afc title game

How well is New England coached and quarterbacked? The Pats won at San Diego with one Pro Bowler, D-lineman Richard Seymour, on their team. The Chargers had 10. The Pats won playing Artrell Hawkins at safety and with Jabar Gaffney catching 10 balls. They are the best prepared, most postseason-savvy team now, maybe ever. And yet...

They were one play away from losing last week. Tom Brady's third interception should have done them in. Had Marlon McCree not been stripped by Troy Brown, we'd still be mentioning Brady and Joe Montana in the same sentence, but they'd be separated by a couple commas. Now, Brady is 2 wins from being the best postseason QB ever. Brady benefits from flawless preparation and a team savvy and confidence that borders on unbeatable. However...

The Colts will beat them Sunday. It's not quite now-or-never time for Peyton Manning. But he is approaching that Elway stage of his career. Just when we were ready to crown Elway "The Greatest QB Never...'' he won, and won again. Manning's on a similar flight path. Don't ask me why. I just think it's his time. Plus, Manning has a defense. Bob Sanders -- the latter-day David Fulcher -- has keyed that unit's resurgence. Manning doesnt have to be great. He just has to bust a few big plays which, against the Pats' mediocre secondary, won't be hard. And Adam Vinatieri is on Indy's sideline now. Colts, 27-20. Live big, Naptown.