Road to the Super Bowl still goes through New England

The road to the Super Bowl always seems to go through New England in the AFC and there’s no reason to think this year is any different. The Patriots are off to a quiet 6-1 start, if such a thing is possible. While the media has focussed on the 7-0 Indianapolis Colts and the terrific defense played by the Denver Broncos, New England has been doing what it always seems to do – win games.That was the story Monday night the Patriots went into Minnesota and crushed the Vikings, 31-7. People around the NFL had viewed the game as a potential “trap game” for the Patriots as the Vikings seemed to be improved this year and are very tough at home with a solid defense.

New England answered with the proverbial, “trap this.”

Now the Patriots host Indianapolis in the annual renewal of their “game of the year.” The former division rivals (they were both in the AFC East through the 2001 season) have met five times in the past three years, including twice in the playoffs. New England won the first four times but Indianapolis won last year’s game, 40-21.

In the end, it didn’t do the Colts any good – they still lost to Pittsburgh in their first playoff game.

This year’s game is again in New England – outdoors, where the Indianapolis offense sometimes isn’t quite as effective as indoors. It’s the featured game on NBC’s Sunday Night Football and the winner will be the frontrunner for home field advantage in the AFC playoffs. And the Colts definitely don’t want to have to return to New England in January.

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