The New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts are both 9-0, but can they keep it up and will they end the season undefeated? Both teams have had their share of injuries and loss of key personal, but other players keep stepping up. There have been some close games for both teams, but the Saints and Colts keep finding ways to win their games. With 7 games remaining, I think the Colts and Saints both lose 1 game and finish the season at 15-1.

I’m more impressed with the Colts, because they have been ravaged with injuries on both sides of the ball. Anthony Gonzales was supposed to replace Marvin Harrison, but he’s been MIA almost all season with a bad knee. Safety Bob Sanders was out for a few games and then went on the IR with torn biceps. It seems like a different body part on Dwight Freeny is hurt every week. Adam Vinatiera is out with a bad knee, below is the Colts’ injury report for 11/22.

Daniel Federkeil     T     concussion     out for Sun 11/22.
Aaron Francisco     S     ankle     out for Sun 11/22.
Anthony Gonzalez     WR     knee     out for Sun 11/22.
Kelvin Hayden     CB     knee     out for Sun 11/22.
Adam Vinatieri     K     right knee     out for Sun 11/22.

Antoine Bethea     S     foot     questionable for Sun 11/22.
Eric Foster     DT     back     questionable for Sun 11/22.
Dwight Freeney     DE     hip     questionable for Sun 11/22.
Pierre Garcon     WR     ankle     questionable for Sun 11/22.
Gijon Robinson     TE     concussion     questionable for Sun 11/22.
Jim Sorgi     QB     right shoulder     questionable for Sun 11/22.

Peyton Manning has been awesome and is leading the NFL in passing yards with 2872. He completes almost 70% of his passes and has been sacked only 8 times, but I think it all comes to end this week against the Ravens. The injuries are going to catch up to the Colts sooner or later and if they squeak by the Ravens the Texans will be ready for revenge the following week.

The Saints have one true test left on the schedule and that’s the New England Patriots next MNF. The game today against the Bucs has the potential to be close. The Saints could be looking ahead to the MNF match up and who could blame them, but with no Reggie Bush, Sedrick Ellis, Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter today, the Saints better find some guys to step, because the Bucs have been playing better of late. I don’t think the offense will suffer without Bush, but that’s a lot of players on defense to be missing and the field could be sloppy with rain and doesn’t favor either defense. The Saints should beat the Bucs, but Patriots and the Hoodie will find a way to beat them the following week. If the Saints do win this week and next week, it’s looking like 16-0 would be a distinct possibility.

In the end I think Peyton Manning loses first this week vs the Baltimore Ravens. Ray Lewis is straight up crazy and even without Terrel Suggs they find a way to shut down Manning and their offense will take advantage of a depleted Colts defense.