Bill Belichick went on a tangent Wednesday when it was suggested that Sunday's game against the Colts should be a cupcake.
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, in Philadelphia. FOXBOROUGH – The New England Patriots have already begun talking up the Indianapolis Colts as if this game were taking place a half-decade ago, but there's not enough hyperbole to make this week's game attractive on paper.
In the end, it all comes out the same: This is a game between a Super Bowl hopeful and an 0-11 team that would be better off losing the rest of its games, but continues to lose despite its best effort each week.
"It may look like (Indianapolis is a weak team) on TV, I promise you, but the things that we're seeing, seriously, there's some things that you can see on film where it's a mistake here or there that's costing them the game," wide receiver Deion Branch said Sunday after New England beat Philadelphia. "But trust me, these guys have a great team."
It also looks that way on the stat sheets. The pairing paints a mismatch comparable to a fight between Mike Tyson and Danny Woodhead, which is why Vegas currently has the Pats listed as 21-point favorites.
On offense, the Colts rank 31st in yards (280) and 30th in points (13.6) per game, and on defense they place 29th in total yards allowed and are last in points allowed per game (29.7).
The Patriots rank second with 429.5 yards per game and are third in scoring (30.1).
Now factor in that Indianapolis is going with third-string quarterback Dan Orlovsky --who started seven games for the Detroit Lions in 2008 when they finished 0-16 -- and it looks like Patriots coach Bill Belichick's biggest decision Sunday will be figuring out how long he leaves his starters in the game.
However, he doesn't see it that way and became quite passionate Wednesday when it was suggested that this should be a cupcake game for his team.
"(The team has) heard me talk about it every week, so they really don't care about their record," Belichick said. "And we really don't. What difference does it make? How somebody played two weeks ago against somebody else – I mean, who cares? Us or anybody else. It doesn't matter.
"The only thing that matters is how we and the Colts perform against each other on Sunday. That's all that matters. Who cares who won three weeks ago in some game with some other players?"
That may seem like more smoke blowing, but keeping the players focused and not allowing them to get caught in the trap of playing a weak opponent will be the coaching staff's biggest task this week.
Belichick doesn't need to reach far for a good example of what can happen in this type of matchup. On Dec. 20, 2004, the Patriots traveled to Miami to play the 2-13 Dolphins and were dropped, 29-28.
So, save the talk about Indianapolis being a dead duck or that they lack the talent to be make it a competitive game.
"I don't want to go on a soliloquy about that, but I just don't agree with that. You don't think you can gauge a team based on how a player blocks Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis?" he said. "I mean, who else would you gauge it against? Are you kidding me?
"Covering Reggie Wayne, (Austin) Collie and (Pierre) Garcon – you don't think you can gauge your coverage based on those players? I don't care what their record is. You don't think there's better receivers around than them? Better pass rushers than Freeney and Mathis? I'm not sure what games you're watching here."
Even with a handful of talented players, the Colts still haven't looked good on Sundays. But as the cliché goes, anything can happen on any given Sunday.