Let’s face it. Patriot fans have to be a little scared of Peyton Manning in the AFC Championship this weekend and with good reason. I am young and have only been watching football since about 1985 (yes, the Bears got me hooked too), but I know that from what I have seen of the NFL in my life that no quarterback has ever played better in two consecutive play-off games than Peyton Manning has. The only QB that has ever come close is Joe Montana and he is the best ever.

You can talk all you want about the Patriots coaching genius, and he is good, but he is not on the field. And saying Peyton Manning can’t beat his scheme is kind of like saying: “Manning can’t win a play-off game.” Or “Peyton can’t win on the road in KC where they haven’t lost for 13 games.” It is just extra motivation and we have seen what the Colts have done with that this year.

As for the weather, well right now it is predicted to be great for the Colts. 20-30 degrees with almost no wind. What is in Indy right now? 20-30 degrees with almost no wind. To me the weather is only a factor if it is different from where you live not where you play (dome or outdoors). When you go from Miami where it is 70 to New England where it is 30 then it has an effect on your body that causes problems. No such problems will exist for the Colts, 8-1 on the road this year.

And don’t even try to tell me it will be louder than KC. I know that is not true. The Colts will go into New England and beat them probably by about 10 points and then they will hopefully get to play Carolina in the Super Bowl. By winning that game they can complete the quad-fecta and avenge all 4 of their losses in the season this year: Jacksonville, Denver, New England, and Carolina. How sweet that will be.

SFTS = THE RUGBURNS / MORNING WOOD / #7 FOOTBALL TONITE (WTOP)