Chase for Perfection: Week 10 (Down to Two)

(Photo by Ronald Martinez, Getty Images)

It's hard to believe that with all the horrible teams in the NFL, not one of them was able to lose eight a row to open the season. With the Rams and Bucs finally off the schnide, there are now only two teams left that are still gunning for a perfect record: the Colts and the Saints. It's very likely that Peyton Manning and Drew Brees will finish No. 1 and 2 in the MVP voting, and the award may be given to the player whose team loses last.

There's no question who has the easiest path to a 9-0 record. The undefeated Saints will play in St. Louis next week, and it's hard to imagine that the 1-7 Rams -- whose season-high is just 20 points -- will be able to do anything against one of the most prolific offenses in NFL history. Saints all the way.

Meanwhile, the Colts have a murderously difficult opponent in the New England Patriots, who they will be going against on Sunday Night Football. This game is as big a test for the Patriots as it is for the Colts. If the Pats win, it proves that they are at least comprobbable to the 2007 team that also won in Indianapolis; if the Colts win, then it isn't impossible to think that they could go 16-0. The Ravens, Broncos and Texans are tough, but none of them give the Colts fits the way New England does.