Who would have picked the Dallas Cowboys to be the team to hand the Colts their first loss? Alright, the entire state of Texas can put their hands down now. With the Colts fired up for this away game no one could see that turnovers and missed opportunities would be the straw that broke the camels (or should I say colts) back. The Indianapolis Colts didn’t look like their normal selves, turning the ball over more than usual and being stumped by the Dallas defense. Manning threw two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, and lost a fumble. Although Manning threw two touchdown passes, he seemed confused and disoriented, a far cry from his usual commanding presence at the line of scrimmage. The Cowboys often made Peyton Manning, who had been (and probably still is) a runaway choice for league MVP, look mostly ordinary by mixing up coverage and keeping constant pressure on him.

So are the Cowboys actually a better team as the final score suggests? No, but even a broke clock is right twice a day and it would appear that the numbers or fate was in the Cowboys corner this week.

Now that the Colts don’t have the pressure of the perfect season hanging over their heads, will they right the ship and come back guns-a-blazin’ next week against the Eagles? Who knows, but one thing is for sure; there will be no pressure on Coach Dungy to make a decision on sitting or playing his stars in preparation for the postseason.

I would be interested in finding out what you think about the Colts and their season so far? Do you think they are a better team than the Bears who share the same W/L record? Do the Colts have what it takes to go all the way this year?

- Matt Riedl

Today the QB that Dan Marino selected to be his replacement at Miami comes into Dolphin Stadium to lead his team to battle. Damon Huard, the 10 year quarterback, will be leading the Kansas City Chiefs though and not the Miami Dolphins.

Although this looks like a snoozer and a blowout for the Chiefs on paper, mark our words, the Dolphins will ride the wave from last weeks beating of the Chicago Bears to make this one a game.

Prediction: Chiefs 24 Dolphins 16.

Larry Johnson and Tony Gonzalez run wild in the victory.

When the NFL season started many had the Seattle Seahawks picked as the team to beat. That all changed with a small crack in Shaun Alexander’s heel. Losing QB Matt Hasselbeck was an additional blow, but the Seahawk’s have some how continued to stay in the division race. How? Probably more to do with the weak NFC West than anything else, the 5 – 3 Seahawks have found themselves at the top of the division going into an important week 10 match up against the second place 4 – 4 Saint Louis Rams.

Just when they thought that Alexander would be back for the week 10 division match up, the doctors gave them “not so fast” news. The small crack in Alexander’s foot has not healed as quickly as expected and he, along with the still injured Hasselbeck will be inactive for the important match up this weekend. So where does that leave the Seahawks? Still in pretty good shape since their backup Maurice Morris has found his running game. And with backup QB Seneca Wallace finding the end zone each week for 1 or 2 TD’s, the Seahawks might be able to fight off the storm of injuries that hit them early this year. This week’s match up against the Rams will be their time to prove it once and for all. I have the Seahawks 24 – Rams 17 in this game that should live up to the hype and be a must see on your TV this Sunday.

- Matt Riedl

The Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots game Sunday evening is most definately the game of the week this week. Our prediction is that Tom Brady and the Patriots will show the Colts and Payton Manning who is still the beast of the East and who is the team to beat in the 2006 season.

Our prediction is that the Patriots will cover the line and win this by 8. Final score, 31-23.

Enjoy another great NFL weekend. Have a prediction or comment on this weeks game, please feel free to comment on this thread.