The Colts head to Foxboro as this AFC East rivalry is renewed once again.

The Patriots own a 35-22 lead in the series standings and have dominated as of late, emerging victorious in six straight and nine of the last 11 battles in this series dating back to the clubs' second meeting in 1993.

A year ago, New England swept this divisional rivalry for the third consecutive season. In Week 2 on a Sunday evening (ESPN) at Foxboro, Patriots' QB Drew Bledsoe threw for 218 yards and a touchdown and the Pats' defense intercepted Colts' QB Peyton Manning three times (including a 59-yard return for a touchdown by Patriots' CB Ty Law) as New England rolled to a 29-6 triumph.

Eight weeks later at the RCA Dome (Week 9), Bledsoe threw for 306 yards and a pair of touchdowns (1 INT) and the Patriots' defense limited the Colts to just 32 yards rushing in a 21-16 triumph.

The Colts have lost three straight and are 3-12 in their last 15 visits to Foxboro dating back to 1984.

It si worth noting that 14 of the last 22 meetings between the Patriots and Colts have been decided by six or fewer points, including three in overtime, dating back to 1988.

Numbers: In 11 games vs. the Colts, Patriots' QB Drew Bledsoe is 9-2, throwing for 17 scores and just 9 interceptions. In his last 6 games vs. Indianapolis, Bledsoe is 6-0, throwing for 12 touchdowns and 1 interception. After throwing just 3 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions in his first 4 games, Colts' QB Peyton Manning has thrown 25 TD passes and 19 interceptions in his last 13 contests dating back to '98, throwing 2 or more touchdown passes in 8 of his last 12 games. However, Manning has thrown 2 or more interceptions in 7 of his last 10 contests. After allowing an AFC-high 62 sacks in 16 games in 1997, the Colts have allowed just 22 sacks in their last 17 games dating back to '98. The Colts have allowed just 11 sacks in their last 13 contests, giving up zero sacks in 8 of those 13 game, after allowing 11 sacks in their first 4 games in 1998. Including playoffs, the Patriots have totaled 51 takeaways in 21 wins, 20 takeaways in 15 losses dating back to '97.

Things To Look For: Thanks to the addition of rookie RB Edgerrin James and a slew of new faces on defense, the Colts looked like the most improved team in the AFC and then went out and proved it in handling the Bills. Pete Carroll's Patriots came up big against the battered Jets and will continue to ride the arm of QB Drew Bledsoe, who looks red-hot once again now that he's healthy.

Etc.: The Colts have lost nine straight road games dating back to '97. The Patriots are 15-5 vs. the Colts and 53-95 (including 3-4 in playoffs) vs. the rest of the NFL since '89. Including playoffs, the Patriots are 19-5 in their last 24 games vs. divisional competition (1-0 in playoffs) dating back to Week 8 of 1996, 3 of those losses to the Jets.