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Patriots put perfect mark on line vs. unbeaten Colts

Nov 4, 2007 - 11:56 AM New England (8-0) at Indianapolis (7-0) Sunday 4:15 pm EDT

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- One week after tapping into the overseas market, the NFL might want to consider pay-per-view.

A historical matchup between the league's only two undefeated teams is on tap Sunday when the steamrolling New England Patriots visit the defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts in what promises to be a ratings bonanza.

It certainly isn't the most significant game of the decade but it may be the most eagerly anticipated. For the first time in the 88-year history of the NFL, a pair of teams with records of at least 7-0 will clash.

That the game features the league's two best quarterbacks, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, only adds to the luster.

Crunch these numbers: The Colts have won 12 straight games, including their run through the playoffs last season. The Patriots have been triumphant in 12 of their last 13, with the lone loss coming to - you guessed it - Indy, 38-34, in the AFC championship game.

Perhaps mindful of blowing a 21-6 halftime lead to the Colts in that game, New England went out and restocked its wide receiving corps, bringing in Randy Moss, Wes Walker and Donte Stallworth.

The results have been devastating for opponents as the Patriots won their first eight games for the first time in team history.

New England has been unstoppable, scoring 149 points in their last three games and registering at least 34 points in each of their eight wins - an NFL record - for an average victory margin of 25.5 points.

Bolstered by his troika of receivers, Brady is putting up pinball numbers that not even all-world counterpart Manning has approached.

Brady already has surpassed his career high with 30 touchdowns against just two interceptions, and he has tossed at least three TD passes in each game. That has him on pace to shatter Manning's single-season mark of 49 set in 2004.

Moss already has 11 touchdowns and five 100-yard games, including his first four of the season, while Welker has been sizzling with 29 catches for 353 yards and five touchdowns in his last three games.

No team has been able to keep up with the Patriots, but none is better equipped than the Colts, who have beaten New England three in a row.

Behind Manning, the Colts have scored at least 29 points in six of their seven games despite All-Pro receiver Marvin Harrison missing two games and playing sparingly in a third due to a knee injury.

Harrison is expected to return Sunday but fellow wideout Reggie Wayne has thrived in his absence, hauling in 16 passes for 299 yards and a touchdown in the last two games.

Second-year running back Joseph Addai has shown he can handle the featured role, rushed for over 100 yards three times and scoring eight touchdowns.

As proficient as the offense has been, Indy's defense has been equally spectacular.

In a two-game road swing at Jacksonville and Carolina, the Colts allowed just two touchdowns in posting dominating 29-7 and 31-7 victories, respectively.

Led by safety Bob Sanders, Indianapolis features the top-ranked pass defense in the league, yielding just 165.4 yards per game.