Dissecting Most Crucial Matchups in Colts' Week 11 Contest with Patriots

When a team like the New England Patriots rears its ugly, villainous, hydra heads, its tough to decide which ones you need to cut off.

Unlike the mythical hydra, stemming off one key function of a football team often weakens the others, rather than growing two more heads.

So it will be this weekend as the Indianapolis Colts look to shut down one of the NFL's most prolific passers, Tom Brady.

Mr. Gisele Bündchen has been attempting to gel with a below-average group of receivers for the past two years. With their ringleader, Rob Gronkowski, finally back to his All-Pro form of 2011, suddenly everything is clicking.

If the Colts are going to come out of this home game with a victory, they will need to win the following matchups.

The Special Teams Battle

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This is a matchup that Indy rarely wins. The Colts typically don't use athletic returners, preferring sure hands to game-breaking speed.

However, there's no question that Indianapolis could benefit from winning the battle of field position in this one. Brady and the Pats need no help in moving the ball up and down the field, so Pat McAfee's second-best net-punting average will definitely come into play. He's also downed 16 punts inside the 20-yard line, compared to just two touchbacks.

Ex-Patriot Adam Vinatieri has been the definition of money this season, converting all 20 of his field-goal attempts.

A big return or two from Griff Whalen could really swing the momentum into Indy's favor and reduce the pressure on Andrew Luck to produce long, methodical drives.

Andrew Luck vs. Bill Belichick

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In his two career showdowns against the master, Luck has thrown seven interceptions and lost a fumble. Those are JaMarcus Russell numbers.

But Luck has clearly flipped the switch this season, already surpassing the 23 touchdown passes he threw in each of his first two years. He's still turning the ball over, but his productivity has taken a significant jump in his third year. A big question in this game is going to be whether or not Belichick can make Luck feel uncomfortable.

As with most quarterbacks, Luck doesn't throw particularly well under duress. If Hoodie can get guys like Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich into Luck's face, it's a safe bet we will see the Pats' D running the other way with the ball at least once.

But if Indy's line holds up and Luck can get the ball out on time, watch out. There's a reason Luck is on pace to break the NFL record for passing yards in a season.

Reggie Wayne vs. Brandon Browner

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If you know anything about the Patriots, you know what Belichick's MO is.

He takes away what you're best at.

For Luck and the Colts, that means they better figure out a way to throw the ball without T.Y. Hilton this weekend. Hilton is currently third in the league in receiving yards, having already accumulated 937 of them. The Colts next leading receiver, Reggie Wayne, has only 504 yards.

Nevertheless, it will be Wayne who is relied on as Luck's go-to receiver in Week 11. Hilton will not only be the focus of Belichick's defensive game plan, but Darrelle Revis will no doubt shadow him wherever he goes.

Revis Island is not a place where wide receivers typically flourish.

Then again, in their last win, the Patriots allowed the Broncos top two receivers to go for 17 catches and 278 yards.

Maybe Wayne and Hilton can both have big nights.