Underdogs Again ... Finally

The best thing that could have happened to the New England Patriots this week, other than a Healer fixing up Rodney Harrison, Kevin Faulk, Richard Seymour and Matt Light (at least), is that the oddsmakers have made the Patriots an early underdog (3 to 3.5 points) -- an underdog at Gillette Stadium!

Yes, if New England ever needed some kind of external, emotional life, perceived or otherwise, it's this week when once again the unbeatable, unstoppable, (and this time) undefeated Indianapolis Colts invade Foxboro to finally destroy the demons that have haunted them and blocked their path to NFL immortality.

As all good fanatics in Patriots Nations know, the Bill Belichick Patriots are 7-1 against Peyton Manning, 6-0 if you count only the Belichick-Brady era. Belichick is 9-3 overall as a head coach against Indianapolis.

Here's some other good news: The Colts are 3-6 following their last nine bye weeks.

Of course, there's been rampant speculation, including in this area of cyberspace, that this is Manning's best chance with most of New England's defensive secondary including Harrison sidelined, with the other various defensive injuries like Seymour that will lessen the pressure on Manning, and with Romeo Crennel on another team's sideline. Then there's Indy's 7-0 record and their point total and yada, yada, yada.

And, really, you have to think that at some point, Belichick and Mangini and everyone else will have come up with everything possible to "confuse" Manning and the Indy offense, and sooner or later Manning is going to catch up.

But over the last several years, there's been one team that thrived, that fed off, that desired that Rodney-Dangerfield-No-Respect persona. Especially at home. "It's us against the world. We are the underdogs. But this is our house. And if you come into our house, we're gonna bite you."

Much more to come on this game. Stay tuned.