FOXBORO -- The winless Colts ride into Gillette Stadium -- without Peyton Manning -- to face the Patriots on Sunday.
Most of the talk surrounding the Colts is a potential late-season return for Manning and its connection to the upcoming NFL Draft. As for the Patriots, the focus is on securing their division title and a potential first-round bye in the playoffs.
Manning and Tom Brady are at the heart of those conversations.
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On Friday morning Patriots coach Bill Belichick joined ESPN's Mike and Mike, and went out of his way to point out the difference between the two organizations, saying that when Brady missed the entire 2008 season -- like Manning is missing the 2011 season -- New England remained a competitive team.
"I'm glad he's our quarterback," said Belichick, when asked what makes Brady so successful. "There's nobody I'd rather have. I think the world of Tom Brady, but I'm also proud of the fact that without Tom Brady, we still won 11 games in 2008.
"So, we have a football team, we have a good program here. It's bigger than any of us, individually, but collectively, we're competitive."