New England Patriots: 10 Key Players in Game Against Winless, Manning-Less Colts

The New England Patriots have one of the best records in the AFC and now lead the AFC East by two games over the New York Jets. Their Week 13 matchup is against the winless Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts have lose by double-digits in five of their last six games and are still without quarterback Peyton Manning. The Patriots aren't taking them lightly, but they really should. The Manning-less Colts have a difficult time finding the end zone and red zone. Also, their defense is one of the worst in the NFL in 2011.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis

The Colts are the second-worst NFL team against the run, allowing 150.6 yards per game on the ground. This is great for BenJarvus Green-Ellis and the Patriots.

Green-Ellis needs to take advantage of this opportunity against a weak Colts defense and should be able to score at least one touchdown this weekend. He scored twice early on against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12, and now the Colts should allow him even more yards and maybe even a couple more touchdown runs.

Danny Woodhead

Danny Woodhead is the No. 2 running back in New England, and the Patriots should use him more often against the worst team in the NFL. The Colts are 0-11, and once the Patriots have a huge lead, they will just keep running the ball and Woodhead could just run free to run the clock down in the second half.

Andre Carter

Andre Carter leads the Patriots with nine total sacks and is one of the most lethal weapons the Patriots have on the pass rush. The Colts are 28th in the league in the passing game, and Carter should have a field day getting to the Colts quarterback in the backfield.

Kyle Arrington

Kyle Arrington leads the NFL in interceptions with seven and leads the Patriots with 60 total tackles. His defensive ability has helped the Patriots' defense stop scores in the end zone and is one of the reasons the Colts should be worried to face the Patriots on Sunday.

No one else on the Patriots can defend like Arrington and he will lead the way to a blowout victory for the Patriots.

Rob Ninkovich

Rob Ninkovich has done everything on the defensive end for the Patriots. He has 51 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. And he is just starting to get going defensively.

Ninkovich is the key matchup in my book because he has so much upside to be taken too lightly by the Colts' offense.

Chad Ochocinco

This is the game in which Chad Ochocinco needs to break out of his season-long slump with the Patriots. In his return from a hamstring injury that had kept him from action the last couple of weeks, Ochocinco should be targeted multiple times by Brady.

Deion Branch

Deion Branch is the unsung hero in my book for the Patriots' offense. He has had multiple big plays in the last few games and almost had a touchdown in last week's game against the Eagles where he went 60-plus yards and got tackled at the 1-yard line.

Branch has a lot of potential of being the main target for the Patriots this Sunday.

Rob Gronkowski

Rob Gronkowski leads the Patriots with 11 touchdown grabs and is Brady's go-to guy in the red zone, especially these last few games. He has six touchdowns in the last four games, and you can expect Brady to fire the ball his way against a weak Colts defense.

Wes Welker

Wes Welker is the best wide receiver on the Patriots and leads the team with 1,143 yards and is second on the team with eight touchdowns.

Brady has thrown the ball his way more lately and the Patriots' offense is beginning to click on all cylinders. Welker needs to be the focal point of the offense and Brady needs to look his way any chance he gets.

Tom Brady

Let's face it, Brady is an elite quarterback and could possible be on of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. He is what makes the offense function and his ability to throw the ball is what make all the offensive options that much better.

Brady should have another 300-plus-yard game and throw at least three touchdown passes in this game against the winless, Manning-less Colts.