The Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints continued their runs toward perfection – albeit in different fashions.

The Colts (10-0) got a fourth-quarter field goal from Matt Stover which provided them with the final points in a 17-15 victory over the Baltimore Ravens (5-5). 

Indianapolis linebacker Gary Brackett staved off a Baltimore drive in the final minutes by intercepting a pass deep in Colts’ territory.  With under three minutes on the clock, the Colts ran most of the remaining time off of the clock – punting the ball with about 20 seconds left in the game (and the Ravens’ Ed Reed fumbled the attempted return).

Baltimore wasted a huge opportunity when they had a first-and-goal at the Indianapolis 1 yard line – and they had to settle for a field goal.  The difference in points would have given the Ravens what they needed to win the game.  The Ravens were unable to get the ball into the endzone against the Colts.  Their 15 points came on 5 field goals.

Colts' linebacker Gary Brackett made the game's decisive play.

Peyton Manning (22-31, 299 yards) moved the ball, but threw two interceptions in the game.  The inefficient Baltimore offense allowed Indy to overcome a total of three turnovers.

To the contrary, ’inefficient’ is a word that could also be used to describe most teams’ defensive efforts against the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints smashed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 38-7, on Sunday afternoon.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees:

”I feel like we haven’t peaked yet. … I feel like the sky’s the limit for this team,”

MVP frontrunner Drew Bress only had 19 completions and 187 yards passing, but he did connect on 3 touchdown passes.  Running backs Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell combined for 167 yards rushing, and Bell scored two rushing touchdowns.

Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman threw three interceptions on Sunday.  He only passed for 126 yards.

”We knew how potent their offense was, and we knew that really the best defense was our offense being able to sustain drives. ‘The tough thing is that only lasted our first drive.”

Next week, the Saints face the New England Patriots in the Superdome. 

Brees: ”It only gets harder. By no means can we sit back on what we’ve accomplished thus far. Every team we face would love to give us that first loss.”

New Orleans will have to do their thing against a New England team that is now hungry to prove that they belong among the league’s elite.