USA Today: Colts over Pats in 2016 AFC Title Game

photo via www.bostonglobe.com

USA Today released their season preview back on Tuesday through writer/reporter Nate Davis, and Mr. Davis has gone out on a limb with his projections come January and beyond.

Davis has 2014 AFC Finalist Indianapolis Colts beating the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, where they'll take on (and lose) to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl 50 over in San Francisco. Yes, those same Colts who've lost the four previous meetings against New England with Andrew Luck at the helm while getting outscored 189-73 in the process.

Davis pegged Indy for 13 wins and home-field advantage in the postseason, setting up Brady and Co. to fall on the road at Lucas Oil Stadium.

In terms of the AFC East, Davis has the Patriots capturing their seventh-consecutive division title with an 11-5 record. However, he believes the losses of Darrelle Revis, Vince Wilfork, Shane Vereen and the host of others who've left Foxboro this offseason will see the Bills (10-6), Dolphins (10-6) and Jets (7-9) close the gap on Bill Belichick's squad.

We know as much as anyone that predictions in August aren't worth a lick, but until Andrew Luck and the Colts prove they can simply keep these games even remotely competitive, never mind actually winning for once, picking them to beat New England is borderline insane.