The one game we always circle on our NFL slate each year is the Colts against the Patriots. The players, Bill Belichick and Tony Dungy, the front office folks, the fans involved in this game are all into it just a little bit more. There is no love lost between anyone involved.

The primetime affair loses a bit of luster sans Tom Brady. But it is more accurate than wacky to actually state the following — the Cassel/Randy Moss/Wes Welker trio is currently better than Peyton Manning/Reggie Wayne/Marvin Harrison.

It's scary, but true. It's why I think New England will win.

But Cassel needs to produce on this gigantic stage on the road. I'm fascinated to see how he performs.

NFL Week 9

Week 9 action

Packers at Titans -- Game preview
Cardinals at Rams -- Game preview
Lions at Bears -- Game preview
Buccaneers at Chiefs -- Game preview
Jets at Bills -- Game preview
Jaguars at Bengals -- Game preview
Ravens at Browns -- Game preview
Texans at Vikings -- Game preview
Dolphins at Broncos -- Game preview
Cowboys at Giants -- Game preview
Eagles at Seahawks -- Game preview
Falcons at Raiders -- Game preview
Patriots at Colts -- Game preview
Steelers at Redskins -- Game preview


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Analysis

• O'Connor: Singletary takes on culture


• Schrager: Week 9 Cheat Sheet


• Hasenmayer: NFL power rankings



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Video

• Breaking down the QBs


• Fantasy: Waiver wire picks


• Online OT: Complete NFL coverage



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Photos

• Most injury-ravaged teams


• Week 8: What we learned

2. Ben Roethlisberger

It's very easy to cite the spotty pass protection Big Ben receives week in and week out. It's easy and relatively accurate to mention the underwhelming offensive line when talking about Roethlisberger getting sacked five times and pressured countless times against the Giants. You can talk about how the offensive line was manhandled and Roethlisberger succumbed to the pressure by chucking four picks.

It all makes sense.

But there is also this feeling around the NFL that Roethlisberger could help himself by getting rid of the ball quicker. Roethlisberger doesn't need to force the issue on the picks.

Roethlisberger and the Steelers are in Washington this week. Greg Blache's defense has been great this year. London Fletcher is a legit defensive player of the year candidate. Roethlisberger needs to be ready, efficient and make good decisions come Monday night.

3. Jay Cutler

Here's the deal ...

Miami has all sorts of good matchups on offense with Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams running the ball and Chad Pennington's efficiency against the Broncos awful defense.

Cutler needs to be explosive for the Broncos to win the game. This isn't fair, but Cutler hasn't had a 300-yard game since Week 4. Cutler and Brandon Marshall should be able to explode against the Miami defensive backfield.

Again, it's not fair, but with Denver's inability to play defense, it's all on Cutler for the Broncos. A Denver win puts the Broncos two games up on the Chargers, which is technically three games with the tiebreaker.

4. Ron Rivera

The Chargers finally made the change, firing over-matched defensive coordinator Teddy Cottrell and replacing him with linebackers coach Ron Rivera. I love Rivera. I think he's an excellent coach and will be instantly better than Teddy C once the Chargers start playing again in week 10. But with the talent on that defense, Rivera's seat is scorching immediately.

5. Kurt Warner

It's proof that you can go home again with Warner heading back to St. Louis, the scene of his legendary Horatio Alger story.

But this is much more than a feel good trip.

Arizona and Warner need to win against the fiesty Rams.

The Cards were ahead of the Panthers last week (and if I can channel my inner Dennis Green), and they let them off the hook.