Saturday's Patriots–Colts Game Could Shake Up AFC Playoff Race

With the college football regular season in the rearview mirror, NFL is taking over the prime-time spot this Saturday evening. 

The Patriots and Colts will face off during the unusual time slot for a high-stakes AFC matchup, bringing back memories of the old rivalry for longtime fans. This year marks the first chapter of the series since 1997 that neither Tom Brady nor Peyton Manning will be featured. Instead, Mac Jones and Carson Wentz are in the drivers' seats for these offenses. 

New England (9–4) is on a seven-game winning streak, and Jones, 23, is the fourth rookie quarterback during the Super Bowl era to walk away victorious in seven consecutive starts. 

Meanwhile, Indianapolis is 7–6 but just blanked the Texans, 31–0, on Dec. 5. The franchise leads the league in takeaways (29), turnover differential (plus-13) and yards per rush (5.1 avg.), and Wentz has thrown just five interceptions.

Although the Patriots lead the AFC East, the Colts are favored in the 8:20 p.m. ET game and have home-field advantage.