FOXBORO, Mass. -- Here's how the Colts and Patriots stack up for Sunday's AFC Championship game.
WHEN THE COLTS HAVE THE BALL\nThis is the matchup likely to decide the game. Peyton Manning (18), the NFL's co-MVP this season, has been near-perfect in playoff wins over Denver and Kansas City, posting a 156.9 passer rating. He has eight touchdown passes with no interceptions and has spread the ball around to Reggie Wayne (87) and Brandon Stokley (83), as well as to his favorite target, Marvin Harrison (88). Edgerrin James (32) has averaged 101.5 yards on the ground as Indianapolis has scored 79 points.\nBut the Colts haven't faced a defense like New England's, which allowed just one touchdown in its final six home games. The Patriots often have most of their front seven stand near the line of scrimmage to disguise the defense. They can do that because Willie McGinest (55), Tedy Bruschi (54), Mike Vrabel (50) and Roman Phifer (95) have been both down linemen and linebackers during their careers. McGinest, Bruschi and defensive lineman Richard Seymour (93) all have had outstanding seasons, especially Seymour, who plays both end and tackle and is one of the NFL's best. And 355-pound Ted Washington (92) is the run stuffer, although it was McGinest who stopped James on fourth down from the 1-yard line to save the first meeting.\nKeeping them off Manning will be an offensive line led by center Jeff Saturday (63), who at 290 pounds is light by today's standards, but heady enough to figure out which Patriot is coming from which direction. Left tackle Tarik Glenn (78) and right tackle Ryan Diem (71) are the most physically imposing at 330-plus pounds.\nThe other weapon the Colts have is Manning's play-calling. It allows them to work from a no-huddle offense, which can keep the Patriots from substituting the way they'd like. Manning changes calls, fakes audibles and is the game's best at play action.\nHe will probably throw more at ex-Colt Tyrone Poole (38) on the right corner than Ty Law (24) on the left. Poole has had a good season, but Law is one of the best DBs in football. Rookie Eugene Wilson (26) and veteran Rodney Harrison (37) have replaced Tebucky Jones and Lawyer Milloy at safety. Harrison, a ferocious hitter, has had one of his best seasons, so Wilson and Asante Samuel (22) might be targets.
WHEN THE PATRIOTS HAVE THE BALL\nTom Brady (12) finished third in the MVP voting behind Manning and Tennessee's Steve McNair, who tied for the award. He wins without being spectacular; he's 38-12 in his first 50 starts and hasn't thrown an interception in nine home games this season.\nThe running game is average. Antowain Smith (32) and Kevin Faulk (33) combined for 1,280 yards, less than 12 individual backs. But Brady uses the short-passing game in place of the run and Faulk had 48 catches, second on the team. Because of injuries to David Patten, out for the season, and Troy Brown (80), the Patriots often went to second-year men Deion Branch (83) and David Givens (87), as well as tight ends Daniel Graham (82) and Christian Fauria (88), allowing them to rank ninth in the NFL in yards passing. Rookie Bethel Johnson (81) is the deep threat and also an outstanding return man.\nThe first task of the offensive line, which has done well even with replacements such as rookie center Dan Koppen (67), will be to neutralize Dwight Freeney (93), one of the NFL's top pass rushers. The Colts' defense was 11th overall in yards allowed, although other than Freeney, there are no real stars. Linebacker David Thornton (50) played well in his second season; strong safety Mike Doss (20) showed considerable potential; and backup defensive end Chad Bratzke (92) is an important leader in his 10th season.\nLeft tackle Matt Light (72) will be the principal blocker on Freeney and Russ Hochstein (71) is likely to replace the injured Damien Woody (64) at left guard.
SPECIAL TEAMS\nThe Colts haven't punted in the playoffs because Manning and the offense have been so unstoppable. They're likely to have to this week with Hunter Smith (17), who averaged 42 yards a kick. Also notable: Place kicker Mike Vanderjagt (13) was 37-for-37 on field-goal attempts during the season and has three more in the playoffs. His 41 over two regular seasons is a record for consecutive field goals. The conditions in Foxboro are much tougher than indoors at the RCA Dome.\nNew England's Adam Vinatieri (4) is one of the best pressure kickers in recent history. He won the Super Bowl two years ago with a 48-yarder on the final play and is known for kicking two through the snow to tie, then beat Oakland in the playoffs that same season. He also had a 46-yarder through the wind that beat the Titans last week.\nJohnson returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown and also had a long return to set up another score in the Pats' 38-34 regular-season win in Indianapolis. And Brown has been one of the NFL's top return men for a long time; he returned a punt for a touchdown in the AFC title game in Pittsburgh two years ago.\nThe Colts have used several players since Adam Pyatt, their outstanding rookie return man, was lost for the season with a back injury two months ago. James' backup, Dominic Rhodes (33), has been the main return man.
COACHING\nNew England's Bill Belichick and Indianapolis' Tony Dungy have backgrounds in defense. And while the Colts' defense had improved markedly during Dungy's two-year tenure, the team is still built around offense. Tom Moore, the 65-year-old offensive coordinator, has been one of the better play-callers in the NFL for 30 years, but he gives considerable leeway to Manning to change plays.\nBelichick remains active in running the defense, although coordinator Romeo Crennel has a major input. Crennel and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis were interviewed for head coaching vacancies, but did not get jobs in part because teams weren't willing to wait until the Patriots were eliminated from the playoffs.
INTANGIBLES\nThe Patriots are going for their 14th consecutive victory. They could become the only team other than the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the only unbeaten team since the merger, to do that in a single season.\nThere are two contradictory stats involving the Colts. Manning is 0-4 in Foxboro, although the circumstances are different than in earlier games. The Patriots are 9-0 at home, and the Colts are 8-1 on the road, including the win last week in Kansas City, which had been unbeaten at home.
