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The Colts are 7-0 and the NFL's only undefeated team, but no one will view them as a serious Super Bowl contender until they can get over the hump against New England. No one has come close to frustrating the normally unflappable Peyton Manning the way Bill Belichick and the Patriots' defense have.

However, the biggest difference between this year's game and the last four Colts-Patriots games has nothing to do with Manning's play or Belichick's schemes. Rather, it is that this year the Colts finally feel they have a good defense and no longer feel as though they have to outscore and outgun the Patriots.

Tony Dungy has been trying to install a productive cover-2 defense since he arrived from Tampa, and this year he finally has one. The Colts' defense starts with the defensive line, and Indianapolis' defensive line starts with DE Dwight Freeney, who might be making a case for NFL defensive player of the year. Freeney (six sacks) is so explosive off the end in pass-rush situations that he often draws double- and triple-teams. This often leaves the other Colts pass-rushers -- DE Robert Mathis (eight sacks), DE Raheem Brock (two sacks), DT Larry Tripplett (two sacks) and DT Montae Reagor (3.5 sacks) -- matched up one-on-one, and they are often winning those matchups.

This is a small, quick, penetrating defensive line that will play the run on the way to the quarterback. Like the Bears, this is an attacking defense that likes to meet the running back in the backfield. They also play a lot of games up front with stunts and loops, not to mention Freeney's well-documented spin move that gives offensive tackles fits.

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