Head-to-head: Colts are NFL's better undefeated team

SportingNews Nov 5, 9:15 pm EST

We enter NFL Week 9 with two unbeaten teams—the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints. This week, both teams are at home for division games; the Colts play host to the Texans, and the Panthers visit New Orleans. In preparation for the games, we posed the question the SN experts Clifton Brown and Vinnie Iyer: Which is the better team?
 
Brown touts the Saints. Here's why Iyer's pick is the Colts:
 

With all due respect to the dominant team in the NFC, the Saints, the Colts are the remaining undefeated to trust most down the stretch and come playoff time. One word comes to mind: experience.
 
Peyton Manning(notes) has seen everything and is playing some of the best football of his illustrious career. The talented offense, buoyed by an injection of youth, is smooth and methodical in how it moves the ball every week.
 
On defense, they have the familiar complementary unit that rushes the passer well and excels in coverage, thwarting quarterbacks who drop back often to keep up with Manning. The Colts only will get better on defense as star safety Bob Sanders(notes) gets healthier. There's a good litmus test for both the Saints and Colts coming up—respective home games against the New England Patriots this month.
 
The Colts were able to turn the corner against New England three years ago to reach and win the Super Bowl. Until Drew Brees(notes) proves himself in a big Nov. 30 game head-to-head against Tom Brady(notes), it's hard to give him the benefit of the doubt. If the Saints and Colts were to meet in the Super Bowl, it would be appropriate—two elite passers would duel for a championship in the year of the quarterback.
 
Like his predecessor, coach Jim Caldwell keeps the Colts calm and steady.
Like his predecessor, coach Jim Caldwell keeps the Colts calm and steady.
If Indianapolis does indeed advance all the way to Super Bowl 44, it would have survived a brutal AFC playoff field that likely will included those Patriots, the reigning Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers and their frequent playoff nemesis, the San Diego Chargers. In a weaker NFC, Brett Favre(notes) and Minnesota Vikings seemingly are the only realistic roadblock for New Orleans. The Colts figure to be more battle tested and better prepared going into February.
 
The Colts don't have Tony Dungy on their sidelines any more, but that hasn't been a problem, thanks to Jim Caldwell leading a smooth transition. Caldwell has kept the calm, even demeanor the Colts knew under Dungy. Most important, Caldwell kept the team's philosophies intact. With a consistent, steady formula, the Colts have found several ways to win games.
 

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"Every week is a real test for us," Caldwell said after Indianapolis rallied to beat San Francisco last week. "We've had to come from behind, we've been out in front, played with big leads, and we've been in tight games."
 
Through all the wins, the Colts come back to the common denominator: the man who has started under center for every Colts game this decade. Manning quietly took home league MVP honors last season and yet found a higher level in '09. As well as Brees and the Saints are playing, I'm putting my trust in the team with Manning.
 
This story appears in Nov. 6's edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today.
 
Vinnie Iyer is a staff writer for Sporting News. Email him at viyer@sportingnews.com.

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Updated Nov 5, 9:15 pm EST
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11 Comments

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  1. <i>mlb_fan_99</i>
    11. Posted by mlb_fan_99 Mon Nov 23 7:53pm EST

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    hey THE TRUTH hah the colts wrecked the pats in the second half the pats are chokers and tom brady is a f@g
  2. Mark
    10. Posted by Mark Fri Nov 6 9:47pm EST

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    Well put charles. I really look forward to a rematch in the future as if it happens, both our teams will be in the SB.
    I wil just have to pray the Vikes wil carry forward with all their weapons on both sides finish the season on top.
  3. charles
    9. Posted by charles Fri Nov 6 4:51pm EST

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    I am a Steelers fan and I know The Steelers WON against the Vikings!!! I KNOW The Steelers were better that day! Vikings fans...You do have an awesome team....I will even go as far as to say that game could have gone either way.......you still lost. I could quote a bunch of stats that support why the Steelers have been so good for so long but it would be like 5 pages long. The bottom line is the season is only half over.....anything can still happen with a bunch of teams. #7....at least you have a clue on one thing....take care of your div and when there are 12 left standing in Jan....I kinda got a feeling both our beloved teams will be there with a chance at a trophy......You are still are trying to get your first one BTW. GO STEELERS!!!
  4. Cib
    8. Posted by Cib Fri Nov 6 12:29pm EST

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    You steeler fans are far from knowledgable fans! Do you honestly think the vikes should have been called for tripping on that touchdown pass? Even the announcers said that was a bogus call! So that's 7 points taken away from the vikings to go along with those crap td's you got! The vikes are clearly a MUCH better team than pitt!!!!!
  5. ToddZ
    7. Posted by ToddZ Fri Nov 6 11:49am EST

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    Obviously the Steeler fans are looking at the Vikings game through Rosy colored glasses. We all know ( Including Pitt) the better team is THE VIKINGS! We will Take care of are division, then the Saints. Then Pitt if they make it that far! Hearing your taunts just makes us stronger! Go Vikings SKOLL!
  6. <i>garagefather</i>
    6. Posted by garagefather Fri Nov 6 9:46am EST

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    the viking fans are on crack. The steelers did what they do all the time. Just because it was the vikes, doesn't mean anything. Using the viking fan's logic, the steelers gifted the vikings a kick off return TD. If you take away that gift and the 2 TD's that the vikes supposedly gave the steelers on turnovers, the final score would have been 13-10 steelers. Wake up and accept reality purple cry-babies, the champs are a better team and your QB is washed up drama queen.
  7. <i>redemption_value</i>
    5. Posted by redemption_value Fri Nov 6 8:50am EST

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    Colts, Vikings, Denver, all frauds. I'm a Steelers fan and I say the Saints are better than the Colts.

    Farve is not going to complete this season standing upright on the field.
  8. THE TRUTH
    4. Posted by THE TRUTH Fri Nov 6 4:21am EST

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    LOL The COLTS have played NO ONE!!!! HOUSTON will beat that horses A$$.None of the undefeated teams are the BEST in the leauge. 2nd half will tell all.The Pats will SMOKE the Colts and the Saints.They cant hang with Mr. Tom Brady. GO PATS!!!!!!!
  9. <i>riccoruby</i>
    3. Posted by riccoruby Fri Nov 6 4:15am EST

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    Vikes outplayed the Steelers, but lost because of those two big turnovers that went for td's. Both were in the red zone at that. A win is a win and a loss a loss.
  10. <i>mastewa</i>
    2. Posted by mastewa Thu Nov 5 11:29pm EST

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    Steve,

    Favre said he spent his 1st time in the ice tub after playing the Steelers.

    It will be interesting to see how long he lasts into the 2009 schedule.

    Vikes, gifted the Steelers, get your head out from between your legs.
  11. steve
    1. Posted by steve Thu Nov 5 9:53pm EST

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    Wow...i am not so sure i would agree that the AFC is that much tougher than the NFC. The Colts haven't really played anyone yet....

    the Saints have the easiest road to the playoffs....they play really no one.

    keep an eye on the vikings.....they gifted the steelers a win....and have won to highly emotional games against the packers...who many talking heads predicted to win the conference
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