FOXBOROUGH -- You can't open a newspaper, turn on the radio, or watch TV without hearing the name of Peyton Manning, the NFL MVP.
There's no doubt that Tom Brady has been overshadowed in the hype for Sunday's showdown between the Colts and Patriots, but that's the way Brady prefers it -- as long as the Patriots win.
Asked yesterday if he was being slighted, Brady said, "I have had way too much attention over the last three years to ever think that. I mean, no way. No way."
People will gush over Manning's stats, his form, his incredible quarterbacking. They will make the Brady-as-Joe Montana and Peyton Manning-as-Dan Marino comparisons. But when you break down the factors for Sunday's game, there seem to be more checks on Brady's side.
He's playing at home, where he hasn't lost a game in two years, he won't be thrown off by the elements, he is playoff-tested -- and Manning has yet to beat the Patriots in Foxborough.
"We enjoy playing on our field, and I guess we're a little bit used to the weather conditions," said Brady. "Every quarterback would like to play in a great environment where there's no wind. I love playing in a dome because there's no wind, the balls feel great, you're on great turf, and everything happens fast. You can plant well. You deliver the ball well. Your accuracy seems to be the best it could be.
"But ultimately playing out on this field probably affects the kickers more than it affects the quarterbacks, just because the wind can affect the ball when it's not spiraling as much. We like playing at home, though. I would say that."
He will have the benefit of a defense that is more apt to take things away from Manning than the Colts are to take things away from him.
Brady is 5-0 against the Colts with a quarterback rating of 99, while Manning is 2-9 against the Patriots with a 77.1 rating, which includes 21 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions. Brady also has the crowd on his side.
"Well, they always play a huge factor," said Brady, "and it's always a huge advantage for us playing at home because we feel like the crowd is really into it and the crowd is excited about being there, excited about cheering for us.
"I know going on the road to some of these places we've played, it's real tough when it's loud. How much it'll play a part in this game, it remains to be seen."
Manning can't manipulate this crowd as he does at the RCA Dome, where, for instance, the crowd quieted down when the Colts were near the goal line so Manning could call out his signals and audibles. On Sunday, he'll be drowned out.
