by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Nov 03, 2022
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA
Where to watch: CBS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Patriots -5.5
FanDuel: Patriots -5.5
BetMGM: Patriots -5.5
Caesars: Patriots -5.5
Season record
Colts: 3-4-1
Patriots: 4-4
November is here, the midway mark is here in the NFL season, and there's a lot of good football left to be played. Have you been keeping up with the NFC East? It's insane, right? What about what happened in the trade market this week? Even more insane! The landscape of the NFL has suddenly changed, and this week will be the first time to actually see what transpires. Our champion handicappers are killing it this NFL season. Jack Banks is sitting with a 13-8-0 mark over the last month, and Sean Murphy was even better with a 6-1-0 run this last week. What will our guys do this week with an enticing week coming up? Make sure you're plugged to bigal.com to find out!
Colts - Patriots preview, analysis and prediction
Last week
Colts: lost 17-16 vs. Commanders
Patriots: won 22-17 at Jets
For one week, Mac Jones lives to see another week. The Bailey Zappe experience isn't quite alive and well yet, but at least the New England Patriots are back to .500 with a good chance to get above that this weekend with a matchup against Sam Ehlinger and the Indianapolis Colts in Foxboro on Sunday.
Unfortunately, yes, you see the quarterbacks. This is not Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady. Mac Jones vs. Sam Ehlinger would've been a tremendous Alabama-Texas matchup a few years ago, but that's what we're looking at with this weekend's matchup. If Zappe gets in, Western Kentucky represent, am I right?
But the Patriots have won three out of four after beating the red-hot Jets 22-17 last week in MetLife Stadium. Imagine for a second what would've happened if the Patriots didn't lay an egg against the Chicago Bears on Monday night the week prior. But it could've gone much worse: Jones went 24 of 35 for 194 yards and a touchdown, but did throw an interception. The important thing is he outdueled Zach Wilson when needed to and got the win. Rhamondre Stevenson ran for 71 yards on 16 carries, while the running back also caught 7 passes for 72 yards.
"I'll have a thought on that when it's over," said Bill Belichick, who passed George Halas for the second most victories all time with 325. "Add 'em up in the end. It's good to come down here and win. Happy for our team. I appreciate all the great players that have won those games."
Belichick is 22 away from tying Don Shula, and it almost seems inevitbale he can do it in the next few years, especially with the Patriots. But the current crop of Patriots might be the best he can do at this time. The fact this group bounced back after getting booed out of their own building six days prior has to count for something.
"We needed it," Patriots DB Devin McCourty said after recording two of Wilson's three interceptions. "It's tough — you go out there at home and you get booed and you don't really show up in any phase of the game. It was ugly for us. Chicago whupped us. We had to fast forward."
Indeed they do, and McCourty may be having flashbacks of yesteryear matchups. The Colts, however, are not good and have accepted the fact that Matt Ryan is benched for basically the rest of the year for the young signal caller out of Texas. Ehlinger threw for 201 yards in his first career start, but he couldn't beat Taylor Heinicke in losing to Washington, 17-16.
"I thought I had it, I thought I had it judging by the reaction of my teammates and then obviously my knee was down," Ehlinger said. "You never know you're ready until you're put in that situation. I know now it wasn't good enough."
For one week, Mac Jones lives to see another week. The Bailey Zappe experience isn't quite alive and well yet, but at least the New England Patriots are back to .500 with a good chance to get above that this weekend with a matchup against Sam Ehlinger and the Indianapolis Colts in Foxboro on Sunday.
Unfortunately, yes, you see the quarterbacks. This is not Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady. Mac Jones vs. Sam Ehlinger would've been a tremendous Alabama-Texas matchup a few years ago, but that's what we're looking at with this weekend's matchup. If Zappe gets in, Western Kentucky represent, am I right?
But the Patriots have won three out of four after beating the red-hot Jets 22-17 last week in MetLife Stadium. Imagine for a second what would've happened if the Patriots didn't lay an egg against the Chicago Bears on Monday night the week prior. But it could've gone much worse: Jones went 24 of 35 for 194 yards and a touchdown, but did throw an interception. The important thing is he outdueled Zach Wilson when needed to and got the win. Rhamondre Stevenson ran for 71 yards on 16 carries, while the running back also caught 7 passes for 72 yards.
"I'll have a thought on that when it's over," said Bill Belichick, who passed George Halas for the second most victories all time with 325. "Add 'em up in the end. It's good to come down here and win. Happy for our team. I appreciate all the great players that have won those games."
Belichick is 22 away from tying Don Shula, and it almost seems inevitbale he can do it in the next few years, especially with the Patriots. But the current crop of Patriots might be the best he can do at this time. The fact this group bounced back after getting booed out of their own building six days prior has to count for something.
"We needed it," Patriots DB Devin McCourty said after recording two of Wilson's three interceptions. "It's tough — you go out there at home and you get booed and you don't really show up in any phase of the game. It was ugly for us. Chicago whupped us. We had to fast forward."
Indeed they do, and McCourty may be having flashbacks of yesteryear matchups. The Colts, however, are not good and have accepted the fact that Matt Ryan is benched for basically the rest of the year for the young signal caller out of Texas. Ehlinger threw for 201 yards in his first career start, but he couldn't beat Taylor Heinicke in losing to Washington, 17-16.
"I thought I had it, I thought I had it judging by the reaction of my teammates and then obviously my knee was down," Ehlinger said. "You never know you're ready until you're put in that situation. I know now it wasn't good enough."
Prediction
Never go against Belichick and young quarterbacks. The results normally don't pan out very well. The legendary coach will have something up his sleeve for what's to come and I would highly expect Jones to rebound and get a victory that he desperately needs. Patriots by 13
Betting trends
Colts are 9-6 ATS as an underdog the last three years; 2-1 this year.
Colts are 7-4 ATS as a road underdog the last three years.
Colts are 6-0 ATS against AFC East teams the last three years.
Colts are 6-1 ATS off an upset loss as a home favorite the last three years; 2-0 this year.
Patriots are 8-6 ATS as a home favorite the last three years.
Patriots are 15-14 ATS against conference opponents the last three years; 2-2 this year.
Statistical leaders
Colts:
Passing: Matt Ryan -- 2,008 yards, 9 TD, 9 INT
Rushing: Jonathan Taylor -- 462 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: Michael Pittman Jr. -- 528 yards, 1 TD
Defense: Two tied -- 4 sacks
Patriots:
Passing: Mac Jones -- 993 yards, 3 TD, 7 INT
Rushing: Rhamondre Stevenson -- 558 yards, 4 TD
Receiving: Jakobi Meyers -- 415 yards, 3 TD
Defense: Matthew Judon -- 8.5 sacks
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Indianapolis Colts - New England Patriots prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NFL projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
