Peyton Manning, his Colts shocked in their NFL season opener last week, could take his frustration out on little brother Eli when Indianapolis host the New York Giants tomorrow.
The brothers meet for the second time in their NFL careers, the first coming in 2006.
Of course the superstar quarterbacks, both now Super Bowl winners, will not even be on the field at the same time.
PHOTO: AFP
Giants coach Tom Coughlin insisted his team’s focus would be on the Colts as a whole.
“Who we are going to play is the Indianapolis Colts football team,” Coughlin said. “And so that is the way that Eli will look at this — and nothing different. We have got to go into their place ... so it’s the competitive aspect that comes to the front — and that is where it stays.”
However, Eli Manning, speaking to New York media on Monday, acknowledged that it was a special event.
“We really just don’t know how many times it’s going to happen, and that’s really what it’s going to come down to,” Eli said. “I think you have to try and enjoy it, and understand it is special to look over there and see your big brother on the sidelines.”
The Colts will aiming to improve after a 34-24 loss at Houston, where the Texans ran for a franchise-record 257 yards and Indianapolis gained only 44 yards on the ground.
The Colts’ offensive line also struggled to contain Houston’s pass rush, as Peyton Manning was sacked twice and hit repeatedly.
“We just didn’t do enough as a group to kind of help each other out when one unit was struggling,” Peyton Manning said.
“That’s something we’ve done in the past. That’s something we’re going to need to do starting next week,” he said.
In another marquee match up, the New England Patriots visit AFC East rivals the New York Jets.
The Jets fell 10-9 to the Ravens in their season opener and lost defensive standout Kris Jenkins for the season with a torn knee ligament.
The Jets also need to wake up their offense, whose six first downs against Baltimore matched a franchise low from 1976.
The Patriots, in contrast, are coming off a 38-24 victory over Cincinnati, in which quarterback Tom Brady celebrated his rich new contract extension by throwing for 258 yards and three touchdowns.
The contest has a grudge match flavor thanks to Brady’s offseason radio remarks about Hard Knocks, a television reality show that featured the Jets’ training camp.
“I hate the Jets, so I refuse to support that show,” Brady said.
In other games, Seattle will try to build on their impressive opening victory over San Francisco when they take on Denver.
Philadelphia and Detroit meet in a clash of teams that both saw their starting quarterbacks injured in week one.
Philadelphia lost Kevin Kolb to a concussion in falling to Green Bay and Detroit’s Matthew Stafford hurt his shoulder in the Lions’ controversial 19-14 loss at Chicago.
Kolb remains a possibility for tomorrow, but must pass a concussion test. If he is out, Michael Vick could get the nod after taking over and delivering a strong performance last week.
Washington host Houston with both teams seeking a second straight victory, Atlanta host Arizona, Cincinnati host Baltimore, Green Bay host Buffalo and Dallas host Chiago.
Brett Favre and Minnesota hope their return to the Metrodome helps them bounce back from a disappointing loss to Super Bowl champions New Orleans.
They host a Miami team that earned their first season-opening victory in five years.
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