche Caldwell as their top receiving threats and without Rodney Harrison at safety.

What happens now? An air raid, that's what. Tom Brady has 30 touchdown passes through eight games, which means it's bombs away. The key guy here is not Moss but Welker, who could wreak havoc out of the slot. All the guy has done is lead the team in catches and score six times, and when you ask what happened to Miami you can start here.

Nice deal, guys.

People complain that the Patriots don't have much of a rushing attack, which they don't, but aren't we getting picky? This is as close to perfection as we've gotten in years, and you're wondering why they can't run ... to do what? Score 20 more points on the Redskins? Look at it this way: If they were to run it would slow down the offense and hold down the scores, and if that happened what would we have to talk about?

Brady has it all -- TDs, victories, Giselle -- but his season won't be complete unless he and the Patriots make it to their fourth Super Bowl in seven seasons. And, trust me, this is -- and will be -- the biggest obstacle. It always is. The Colts and Patriots are the NFL's answer to the Yankees and Red Sox, always there at the finish and usually with memorable games.

New England holds the edge in the playoffs, but look what happened the past two seasons. The Colts beat these guys three straight -- including two in Foxborough -- and shredded the Pats' defense in last season's championship game, with five scoring drives of 67 yards or more. In fact, they prevailed so consistently we should be asking New England the same questions we posed to Peyton Manning and the Colts years ago -- namely, have the Colts gotten in the Patriots' heads?

Indianapolis is better and more physical than it was in 2006, but this is what we want to know: Will that be good enough to hold off New England? The Patriots are better, too, and they're so much better most people don't give the Colts a chance.

I do, but there's one area that would concern me if I'm Tony Dungy -- special teams, particularly New England's kickoff return. They scored twice this season, the first time the club had two players return kicks for touchdowns since 1961. Ellis Hobbs is the concern, though Willie Andrews went 77 yards two weeks ago. Hobbs averages nearly 30 yards a return, busted one for 108 yards this season and torched the Colts a year ago -- piling up 220 yards in returns. I mention all this because of where the Colts rank with their coverage units -- 31st on punts and 21st on kickoffs. That could be a difference maker.

Three games I'd like to see

Green Bay at Kansas City, 1 p.m. ET | Preview

Herm Edwards insists the schedule makers didn't cut his Chiefs a break by scheduling Green Bay six days after it traveled to Denver, but he's wrong. They did. The Packers will have a tough time pulling this one off after going to overtime Monday night. It's hard enough to win in Arrowhead Stadium, but to do it after a Monday night travel game? And Kansas City is coming off a bye. Pardon me, but this is fair?

Ryan Grant's 104 yards at Denver might have been a mirage. (Getty Images)

But the biggest reason is the Chiefs are rested and the Packers are not, and I don't care what Herm says. The Packers are at a disadvantage.

The key for Kansas City is Larry Johnson and how effective he can be against the league's 11th-ranked run defense. After a miserable start, Johnson has started to find himself -- running for 100 yards in his past two starts. That's huge for Huard because he's no threat to beat you with the pass if Johnson can't get on track.

Green Bay, meanwhile, continues to search for an effective running game -- only it must do so without DeShawn Wynn, who had four TDs. Ryan Grant ran for 104 yards the other night, but that's no barometer of anything because it happened against a Denver defense that ranks last against the run and yields an average of 4.9 yards per carry.

One problem for the Packers will be containing pass rusher Jared Allen, who leads the AFC in sacks (eight) despite missing the first two games. The assignment belongs to tackle Chad Clifton, and good luck. If Clifton can keep Allen off Brett Favre's back, the Packers have a chance. But remember: Nobody has put up more than 20 points on Kansas City this season.

Something to consider: Favre has 13 career touchdown passes of 75 yards or more, the most in NFL history. He also threw for four TDs in his past two starts against the Chiefs.

Jacksonville at New Orleans, 1 p.m. ET | Preview | Endzone

Finally, the Saints look like themselves. Once that wasn't good, but that was before Drew Brees arrived. Brees has been a portrait of contrasts, throwing one TD and nine interceptions the first four games -- all losses. He has rebounded to produce eight touchdown passes and one interception the past three -- all wins.

Quinn Gray has to find the mark on his passes more often. (Getty Images)

The Jags showed me something by squeezing out a win at Tampa Bay last weekend, but I don't know that Quinn Gray can be a hero a second consecutive game. He wasn't particularly good against the Bucs, but he was when he needed to be -- throwing the game-winning TD to Matt Jones. Sure, New Orleans is vulnerable to the pass, but Gray is not the guy to take the advantage of it. He's simply too inaccurate.

The Jags' hope rests with their defense, Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor. If Jacksonville can control the ball on the ground, it takes the pressure off Gray. And it puts pressure on Brees to make plays, and he has shown he can make mistakes. Only one problem: It will be tough to get to him. Brees hasn't been sacked the past four games and only four times this season.

Something to consider: In two career games against the Jags, Brees has five touchdowns, no interceptions and a 109.5 passer rating. When Brees has a rating of 110 or higher his teams are 18-2.

Dallas at Philadelphia, 8:15 p.m. ET | Preview

Sorry, T.O., but those are really boos.

Terrell Owens will get another chilly reception in Philly. (Getty Images)

Anyway, T.O.'s return is little more than a subplot to a bigger story, which is the survival of the Eagles. They're in trouble and they will be on life support if they lose this one. They're already three games behind the Cowboys and 2½ behind the Giants, so they can't afford to take another step back. For the moment, this is their Super Bowl.

The Eagles haven't won two in a row all season, and blame their offense: It has trouble producing touchdowns. A week ago the Eagles had first-and-goal at the 2 in Minnesota and had to settle for a field goal. Typical. They rank 14th in the NFC and 29th overall in red-zone offense, with eight touchdowns in 25 possessions.

When they finally produced a red-zone TD against the Vikings it was on a gadget play, with Donovan McNabb flipping a shovel pass to Brian Westbrook. That was nice, but the Eagles' history hasn't been. Eliminate the Detroit rout when they were 4-for-5 in the red zone, and they're 4-for-20 in touchdowns there ... which is one reason they're stuck at the bottom of the NFC East.

That's why the heat is on McNabb. Again. The Eagles QB has been inconsistent, failing to produce the big plays that once were a hallmark of his career. He was up a week ago, throwing for 333 yards and a touchdown against Minnesota, but the Vikings are the league's last-ranked passing defense; the Cowboys are 13th.

A year ago the Eagles beat Dallas twice by spreading the ball around, once with McNabb at quarterback and once with Jeff Garcia, and look for it to happen again. Kevin Curtis has become his big-play threat, but the Eagles have a cadre of receivers -- starting with Westbrook -- who will test the Cowboys' short and intermediate-range pass defense.

Of course, Dallas has the defense to thwart Philadelphia. The Cowboys are young. They're fast. And they're aggressive. And Philadelphia better beware of DeMarcus Ware. He could destroy the pocket where the Cowboys did not a year ago.

The key for Dallas will be to start fast and stay with its opponent. While Dallas ranks second in scoring, it has one first-quarter touchdown all season. Just a hunch, but I'd expect Owens to be more of a factor here than he was in his first return to Philadelphia, when he served as little more than a hood ornament for Drew Bledsoe.

Something to consider: The Cowboys have lost seven of their past eight games in Philadelphia.

Crummy game of the week

San Francisco at Atlanta, 1 p.m. ET | Preview

Frank Gore and the Niners have been off track all season. (Getty Images)

The 49ers are supposed to be better than Atlanta, but they're on a five-game skid and haven't scored more than 20 points in any game. In fact, they have 30 total in their past four, an average of just over a touchdown a game. Atlanta scored more than 20, but only once -- a 26-16 defeat of Houston. Its rushing attack, once the best in the league, is in the jar, and neither of its quarterbacks is happy.

Join the club. No one in Atlanta, it seems, is all that overjoyed with the new operation, and I call DeAngelo Hall or Alge Crumpler to the witness stand. The 49ers are in no better condition, with running back Frank Gore questioning the play-calling. Yeah, this is a perfect match of two miserable clubs going nowhere, which explains those empty seats you'll see Sunday.

Something to consider: When you punt for the 49ers you get a lot of practice. Maybe that explains why Andy Lee leads the league in net average at 43.5 yards, with 16 kicks inside the 20.

Upset of the week

Philadelphia (+2½) over Dallas

The Eagles can throw deep with Kevin Curtis in the game. (Getty Images)

I don't think that will happen again, but it's never wise to underestimate Philadelphia. The Eagles showed signs of life last weekend, and they have a history of success against Dallas you can't ignore -- winning seven of their past eight against the Cowboys in Philadelphia.

And there is this: The Cowboys haven't exactly been scintillating in their past three starts. They were lucky to beat Buffalo; they were buried by New England (OK, who isn't?); and they struggled against the Vikings.

Memo to Roy Williams: McNabb was right when he said anyone with designs on the division must go through Philadelphia. The Eagles have won it five of the past six years, and one thing Williams should've learned a year ago: It's never over until it's over with these guys.

Five guys I'd like to be

Donovan McNabb, QB, Philadelphia: Because he has won nine of his past 12 against the Cowboys, including five games where he had a passer rating of 100 or more. Including the playoffs, when McNabb hits three figures the Eagles are 34-1.

Fantasy guys, get ready for a big week from Lee Evans. (Getty Images)

Derek Anderson, QB, Cleveland: Because he's home, and when he's home this season he's 3-0 with 10 touchdown passes and two interceptions.

Mike Tomlin, coach, Pittsburgh: Because since 1992 the Steelers are 11-0 at home on Monday nights.

Brandon Stokley, WR, Denver: Because in his only career appearance against Detroit he set a career high with three touchdowns.

Stat of the week

New England has scored on every one of its opening drives this year, with five touchdowns and three field goals.

He said it

"Those boos, they ain't really boos. There's a lot of love in those boos. They ain't got no choice but to boo me because I'm on the other side." -- Dallas wide receiver Terrell Owens on what to expect from Philadelphia's fans.

Where we will be

Pete will be in Kansas City to arrange a more comfortable schedule for Herm Edwards.

I'll be in Indianapolis -- with Gregg Doyel -- on Sunday to take your take-out orders at Shapiro's and in Pittsburgh on Monday to moderate the Ray Lewis-Brian Billick debate.