What teams did the Colts play this season? They went 14-2 against one of the easiest schedules in the league. They played the NFC west, AFC east and Baltimore and Denver and the AFC south that all under achieved this year. Houston, Tennessee and Jacksonville all had high aspirations this season and neither of the three teams had a good year. Tennessee changed quarterbacks after losing their first six games and Jacksonville had a horrible year. Houston is a team on the rise. They gave the Colts a run for their money and we just saw how good Schaub can be in the based on his performance in the joke Pro Bowl. The Colts played six teams that the Saints did. They went 4-2 and I know the 2 losses were at the end of the season. They both struggled with Miami for a half and rallied to beat them in Miami with unbelievable fourth quarter performances. The Colts did not have the ball much against the Dolphins and found a way to win on a Manning magical drive. The Saints trailed at the half in this game 24-6 I believe and Brees was getting hit and throwing intercepted all over the yard. Then in the third and fourth quarter the Saints scored40 unanswered points and won the game 46-34. The saints also went 6-0 against like opponents. The Rams gave the Saints fits but the Colts destroyed them. The Saints defeated the other five Opponents by more than 12 points in each game. They absolutely crushed the Patriots in the statement game of the year for them. The Colts benefited from a bobble by Kevin Faulk and won in dramatic fashion against the Pats 35-34. Also in the game against the Patriots, the Saints held Wes Welker to one catch and Randy Moss to four meaningless receptions. They confused Brady and forced a couple of interceptions. The Colts know that they got a break in the game against the Pats. Lets also look at the Saints schedule. They played the NFC east and AFC east. Romo and the boys got them in week 14, but the went to Philly and destroyed the Eagles and crushed the Giants at home. They also defeated the Jets when the Jets were 3-0 and the talk of the league. Also they play Atlanta who was playoff team twice and won both games. Both teams are not the same playing on the road or on grass. The Saints apparently played poorly last weekend and scored 31 points. They also on grass this year averaged only 32 points a game. The Colts play on grass a lot and scored 29 points a game.
So ask yourself how is it that a team that has played weaker opponents is favored over a more battle tested team. The Raven and the Jets had great years but did not win their divisions. The Saints had to beat a great Cardinal team that was in the Super Bowl last year and a Viking team that won its division with a hall of fame quarterback. In fact both teams had hall of fame qb's. The Colts also had the benefit of playing both opponents twice this year. They had an idea of what to attack in each game. The edge goes to the Saints in the strength of schedule folks. Yes there are Detroits and Tampa bay on the schedule but they played all ofthe division winners and defeated all but Dallas. The Colts did not play San Diego or Cincinnati.
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