Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Things to consider before you bet on Super Bowl XLI

Apparently, there are still more than a few storylines to consider before the big game.

Days away, yes, Super Bowl XLI is merely a few days away as we are in the middle of what we would like to call Super Bowl week. The Chicago Bears have finally arrived at Miami International Airport to play their first Super Bowl in 25 years and yep, you just know Rex Grossman is feeling the pressure already.

However, Rex Grossman is only half the story. We have Peyton Manning in his very first Super Bowl trying to win the big one after finally being able to beat his nemesis, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

With that said, what are the other storylines that will come to play once it is time to play the game at Miami, Florida?

First, the premiere attraction would have to be the Indianapolis Colts offense going up against the Chicago Bears defense. Peyton Manning going up against Brian Urlacher.

Peyton Manning is one of the very best quarterbacks in the game. However, he can not seem to dominate games in the playoffs as well as he dominates the regular season. However, with his experience, talent and intelligence, I would still go with him leading my team to win a football game.

Next to Tom Brady of course.

He is going to find a way to exploit the Bears defense, and when it counts the most, he will come up with a big play. Besides, Brian Urlacher and the rest of the Bears defense do not have the interchangeable pieces the Baltimore Ravens D has so I guess Manning SHOULD HAVE an easier time against the Bears D compared to the one he had against Baltimore when he can only come up with field goals.

Next, we have Rex Grossman in a somewhat familiar territory, coming to this game against the Colts. Like Grossman, Super Bowl XL champions, Pittsburgh Steelers, have a young quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger who tends to rely on his defense and his running backs to be successful.

Rex Grossman is THAT guy this year and the Chicago Bears are also starting to make similar adjustments, putting their young quarterback in more favorable positions.

Does that mean Rex Grossman would be a Super Bowl champion on Feb.4? Were merely days away from finding out.

Who will win Super Bowl XLI at Miami, Florida? Bodog has the outright odds on that one.

Indianapolis Colts 11/2

Chicago Bears 15/1

Want more odds? Visit OddsHQ for the best odds on some of today's biggest sporting events.

Friday, January 26, 2007

Colts and Bears will make history at Super Bowl XLI

This year's Super Bowl XLI at Miami, Florida will definitely be a historic event for sure.

Tony Dungy, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, and Lovie Smith, head coach of the Chicago Bears, two friends and former colleagues back when both were with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will be facing each other as the first black head coaches to reach a Super Bowl.

This year's Super Bowl XLI would be the first all-black Super Bowl too, giving NFL Football one historic event which was 41 years in the making. And yep, you bet both NFL head coaches are ecstatic about it.

''It means a lot,'' Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy said after his Colts beat the New England Patriots 38-34 in the AFC title game. ''I'm very proud of being an African-American. I'm very proud of Lovie.''

Chicago Bears head coach Lovie SMith was the first one to reach football's biggest stage, beating the New Orleans Saints 39-14 in the ''early'' game.

Asked who he'd like to play on Feb.4 in Miami, Smith didn't hesitate with his answer. ''We have to play someone and, in my perfect world, I would like to see the Colts be that team.''

''Tony Dungy has done an awful lot for our game,'' Lovie Smith said. ''He hasn't had a chance to coach in the Super Bowl. I would love to see it.''

Four hours later, it was a done deal.

''I'll feel even better to be the first black coach to hold up the world championship trophy,'' Lovie Smith added.

Of course, Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning has other plans on Feb.4.

Peyton Manning has been dogged for years by critics who said his greatness was diminished by the fact he couldn't win a big game. After leading his team back from an 18-point deficit, he finally has the chance - on football's biggest stage.

''It sounds good,'' a beaming Manning said. ''It really does.''

Can Tony Dungy lead the Indianapolis Colts to win Super Bowl XLI? Who will win Super Bowl XLI at Miami, Florida? Bodog has the outright odds on that one.

Indianapolis Colts 11/2

Chicago Bears 15/1

Want more odds? Visit OddsHQ for the best odds on some of today's biggest sporting events.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Colts on the same Road as the Super Bowl XL Champs?

It seems the Colts this season are taking a similar path taken by the Steelers en route to their win at Super Bowl XL last year.

Yep, the Indianapolis Colts will be facing the Chicago Bears at Super Bowl XLI. Their road to Miami, Florida finally culminates on Feb.4 after their come from behind win last Sunday. Unfortunately for the Colts, that road will be even harder.

Hell, ''harder'' could very well be an understatement. And yep, the road to get here was tough and will be tougher indeed. Tough but not unique. You see, the Pittsburgh Steelers team who won Super Bowl XL last year took a very similar one.

The Indianapolis Colts last year was as dominant in the regular season as they are this year. However, last season's ''perfect scenario'' went up in smoke when the Colts fell at home to Pittsburgh 21-18 in the second round.

The Colts' encore performance this season hasn't been flawless, only fruitful. After becoming the first NFL team to start consecutive seasons 9-0, they lost four games in a six-week stretch. Uncharacteristic errors on offense and a leaky run defense proved to be too burdensome to continually overcome.

The Pittsburgh Steelers traveled a similar path. They finished the 2004 season with a 14-game winning streak and secured the No.1 seed and with a 15-1 record. But after sidestepping an upset bid by the New York Jets in the divisional round, they were pummeled at home by New England 41-27 in the AFC Championship Game.

Pittsburgh's encore culminated with its fifth Super Bowl title. But the Steelers' championship path hardly was smooth. Consecutive losses to Baltimore, the Colts and Cincinnati in late November dropped them to 7-5 and threatened to extinguish their playoff hopes.

Hmm... Eerily similar eh? Can the Indianapolis Colts complete what is turning out to be a path taken by the Black and Gold last year? Well, they have to knock the Chicago Bears out first.

Can Peyton Manning lead the Indianapolis Colts to win Super Bowl XLI? Who will win Super Bowl XLI at Miami, Florida? Bodog has the outright odds on that one.

Indianapolis Colts 11/2

Chicago Bears 15/1

Want more odds? Visit OddsHQ for the best odds on some of today's biggest sporting events.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Rex Grossman looks for Redemption at NFC Championship

Rex Grossman wants a Super Bowl ring. He wants to silence his critics. More importantly, he wants redemption.

When Rex Grossman lost his, ''hot start'' if you will, when the Chicago Bears ended one of the best starts in the history of their franchise, many NFL analysts were on Grossman's case, just waiting for him to screw up some more.

Rex did gave these analysts what they wanted, Grossman tallied a miserable 1.19-something QB Rating one game and then he did one better (or worse...) with an even more miserable 0.0.

Last Sunday, Rex Grossman was coming off that 0.0 QB Rating he got from the Green Bay Packers as he prepared for the defending NFC Champions, Seattle Seahawks in their first playoff game of the season. You can just imagine Grossman's thoughts coming to this one.

He was in a must-win situation then. Must win? Yes. Rex Grossman had to win last Sunday if he ever wants his critics to stop hounding him since he cooled off from his hot start earlier this year.
The result? Rex came out of this game firing, ultimately leading to Chicago's 27-24 win over Seattle. However, it seems it was not enough to silence his critics. Nevertheless, Rex still has an NFC Championship game to win next Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. A win on Sunday won't probably change anything but at least the guy will be a win away from becoming a Super Bowl champion.

And you bet, Grossman will bring what he's calling now an even-keel attitude when the New Orleans Saints visit them at Soldier Field.

''You have to go through a lot of adversity in the course of a game and a season, and everything is so exaggerated, positive and negative,'' Grossman said. ''It's so true that you have to stay on an even keel the whole time and never lose faith in yourself, your teammates, your abilities or the style of your offense, anything.''

Can Rex Grossman lead the Chicago Bears pass the New Orleans Saints? Here are the odds on this huge NFC Championship game.

New Orleans Saints +3

Chicago Bears -3

Want more odds? Visit OddsHQ for the best odds on some of today’s biggest sporting events.

Will Brett Favre walk away from NFL Football?

Brett Favre ended his 2006 NFL Football season with an incredible win over the NFL no.1 team, Chicago Bears.

And just like last year, Brett Favre ended the season with doubts on his mind whether he'll be calling it quits or not. Last time we did this, Brett Favre decided to return. Will it happen all over again this time?

Well, for what it's worth, it's possible Brett Favre played the final game of his illustrious NFL career Sunday night at Soldier Field.

Just don't bet on it.

Favre's tearful interview on national television following the Packers' 26-7 victory over the Chicago Bears gave a hint the veteran quarterback is strongly considering retirement. But Favre wouldn't give a definitive answer, and said he probably would decide on his future in the next two weeks.

Brett Favre, whether he decides to call it quits or not, is a lock to enter the NFL Football Hall of Fame. He has nothing more to prove and everybody knows he doesn't need another multi-million dollar salary.

After all, Green Bay Packers jerseys with the no.4 etched on it are selling like pancakes. Then again, he just as easily could return, with no regrets. In fact, why wouldn't Favre want to come back?

Forget about the money and the NFL passing records he could break. Those are nice fringe benefits, but deep down, the only reason Favre would play again is his passion for the game.

Brett Favre is healthy, having extended his starting streak to a superhuman 257 games (including playoffs). The prospect of undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his sore left ankle (bone spurs) today should have no bearing on his football future.

Neither should his playing ability. Despite being 37, which is ancient by pro football standards, Favre has what it takes to lead an NFL team.

And yeah, wouldn't it be nice to walk away from the game ala John Elway? Wouldn't it be nice if Brett Favre walked away from NFL Football with a brand new Super Bowl ring? Yep, it will.

Who will win Super Bowl XLI at Miami, Florida? Sports Interaction has the outright odds on that one.

New England Patriots 8.50

Indianapolis Colts 7.00

Chicago Bears 4.50

Want more odds? Visit OddsHQ for the best odds on some of today’s biggest sporting events.

Monday, January 15, 2007

NFL Final Four, One Win Away from Super Bowl XLI

The Indianapolis Colts, the New England Patriots, the Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints.

Yes, those teams are your official NFL Final Four as each team is merely one win away from the biggest and grandest stage in all of American sports, the Super Bowl.

Who will advance to Super Bowl XLI and win it all this year? Read on.

New England Patriots +3

Indianapolis Colts -3

Yes, the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots will meet each other in the AFC Championship game, playing for a trip to Miami, Florida.

New Orleans Saints +3

Chicago Bears -3

The Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints will be playing for the exact same thing in the NFC as two teams who had absolutely no chance of winning it all at the start of the season find themselves a win away from a Super Bowl berth.

Who'll be going to Super Bowl XLI? Read on.

It's all happening again in the AFC as Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts face Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis for the right to advance to the Super Bowl. Both the Colts and the Patriots were able to survive two weeks of the NFL Football playoffs, each failing to have that important first round bye. Well, apparently, it didn't matter as Indianapolis upset the Ravens in Baltimore after beating the Chiefs at home while New England just recently shocked the Chargers in San Diego after destroying the pesky Jets at Foxboro.

Peyton always had his problems against Brady in the post-season. However, THIS TIME, Peyton has Brady's most lethal weapon yet coming to this AFC Championship game, Adam Vinateri. It could be Peyton's year, and if I was a betting man, I'd expect just that.

In the NFC, the New Orleans Saints continue their improbable march this season as they meet the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship game. If you asked anyone who will represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLI, no one will probably be picking the Saints or the Bears. Who knew both of these NFL Football teams would have the season they had this year?

The New Orleans Saints, yes, they were a team coming off from the devastation Hurricane Katrina brought to Louisiana. We all heard about it. We all felt sorry for New Orleans, especially for the New Orleans Saints, whipping boys of football the last couple of years.

On the other end of the field, we have the Chicago Bears, electrifying the nation with a hot start for the season nobody saw coming. The Bears will come into this NFC Championship game with something to prove. Nobody's giving the Bears, specifically Rex Grossman, that much credit, even after knocking out the defending NFC Champions, Seattle Seahawks.

A win on Sunday will fix just that.

Manning prepares for Brady for AFC Championship

How many times have we seen Peyton Manning and Tom Brady stood opposite each other in a huge football game?

Yes, it's all happening again as Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts will face Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis for the right to advance to Super Bowl XLI at Miami, Florida.

Fate sure had her way in this one eh? Both the Colts and the Patriots were able to survive two weeks of the NFL Football playoffs, each failing to have that important first round bye. Well, apparently, it didn't matter as Indianapolis upset the Ravens in Baltimore after beating the Chiefs at home while New England just recently shocked the Chargers in San Diego after destroying the pesky Jets at Foxboro.

So, with two arch-rivals going at it for the last time this season, let's find out what Peyton Manning has to do to advance to the Super Bowl for the first time.

Peyton needs to keep throwing the football (duh!) between the hashes and up the seams to tight end Dallas Clark. New England already knows Peyton likes to throw the football to Marvin Harrison on one side and to Reggie Wayne on the other. Having a third option like Dallas Clark will confuse the Patriots a little bit.

Both Harrison and Wayne are the two main options in the Indianapolis Colts offense but Clark provides the Colts a different dimension and, when he is flexed into the slot, is a difficult matchup for any defense. Because the cornerbacks need help from the safeties to cover the wide receivers, Clark becomes almost impossible to bracket sometimes.

For the Colts' sake, let's sure hope so.

Can Peyton Manning lead the Indianapolis Colts pass the New England Patriots? Here are the odds on this huge AFC Championship game.

New England Patriots +3

Indianapolis Colts -3

Want more odds? Visit OddsHQ for the best odds on some of today’s biggest sporting events.

Friday, January 12, 2007

Can Grossman prove his critics wrong against Seattle?

Rex Grossman is in a MUST WIN situation as his Chicago Bears meet the Seattle Seahawks Sunday.

Must win? Yes. Grossman has to win if he ever wants his critics to stop hounding him since he cooled off from his hot start earlier this NFL Football season. The Chicago Bears have been waiting for two weeks to get the foul taste of defeat handed to them by them Packers off of their mouths. They will have a chance to do just that when the Seattle Seahawks visit them at Soldier Field for the NFC Divisional Playoffs.

You just know that Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith is praying for Rex Grossman to not screw this up for them.

If Chicago Bears QB Rex Grossman plays solid in four quarters and doesn't screw up like he did against the Packers, the Bears would win. Other than New York Giants QB Eli Manning, no quarterback in the playoffs has been under as much scrutiny as Grossman.

Despite his hot start to the NFL Football season, Grossman has been horrible lately. He found a way to ''top'' his 1.3 quarterback rating against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 13 by posting a miserable 0.0 rating in the season finale against the Green Bay Packers. Fans want him benched. Lovie Smith continues to support him but it's pretty evident a bad start could earn him the quick hook.

As for the Seattle Seahawks, they were able to survive a season full of injuries. After a season full of injuries, injuries like the one dealt to 2006 MVP Shaun Alexander, franchise QB Matt Hasselbeck and shutdown corner Marcus Trufant, the Seahawks are slowly getting healthy. And last Saturday, their incredible win over the Dallas Cowboys just got them a whole lot ''healthier.''

After watching Dallas Cowboys superstar Tony Romo, FUMBLE the football in what should've been the go-ahead field goal, the Seahawks are now in an all-time high as they have now resurrected what should've been a disappointing season.

This will be a tough game for the Chicago Bears on Sunday when the Seattle Seahawks will look to advance to the NFC conference championships at Soldier Field.

Can Rex Grossman lead the Chicago Bears pass the Seattle Seahawks? Here are the odds on this huge NFC Divisional Playoff game.

Chicago Bears -8.5

Seattle Seahawks +8.5

Want more odds? Visit OddsHQ for the best odds on some of today’s biggest sporting events.

Eagles and Saints, one Cinderella Story will End Saturday

The Philadelphia Eagles and the New Orleans Saints, both have this Cinderella story going on heading to their NFC Divisional Playoff game.

First, let's talk about the Saints. ''Who dat sey they gonna' beat dem Saints?'' I hope I had that one right. The New Orleans Saints was already a feel-good story since the NFL Football season started.

After playing away from home in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina last year, the New Orleans Saints brought NFL Football back to the Superdome this season and now, they are on the verge of bringing the NFL Playoffs home on Saturday as well.

Having said that, we will be bombarded once again with images of ruined New Orleans, of brackish eave-high water, of refugees on the rooftops, intercut with slow-motion montages of Reggie Bush and Drew Brees and cheering fans. The happy, sappy tale of the feisty Saints' giving their devastated city something to believe in is irresistible for the national media.

''It means so much to the city,'' New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees said. ''People come up to me in the streets and tell me how much it means to them. That makes it mean so much more than just football.''

On the the end of the field, there's Philadelphia and their beloved Philadelphia Eagles. Franchise QB Donovan McNabb went down midway through the season yet again and many have counted these Eagles out already.

Lo and behold, backup quarterback Jeff Garcia came out of nowhere to rejuvenate what should've been an already dead NFL Football season. Just like those football movies where we see an old guy being given a chance to lead a football team to glory, (e.g. The Replacements, Invincible) the aging Jeff Garcia found out this year that he has more than enough left in his tank to lead the Philadelphia Eagles to an improbable win at Super Bowl XLI.

Well, one Cinderella story will end Saturday when the New Orleans Saints and the Philadelphia Eagles meet. It's a shame that one Cinderella story has to end this early but hey, we might see ourselves cheering for both teams when it's time to play some football.

Can Jeff Garcia lead the Philadelphia Eagles pass the New Orleans Saints? Here are the odds on this huge NFC Divisional Playoff game.

Philadelphia Eagles +5

New Orleans Saints -5

Want more odds? Visit OddsHQ for the best odds on some of today’s biggest sporting events.

Monday, January 08, 2007

Colts – Ravens War at AFC Divisional Playoff Saturday

The Colts have a high-scoring offense. The Ravens have a formidable defense. Something has to give on Saturday.

Yes, the Indianapolis Colts, having survived the futile effort put up by the Kansas City Chiefs last Saturday, will move on to yet another Saturday showdown. The Colts will visit Baltimore for the second round of the NFL Football playoffs as they take on the Ravens in this AFC Divisional Playoffs match-up.

The Ravens will win this AFC Divisional Playoff game on Saturday if Baltimore's defense gets Peyton Manning moving his feet in the pocket. The Ravens were second in the league in sacks (60) and first in sack yards (418), and the unit featured five players with five or more sacks, led by defensive end Trevor Pryce, with 13.

However, as good as the Baltimore D is, the Ravens are where they are now because of the way their offense has supported their more established defense. The Baltimore Ravens won a franchise-record 13 games this season because their offense provided sufficient support to the league's top-rated defensive unit.

They hope to implement the same formula Saturday in their playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts.

However, if it so happens that this becomes a shootout, Peyton Manning will have the edge over Ravens QB, Steve McNair. McNair, as good as he still is, is no longer the playmaker he once was when he was with the Tennessee Titans.

McNair doesn't move well outside the pocket and that means Colts defensive monsters like Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis will have one big purple target to unload on.

Peyton Manning continues to be patient throwing the ball to his secondary receivers. The big-play guys in the Colts' No.2-ranked passing game, of course, are wide receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, both of whom went over the 1,000-yard mark again in 2006.

But the Indianapolis passing attack is even more productive when Manning gets tight end Dallas Clark and, in recent weeks, rookie tailback Joseph Addai in the mix.

Can Peyton Manning lead the Indianapolis Colts pass the Baltimore Ravens? Here are the odds on this huge AFC Divisional Playoff game.

Indianapolis Colts +3.5

Baltimore Ravens -3.5

Want more odds? Visit OddsHQ for the best odds on some of today’s biggest sporting events.

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Florida VS Ohio State for BCS National Title

After weeks of anticipation, the final NCAA College Football game of the season is finally here.

The Florida Gators and the Ohio State Buckeyes meet on Monday to decide who will be the BCS National Champions of the world. Yes, it is ON folks and Monday, we will know who will succeed last year's NCAA College Football champions, Texas Longhorns.

It has been 37 days since we last saw the Florida Gators, 51 days since we saw the top-ranked college football team of the nation, the Ohio State Buckeyes. However, despite this long absence from the field, nothing has changed. The image “http://www.sportsbettingindex.net/sports_betting_tips/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/bcs_title.JPG” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.The Buckeyes are still expected to win and the Florida Gators will still come in this huge NCAA College Football championship game as the heavy underdogs.

Perhaps the marquee matchup to watch come game time are these two speed demons matching-up against each other for the BCS title.

He is Ohio State junior Ted Ginn Jr. and he is Florida freshman Percy Harvin. Together, their abilities illustrate the new and breathtaking paths that the Buckeyes and the Gators took to the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game on Monday night.

''They've got a great talent, a great athlete and they're doing a great job of getting the ball in his hands in different ways,'' Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Heacock said of Harvin.

''They can get the ball to him and he can just flat outrun you,'' Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong said of Ginn.

Who will win it all this year? Here are some odds from Bodog on who will win the NCAA College Football BCS Championship:

Ohio State Buckeyes -7 ½

Florida Gators +7 ½

Want more odds? Visit OddsHQ for the best odds on some of today's biggest sporting events.


Thursday, January 04, 2007

New York needs Giant Fix against Red Hot Eagles

What will you do when an opposing team, clearly wounded without their leader, has become even stronger than ever?

Yes, this is the dilemma the New York Giants will be facing on Sunday when they visit the city of brotherly love to play the red hot Philadelphia Eagles. Yes, the young gunner Eli Manning will face the old veteran responsible for Philly's success without Donovan McNabb, Jeff Garcia.

For the Philadelphia Eagles, they will face something new, an opponent that has actually played them since Jeff Gracia took over at quarterback and since the offense became more balanced and consistent.

The question is, how much does it help the New York Giants to have seen first-hand, on Dec.17 at the Meadowlands, what Garcia likes to do, and what Brian Westbrook can do when given the ball a bunch?

Westbrook had 19 carries for 97 yards and five catches for 40 yards that day when Garcia and the Philadelphia birds faced the then struggling Giants.

The temptation is to say it shouldn't matter, when you factor in that the Giants lost, 36-22, as the Eagles rolled up 161 rushing yards and 221 net passing yards. And when you factor in that the Giants' injury situation has only gotten worse, with defensive end Michael Strahan now officially out for the season and starting cornerback Corey Webster going on injured reserve this week.

"I think they're going to adjust based on what we were able to have success on in the last game," Jeff Garcia said. "But I don't believe they're going to change a whole lot. This is Game 17 for both teams.''

''We are who we are. It's about execution now. I don't think that teams are necessarily going to change their colors just because it's a playoff week. We realize that it's about intensity, it's about emotion, it's about feeling good about what you're doing."

Can Jeff Garcia lead the Philadelphia Eagles pass the New York Giants? Here are the odds from All Star Sportsbook on this huge NFC wildcard playoff game.

New York Giants +7

Philadelphia Eagles -7

Want more odds? Visit OddsHQ for the best odds on some of today’s biggest sporting events.

Colts host Pesky Chiefs on AFC Wildcard NFL Saturday

Tony Gonzales and the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs will have a tough battle ahead as they meet the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday.

Sometimes it's hard to find words to describe the Indianapolis Colts offense. Some call it efficient, others call it adaptable. On Saturday, the Chiefs will look to call the Peyton Manning stronghold, STOPPABLE.

Efficiency. This is the core philosophy shared by coach Tony Dungy, coordinator Tom Moore and quarterback Peyton Manning. ''It's a real mind-set to try to stay on the field and move the ball down the field and get into the end zone,''' Manning said.

That the Manning-led offense has been able to remain one of the NFL's most prolific units is a direct result of it being able to adapt, to go with the flow. The offense that will test Kansas City's No. 16-ranked defense Saturday in the RCA Dome in an AFC wildcard playoff game is the same one that terrorized the league in 2004 with quick-strike capabilities in names only.

Many of the skill players are the same, Manning, who delivered a single-season record 49 touchdowns; wide receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, tight end Dallas Clark.

The difference is in approach. No longer are the Colts routinely striking with the suddenness of a cobra. That's because no longer are defenses as willing to blitz Manning and play man coverage, leaving themselves exposed to over-the-top plays in the passing game.

And yes, the Kansas City Chiefs won't make the mistake of trying to blitz Peyton Manning because, judging by the last few weeks, no.18 is not as effective when the defense stays in coverage.

Can the Kansas City Chiefs shock the world and eliminate the Indianapolis Colts? All Star Sportsbook has the odds for this NFL Thursday Night Football game.

Kansas City Chiefs +7

Indianapolis Colts -7

Want more odds? Visit OddsHQ for the best odds on some of today’s biggest sporting events.