“There’re only so many things you can do in football,’’ Belichick said. “It’s not unlimited. You’ve got to be able to run something that your defense is comfortable running.
“We’re not going to go in here and install a new defense in the next couple of days and think that would be a good way to defend one of the best offensive teams, not only this year, but really in the last decade.’’
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t moving parts to these games. With the help of three NFL pro scouts, here’s a look at five factors that could play into the way this one plays out:
■No-huddle Colts: All year, the Colts have stayed with personnel groups for entire series and gone no-huddle - both to quicken the tempo of the game to incite shootouts, and also to limit what a defense can do. They kicked the fast break up a notch against Houston.
This is key against a team like the Patriots that substitutes so much situationally.
“[The Patriots] are going to have to keep guys out there and, from what I’ve seen on tape, that’s not what they want to do, they like to sub to the formation,’’ an AFC scout said. “Bill always has things up his sleeve with different groups, and with the no-huddle, they’re going have to choose to stick with their base defense, or their nickel or dime. It might make them have to put more DBs out there.’’
One thing that could help the Patriots here is their own offense. Another AFC scout said, “They see that in practice, and they’re familiar with it. New England’s more effective when they can specialize, but these two are very familiar with each other, the schemes have been in place for a while, and it’s not like Indy’s running 50-60 plays. It’s 15 plays. They just execute.’’
■Indianapolis’s personnel turnover: Marvin Harrison is gone, and Anthony Gonzalez is on the shelf, with second-year pro Pierre Garcon and rookie Austin Collie in their places at receiver. But if you want to know who’s really replaced the veteran production, look to Dallas Clark, leading the team with 60 catches.
