Can Winter-Weary Colts Survive the Chiefs?

The Indianapolis Colts always have their problems at this time of the year.

There, I said it. After dominating the NFL Football field every year from September to November, they seem to lose their form once the cold breeze of December comes. And yep, it's no different in January, when the NFL Playoffs usually begin.

What's up Peyton? Too cold to play some football? If Brett Favre excels in freezing temperatures, Peyton Manning likes to play under the sun. And when he gets cold in January, the Colts offense freezes up with him. We all saw that numerous times the last couple of years.

Speaking of the Indianapolis Colts offense, sometimes it's hard to find words to describe it. Some call it efficient, others call it adaptable. For Peyton's sake, let's hope the Colts offense would be just that exactly and not freeze up on the goddamn field. C'mon Peyton, you just know that I'm rooting for you to win just one goddamn Super Bowl ring.

Efficiency. This is the core philosophy shared by coach Tony Dungy, coordinator Tom Moore and quarterback Peyton Manning. ''It's a real mind-set to try to stay on the field and move the ball down the field and get into the end zone,''' Manning said.

That the Manning-led offense has been able to remain one of the NFL's most prolific units is a direct result of it being able to adapt, to go with the flow. The offense that will test Kansas City's No. 16-ranked defense Saturday in the RCA Dome in an AFC wildcard playoff game is the same one that terrorized the league in 2004 with quick-strike capabilities in names only.

Many of the skill players are the same, Manning, who delivered a single-season record 49 touchdowns; wide receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, tight end Dallas Clark.

Would that be enough to topple the Kansas City Chiefs who just got lucky getting the AFC Wildcard invite after rival Denver Broncos lost to the San Francisco 49ers in overtime? We'll see.

Can the Kansas City Chiefs shock the world and eliminate the Indianapolis Colts? All Star Sportsbook has the odds for this NFL Thursday Night Football game.

Kansas City Chiefs +7

Indianapolis Colts -7

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