The Sunday night game heads into the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The 9-1 home team Colts look ahead to the McNabbless Philadelphia Eagles. Now Led by Jeff Garcia, the 5-5 Eagles come from a loss handed to them by the Tennessee Titans. The Colts also lost their undefeated to the resurging Dallas Cowboys but a rebound seems very likely in a game against a team in regroup. The 21-14 loss may actually come in as an alleviant to knock some of the excess pressure off.
While the Colts may be able to relax a little now that an undefeated season is out of the question, the Eagles are in a jam after Donovan tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in last Sunday's 31-13 loss to Tennessee. The five-time Pro Bowl quarterback's season has ended early for the third time in five years. Jeff Garcia will replace McNabb, who is expected to be sidelined for at least eight months.
Garcia will have a fine receiving corps to support him led by Donte' Stallworth and Reggie Brown. Plus Brian Westbrook is healthy, and is a great addition to the offense with his dangerous running back style. Still this is an offense in reorganization and is factor to consider. The Eagles defense will be as big a concern as the McNabb-less offense. Since losing defensive end Jevon Kearse to a season-ending knee injury in Week 2, the pass rush has been inconsistent and teams are having an easy time running the ball against them.
Now Philadelphia will try to stop two-time MVP Peyton Manning and the Colts, who are coming off their worst game on offense this season. Manning fumbled twice and threw two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown against the Cowboys. Indianapolis committed only four turnovers in its first seven games, but has eight in the past three. After complaining for weeks about the Colts' mental errors, Dungy believed Sunday's loss sent a stronger message.
With an outscoring the other team perception The Colts' red-zone defense is the worst in the AFC, allowing 19 touchdowns in 29 drives, the equivalent to 65.5 percent of the time, and their run defense remains last in the league at 165 yards per game, a loop Brian Westbrook could look to take advantage of.
Thing is, with Baltimore and San Diego only one game behind the Colts, the battle for home-field advantage will force Indianapolis to continue competing. It is important that the Colts try to get their ground game back on track against Philadelphia. The Colts have been held below 100 yards rushing in three of the past four games, including 88 yards on 23 carries against the Cowboys.
Las Vegas has displayed a tweaked line this week with The Colts. Indy needs a touch down and a field goal to cover which really isn’t a lot that is unless the Eagles click with Garcia and score and hold. My guess is Manning at home playing like a surgeon and picking apart the secondary with a flurry of runs by Joseph Addai. Indy to win and over 44! I am not the type to root for a boring game so I predict runs on Garcia thrown interceptions.
