Um, I guess this is the open thread for tonight's MNF game with the New York Giants fighting for a shot at a Wildcard berth and the Washington Redskins playing spoiler.  Talk about whatever's on your mind:  the Colts being 14-0,  Peyton Manning on the verge of his NFL-record 4th league MVP, the Chargers being the most "dangerous" team in the NFL, LOLcats or the game itself.  Enjoy and go Colts!

Dwight Freeney will be apart of the Five Good Minutes segment today of PTI!!!   It comes on again at 6:30 eastern on ESPN2.

Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts!
Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts!

Media outlets such as ESPN claims that the Chargers are going unnoticed (but how is that if the media is talking about them?), but they've always had the attention of the Colts and its fans.  We all know that the Bolts have knocked the Colts out of the playoffs in consecutive years leaving a sour taste in Colts fans' mouths.  The most recent AFC playoff standings show the Colts (12-0) and Chargers (9-3)  as the #1 and #2 seeds, respectively.  The Chargers have won seven straight games after starting the season 2-3. 

I bring this question up because of a quote from Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback column:

"Best team in football,'' one NFL coach told me Saturday. Don't laugh.

Earlier in his column, Peter King said in so many words that the Bolts "own" the Colts by listing the scores of the last five meetings since 2005 with the Chargers having a 3-2 lead over the Colts. Yes, I know the Chargers have had the Colts' "number" for quite some time, but I have a feeling that things will change if these two squads meet in the playoffs this season.

During the two playoff losses, the Colts were unhealthy and missing two very valuable defensive players: Dwight Freeney in '07 and Gary Brackett in '08.  Without those two guys (and a limping Mathis in 2007) the Colts' D made Billy Volek look like a Pro-Bowler without the leagues best pass rushing duo, and Antonio Gates have a field day without an adequate MLB. 

The Chargers' 7 game winning streak is second behind the Colts and Saints 12 game winning streak this season.  During that time, the Chargers' offense has averaged 31.1 points per game, while the Chargers' defense has given up 15.1 points per game.  Pretty impressive, right?  It is until you look at who San Diego has played during it's winning streak: the Oakland Raiders (4-8), the Kansas City Chiefs, twice  (3-9), and the Cleveland Browns (1-11); while Denver Broncos (8-4), the Philadelphia Eagles (8-4), and the New York Giants (7-5) all have a shot at making the playoffs.  The combine record of San Diego's six opponents is  31-41.  During the first half of the season, the Colts were given grief for having a cupcake schedule which included the Jacksonville Jaguars (7-5), Miami Dolphins (6-6), and Arizona Cardinals (8-4).  Right now the Jaguars are in the driver's seat for a wild-card berth, the Dolphins (along with the Jets) are one game behind the Patriots in the AFC East, and the Cardinals are in cruise control in the NFC West--so much for a cupcake schedule. 

Based on the stats of these two teams, it's basically a wash between both offenses that are both in the top 5 in scoring and botttom 5 in rushing yards per game, as well as a wash between both defenses.

So are the Chargers the best team in the NFL?  Well, no, but this is coming from a Colts fan.  However, I truly believe that San Diego is the team to beat  in the AFC with the Patriots' defense being exposed more and more each week, and the Steelers' self-destructing.  Even though the Colts are 0-2 against the Bolts in the past two post seasons, I'm a firm believer that the third time's a charm.

The NFL Network is showing the 2006 AFCCG with the Colts and the Patriots today at 12 Noon Eastern/ 11 AM Central time!!!!!!!!  Enjoy and Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts! Go Colts!
Go Colts! Go Colts!

Now that the Golden Boy (Tom Brady) is stinkin' up the joint in New England, there's a new quarterback staking his claim as an elite quarterback: New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees.  So far in this very young season, Brees has thrown 9 TDs, 2 INT, completed 75% of his passes for 669 yards with a ridiculous passer rating of 132.9!  He's also on pace to throw 72 touchdowns!

Our quarterback Peyton Manning is also off to a very good start:  3 TDs, 1 INT, 68.9% completion for 604 yards and a passer rating of 110.3.  Brees is killing every other quarterback in the league in nearly all the major statistical categories, but stats aren't everything.

Brees won't be playing a defense like the Lions multiple times this season; so we can definitely scratch out him reaching 50+ touchdowns, let alone 70+ touchdowns.  In addition to not being able to blow out every opponent this season, Drew Brees isn't thought as being clutch.

Brees hasn't led any team in a comeback victory as gracefully and as frequently as Peyton Manning has done over the last 12 seasons.  When Peyton's on the national stage, he shines.  His performance from last night and recent years including last season's Sunday Night Football game against the San Diego Chargers proves that there's so much more to being an elite quarterback than just being able to fill up a stats sheet. 

Drew Brees is a terrific quarterback; but in 2006 NFC Championship Game, the biggest game of his career, Brees didn't play that well.  Peyton, on the other hand, faced a 18 point deficit at half time, and the rest in history.  Peyton Manning is 2nd among active quarterbacks with 37 game-winning drives in the 4th quarter or Overtime.  After leading his team to over 30 game-winning drive, many are starting now to consider him as Mr. Clutch. 

If you want a great quarterback for you Fantasy Football League, Brees is you guy; but if you want a quarterback to lead your team on a game-winning drive, Peyton’s the man for that job.  Until Brees can win important games, he’s gonna have to wait his turn to join Peyton at the cool kids' table.