Sunday Night Football Week 6: TV Schedule, Live Stream for Patriots vs. Colts

Since a certain investigation began, anyone and everyone with a vested interest in the NFL has awaited a rematch between the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts.

It's here.

The NFL slated Week 6 as the best time, perhaps hoping both sides would be well into full form and deadly looking going into Sunday Night Football.

Only the Patriots and red-hot Tom Brady have upheld their end of the bargain, while Andrew Luck and the Colts have battled injuries. Regardless, this isn't a matchup to miss given the widespread implications, past, present and future. 

Here's everything to know about the rematch. 

Viewing Info

When: Sunday, October 18, 8:30 p.m. ET

Where: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

Television: NBC

Live Stream: NFL Game Pass

Tickets: ScoreBig.com

Betting Lines (via Odds Shark)

• Over/Under: 54

• Spread: New England (-9)

Team Injury Reports

Player	Position	Status
Tarell Brown	CB	Out
Dion Lewis	RB	Questionable
Dont'a Hightower	LB	Out

Player	Position	Status
Andrew Luck	QB	Questionable
Jerrell Freeman	LB	Questionable
T.Y. Hilton	WR	Probable

Injury reports from ESPN.com.

Plugging Away 

Believe it or not, the Patriots improved last time out. 

After 28-21, 40-32 and 51-17 outings, the Patriots scored a 30-6 win against the Dallas Cowboys, with the combination of LeGarrette Blount and Dion Lewis rushing for 108 yards.

Call it a warm-up performance for a ground game that has bullied the Colts for 5.05 yards per carry over the last three meetings.

Not that the Patriots figure to need anything close to balance against these Colts. Brady continues to play out of his mind, completing 72.5 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions.

The only concern at all in New England, especially with the defense playing well enough given the circumstances, is Brady's protection. He took five sacks against the Cowboys, and the team had to place left tackle Nate Solder on injured reserve this week.

"Nate is a big part of our team and the group in the locker room," wideout Julian Edelman said, per ESPN.com. "He's a guy that's a true professional. All that means is that other guys have to step up."

The good news? The Colts have mustered just six sacks this year. In theory, New England's efficient attack shouldn't have any problems, but the play of an offensive line looking to find new chemistry certainly stands as something to watch. 

Playing the David

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

This has the feel of a David vs. Goliath matchup.

The Colts sit at just 3-2. The marks in the win column? A three-point escape of the Tennessee Titans, an overtime victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars and a seven-point dismissal of the Houston Texans—teams with a combined three wins going into Week 6.

Of course, Indianapolis deserves credit for rallying around backup Matt Hasselbeck. But the team still averages less than four yards per carry, and the defense wasn't exactly inspiring even with Luck under center.

The problem with banking on Luck's return to counteract these issues is the star quarterback's history against the Patriots, as NFL Total Access illustrated:

"

Andrew Luck's career stats vs. @Patriots : pic.twitter.com/SPi2ObIChP

— NFL Total Access (@NFLTotalAccess) October 16, 2015"

If the Colts are to trump history and perhaps the best team in the league, it's going to take a monumental homestand as the defense plays its best game of the season and Luck shows no ill effects.

As they say, crazier things have happened.

Prediction

Las Vegas has the road team as favorites by better than a touchdown for a reason.

To be blunt, the projection hits the proverbial nail on the head, and it wouldn't differ much if Luck had spent the early throes of this season fully healthy. Call it a testament to how these two organizations have crafted their rosters over the years.

The fact of the matter is simple: New England has won six straight in this series by an average of 21.0 points. The last four? Not pretty: 45-7, 42-20, 43-22 and 59-24.

Some might say this year is different and the past has no effect, but with Luck hobbled and New England motivated more than usual, it's hard to imagine Brady and Co. don't run roughshod against an inferior team.

Prediction: Patriots 48, Colts 24

Statistics courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.