6:15 p.m., Colts by 3
Last meeting
Giants won 44-27 at Indianapolis on Dec. 22, 2002.
Who knew?
Eli Manning attempted 557 passes last season, 104 more than his big bro, Peyton, did in the Colts’ supposed pass-happy offense.
Spotlight on: Manning vs. Manning
For the first time in NFL history, brothers will face each other as starting quarterbacks. And wonder of wonders, the league and NBC made it a prime-time game. It’s at the Meadowlands only because the league office couldn’t figure out a way to move the game to Broadway. The Colts are favored, but that only makes sense. Last season, they started the season with 13 consecutive victories, the longest streak since the Broncos won 13 straight in 1998. But Eli has won eight of his past nine starts at home, throwing 17 touchdown passes along the way.
Etc.
Colts DEs Robert Mathis (11.5) and Dwight Freeney (11.0) were the only AFC tandem with double-figure sacks last season. Giants counter with NFC’s only double-figure sack men: Osi Umenyiora (14.5) and Michael Strahan (11.5). … Tiki Barber, coming off a 1,860-yard season, has his sights set on a rushing title. The Colts will counter with Dominic Rhodes, who moves into the starting lineup in place of free-agent defector Edgerrin James. … Bad news is Peyton Manning threw 21 fewer TD passes in 2005 than in 2004. Good news is he threw for 28 TDs, second most in the league behind Carson Palmer’s 32. … Both teams plus-12 in turnovers in 2005. … Colts have averaged 12 wins per in past four seasons, with no Super Bowl to show for it.
Prediction: Colts 30, Giants 23
– Jim Armstrong
