Colts at Saints
THE STORY: The NFL season is fraught with uncertainties, and there's no better example than the quarterback matchup when the New Orleans Saints host the winless Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night. You can be sure that NFL officials – as well as NBC executives – were not planning to see Drew Brees squaring off against Curtis Painter when the schedule was drawn up in the offseason. The two quarterbacks have one thing in common – they are both trying to rebound from tough losses on the road. The last time the teams met, New Orleans defeated the Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami.
TV: NBC, 8:20 p.m. ET. LINE: Saints -14, O/U 48
ABOUT THE SAINTS (4-2): Brees continues to pile up record numbers, but he's also turning the ball over at a disconcerting pace. Brees threw for 383 yards and a touchdown in last week's 26-20 loss at Tampa Bay, becoming the first quarterback to throw for more than 350 yards in four straight games. However, he also tossed three interceptions and has been picked off eight times in the last four games. Saints coach Sean Payton, who calls the team’s offensive plays, will be forced to sit in the press box after he suffered a fractured tibia and torn meniscus when he was plowed over on the sideline in last week’s game.
ABOUT THE COLTS (0-6): Although Indianapolis has shown signs of life on offense, its defense cannot stop anyone. The Colts are tied with Carolina for the most points allowed with 163. After blowing three straight second-half leads, Indy was within three points with 9 ½ minutes to play at Cincinnati last week before a returned fumble touchdown sealed the 27-17 loss. Painter has found a reliable target in Pierre Garcon, who had a career-high eight catches last week after catching two TD passes in each of the previous two games. RB Joseph Addai is expected to sit again, leaving Delone Carter and Donald Brown to split carries.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. A loss by Indianapolis on Sunday night will end a streak of nine consecutive seasons of double-digit victories. The Colts have not started 0-7 since 1997.
2. Saints TE Jimmy Graham is tied for second in the league with 39 catches. Last week, he became the second TE in history (Tony Gonzalez, 2000) to record four straight 100-yard games.
3. Saints RB Darren Sproles also has 39 receptions. He's the only player in the league with a rushing, receiving and return TD.