The Patriots make their way to Indianapolis in position to sweep this always-competitive AFC East rivalry for the fourth straight season.

Three months ago at Foxboro (Week 2), Colts QB Peyton Manning threw three touchdown passes to WR Marvin Harrison and rookie RB Edgerrin James scored as well as Jim Mora's team jumped out to a 28-7 halftime lead. But Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe would finish the afternoon with 299 yards passing and four touchdowns of his own, and PK Adam Vinatieri's 26-yard field goal with :26 remaining gave New England an exciting 31-28 triumph.

The Patriots own a 36-22 lead in the series standings and have dominated as of late, emerging victorious in seven straight and 10 of the last 12 battles in this series dating back to the clubs' second meeting in 1993.

As for the Patriots' last appearance at the RCA Dome (Week 9 of '98), 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 Patriots have prevailed in their last three trips to Indianapolis (by a combined score of 79-31) and are 11-4 lifetime at the RCA Dome dating back to 1984.

Worth noting is that 15 of the last 23 meetings between the Patriots and Colts have been decided by six or fewer points, including three in overtime, dating back to 1988.

Numbers: In 12 games vs. the Colts, Patriots' QB Drew Bledsoe is 10-2, throwing for 21 scores and just 9 interceptions. In his last 7 games vs. Indianapolis, Bledsoe is 7-0, throwing for 16 touchdowns and 1 interception. In his last four games (1-3), Bledsoe has completed just 62-of-129 passes (48.1 percent) for 752 yards, four touchdowns and 11 interceptions, this after completing 164-of-271 passes (60.5 percent) for 2,314 yards, 13 touchdowns and just four interceptions in his first 8 contests (6-2) in '99. The Patriots have committed seven turnovers in seven wins, 16 turnovers in five losses in '99. They have been limited to 17 or fewer points in four straight games. The Patriots have committed two or more turnovers in four straight games.

In his last seven games, Colts RB Edgerrin James has rushed for 849 yards and seven touchdowns (running for 100 or more yards in 6 of those contests), plus caught 39 passes for 408 yards and two touchdown. James has rushed for 100 or more yards in 8-of-12 contests in '99. After throwing just three touchdown passes and 11 interceptions in his first four games, Colts QB Peyton Manning has thrown 45 TD passes and 31 interceptions in his last 24 contests dating back to '98, throwing two or more touchdown passes in 14 of his last 23 games. However, Manning has thrown two or more interceptions in 10 of his last 21 contests. Manning has thrown at least 1 touchdown pass in 25 straight games dating back to '98. After allowing an AFC-high 62 sacks in 16 games in 1997, the Colts have allowed just 34 sacks in their last 28 games dating back to '98. After allowing 11 sacks in their first four games in 1998, the Colts have allowed just 23 sacks in their last 24 contests, giving up zero sacks in 12 of those 24 contests. The Colts have allowed 173 points in 10 wins, 65 points in two losses in '99. They have committed two or more turnovers in three straight games.

Things to look for: Off one of the franchise's most important victories in years, the Colts now look to avenge their only other loss of the season. But that doesn't figure to be easy against the unpredictable Patriots, who finally snapped their three-game skid and (given their recent past) might be ready to make a push for the postseason. But Pete Carroll's inconsistent defense might be in over its head.

Etc.: The Colts are 10-2, their most victories in a season since 1977, when they finished 10-4 and won the AFC East under since-departed head coach Ted Marchibroda (his first stint with the team). The Colts have won eight straight games in the same season for the first time since 1975, when they won their final 9 games enroute to a 10-4 season and won the AFC East under Marchibroda.

The Patriots are 16-5 vs. the Colts and 59-99 (including 3-4 in playoffs) vs. the rest of the NFL since 1989. They are 11-4 lifetime at Indianapolis (RCA/Hoosier Dome) dating back to 1984. Including playoffs, the Patriots are 20-9 in their last 29 games vs. divisional competition (1-0 in playoffs) dating back to Week 8 of 1996, four of those losses to the Jets.

The Colts are 10-2 in 1999, this after finishing a combined 6-26 in 1997-98. The Colts have won four straight home games