What you need to know about Colts vs. Patriots

Scott Horner | IndyStar

Show Caption Hide Caption Key players facing the Colts in 2018 Here are some of the players Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich will have to pay special attention to in his first season.

IndyStar will break down each of the Indianapolis Colts' 13 opponents for the 2018 season ahead of the team reporting to camp at Grand Park on July 25.

New England Patriots

Game: Gillette Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 4, Fox and NFL Network

Last year: 13-3, lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl

Over/Under win total (according to oddsshark.com): 11

Key returners: QB Tom Brady (Pro Bowl, league-leading 4,577 passing yards), TE Rob Gronkowski (Pro Bowl, 1,084 receiving yards, 8 TDs), WR Julian Edelman (missed last season after suffering preseason ACL tear), LB Dont'a Hightower (pectoral injury shortened his 2017 season to five games), S Devin McCourty (94 tackles), C David Andrews.

Key additions: DE Adrian Clayborn, OL Trent Brown, WR Cordarrelle Patterson, OL Matt Tobin, CB Jason McCourty, WR Jordan Mathews, RB Sony Michel

Key losses: TE Martellus Bennett, WR Danny Amendola, WR Brandin Cooks, T Nate Solder, RB Dion Lewis, CB Malcolm Butler, LB James Harrison

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Scoring: 2nd offense (28.6), 5th defense (18.5)

Offense: 3rd overall (5.9 yards per play), 5th passing (7.1), 11th rushing (4.2)

Defense: 29th overall (5.7 yards per play allowed), 18th passing (6.4), 31st rushing (4.7)

Vs. Colts last 10 years: 7-2 (including 2-0 in playoffs)

Analysis: Any game against the Patriots is difficult, especially for a Colts team still getting used to a new coaching staff with a lot of new players. Brady is 14-4 against the Colts, including playoffs, for 4,449 yards and 35 touchdown passes. Gronkowski has feasted on the Colts with 20 catches and six touchdowns in five regular-season meetings.

And if Andrew Luck and the Colts offense are piling up yards? So what. Lots of teams get yards against New England, but not many score touchdowns.

Another bit of intrigue: Edelman will be in his first game back from a four-game suspension after testing positive for performance enhancing substances.

What it means to the Colts: Revenge. There's always some element of revenge involved when these teams meet. This time it's because New England's offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, accepted the Colts' head coaching position, only to turn it down after the Colts announced an introductory news conference. Add that to the history of this rivalry (well, it was a rivalry when Peyton Manning was in Indy), Deflategate and that ill-fated fake punt, and there are plenty of reasons Colts fans would love to see a victory when it's the only NFL game on TV that night.

More: What you need to know about Colts vs. Texans

Week 1: What you need to know about the Colts vs. Bengals

Week 2: What you need to know about Colts vs. Redskins

Week 3: What you need to know about Colts vs. Eagles