The Indianapolis Colts will head to Massachusetts to take on the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium to compete for a spot in Super Bowl XLIX. Viewers can watch online the AFC Championship match via live stream - free for subscribers - below.
Andrew Luck and the Colts will attempt to prevent Tom Brady and the Patriots from advancing to the big game. If the Patriots succeed in the AFC championship game, the Associated Press reported that it would be the eighth time the team appeared in the Super Bowl, tying them with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys for the most appearances in league history.
"We're very fortunate to be in this position to have a chance to play in it," Brady said. "I think more so than anything, you're just excited for the opportunity to be able to do it. It's hard to do and our team found a way to get there this year so hopefully we can take advantage of the opportunity."
As for Patriots coach Bill Belichick, he is looking for his NFL record 21st postseason victory, which according to the Associated Press would break a tie with legendary Cowboys coach Tom Landry. He may get that victory easily, considering the past performances of the Colts against New England, which has ended in losses each time they met on the gridiron.
"The Patriots have outscored the Colts 144-66 in going 3-0 against them since Luck came into the league in 2012," the Associated Press wrote. "That includes a 43-22 rout in a divisional playoff game last season and a 42-20 road win Nov. 16."
However, Mike Wells and Mike Reiss of ESPN thought that the Colts were "heavy underdogs with nothing to lose." Wells focused on the amount of turnovers Luck made this season.
"Luck's turnovers in the regular season were definitely a problem," Wells wrote. "But Luck has been a different player in the playoffs when it comes to turnovers. He threw two interceptions against Denver last Sunday, but they were both long third-down throws, basically punts for the Colts."
Reiss added that the Colts quarterback "is making smarter decisions with the football," commenting on his performance during the current playoff season.
"He's been nearly flawless in the playoffs," Reiss wrote of Luck. "It's because of him that I think the Colts have a chance to win the game."
Although comparisons have been drawn between Luck and former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, Luck thinks that he is more than capable of mounting a challenge against Brady and the Patriots.
"I'd like to think I am a better quarterback and would like to think we're a better team," Luck said. "We are well equipped to handle the unknown, the unforeseen."
Luck, who threw for 265 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, assessed his team's performance with the Associated Press.
"I think we're playing good team ball," Luck said. "We're feeding off each other. Offensively we're making enough plays to put some points on the board."
According to the Associated Press, Belichick will need to have a good game strategy in mind to counter Luck on the football field. He saw it as "a sixth receiver you have to cover."
"If (Luck) extends the play, then he has the ability to create big plays. We've seen him do that multiple times throughout his career already," Belichick said. "It's another guy you have to defend in the running game, the passing game in terms of his ability to scramble and make first-down yardage on possession-type downs. And he makes good decisions, so all those things are a problem."
In addition to Brady, Belichick will be relying on Rob Gronkowski, Danny Amendola and the rest of the Patriots team to execute whatever strategy he uses on the field. As for the Colts, they will have to rely on Luck and running back Daniel Herron to pull off an upset.
"Only five players remain on the active roster from when Luck was drafted in 2012," Wells wrote. "The Colts know they're underdogs in this game, which they should be when you take into consideration that they've been outscored 144-66 in those three losses."
Sunday's game will air at 6:40 p.m. on CBS. Online viewers can watch the game on CBSSports.com; while both options require a subscription, viewers can also watch through NFL Sunday Ticket and on demand through NFL Game Rewind.
