The Tantalizing Ten: Patriots Edition

Bill Belichick was effusive in his praise for Wayne this week. Wayne could write a book on past Colts/Patriots matchup and he will once again play a lead role in the rivalry. The last time the Colts played the Patriots at home is also Indy's last win in the series. In that 2009 Sunday Night matchup, Wayne dazzled with 129 receiving yards and the game-winning touchdown with 13 seconds left.

Luck has heard the praise from Patriots coaches and players this week and has fielded questions about his turnovers in two previous games against New England. Now, Luck will answer those on Sunday night when the quarterback has his full allotment of skill players to attack a Bill Belichick defense. Coming out of the bye week, the Colts want to tone down their committed turnovers and if Luck can do that on Sunday, that would go a long way in the Colts moving to 7-3.

In the Patriots five-game winning streak, Gronk has played at an All-Pro level by averaging seven catches for more than 100 yards and a touchdown. He's caught an incredible 18 of his last 19 targets. The Colts have been peppered with questions all week on how to defend Gronk so expect a multitude of looks/bodies to be thrown at the 6-7, 265-pound walking mismatch.

All the talk about individual matchups has many thinking Hilton is atop Bill Belichick's list of those wanting to try and take away. In two games against the Patriots, Hilton has gone over 100 yards in both. It will be interesting to see what Belichick does to try and defend a receiver on pace for a 1,700-yard season. Does he go with the former All-Pro Darrelle Revis or the physical Brandon Browner?

The national recognition is starting to gain some steam for the Colts young tight end. His seven receiving touchdowns on the season is just a small sample of what Allen means to the Colts offense. He could be a real beneficiary of the extra attention flying towards T.Y. Hilton on Sunday night.

The Colts aren't giving away any indication of how they will try and defend Rob Gronkowski but Freeman is certainly a candidate. In his three NFL seasons, Freeman has brought that sideline-to-sideline cover ability from the CFL and been a reliable coverage option for the Colts. Earlier this season, with the Colts struggling against tight ends, Freeman was often a spectator. Now, his hamstring injury is healthy and that's of course crucial in defending one of the game's most difficult matchups.

The future Hall of Famer is playing at a Canton-level during the Patriots five-game winning streak. With the skill faces pretty much changing every year for Brady, he is still proving to be one of the game's best signal callers. Getting to Brady will be important for the Colts defense. In the Patriots two losses, Brady has been sacked seven times. In the Patriots seven wins, he's also been sacked seven times.

With LaRon Landry returning to the lineup, Sergio Brown keeps his starting position. At 6-2 and 218 pounds, Brown has ideal safety size to go along with his elite athleticism. We saw late in that Giants game, the coverage ability that Brown brings to back end of the defense. Is Brown another option to throw at Gronk come Sunday night?

Harrison will frequently be matched up across from the immovable nose tackle that is Vince Wilfork on Sunday night. In the Colts last few games at Lucas Oil Stadium, the Colts offense has thrived off its balance and that will be a key again in Week 11. Playing keep away might not be as vital against the Patriots as maybe it was against the Eagles, but any extra time Brady spends on the sideline isn't a bad thing.

T.Y. Hilton has proven himself among some of the game's best corners and Sunday he will finally get a crack at Revis. Bill Belichick knew his secondary needed to improve in 2014 so he went out and got Revis and the physical Brandon Browner from Seattle. Will the Patriots decide to shadow Hilton with one of their two corners on Sunday night?