Each team's strategy to pick up the win in Week 9

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New England at Indianapolis

Wes Welker has 56 catches for 613 yards and six touchdowns this season. John Biever/SI

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Patriots' Game Plan

• Attack from spread formations. The Colts' top-ranked pass defense has been stellar, but the strength of the Patriots' offense lies with their receiving corps. Look for New England to attack the Colts' two-deep coverage by spreading the formation in their three-receiver sets and isolating Wes Welker on slot defenders. Expect Welker to have a big game, catching option routes and short crossers.

• Match Asante Samuel on Reggie Wayne. With Wayne emerging as the top option in the Colts' passing game, expect the Patriots to assign Samuel to Indy's emerging superstar, enabling the defense to use an assortment of combination coverage to limit Marvin Harrison and Dallas Clark.

Colts' Game Plan

• Slow the tempo. Peyton Manning and the Colts' no-huddle offense will take a slow-down approach against the Patriots. Joseph Addai will become the focal point as Manning calls more running plays early to slow the tempo of the game. If the Colts run successfully, they'll set up their play-action passing game while keeping the Patriots' high-scoring offense on the sideline.

• Make 'em earn it. The premise of the Colts' two-deep coverage is to make offenses earn their points by limiting big plays. Against a Patriots' passing game that has the most completions of more than 20 yards (32) in the league, the Colts will test Brady's patience by sitting in soft zone coverage and conceding short throws. The Colts are willing to let Brady pass for more than 300 yards, but they want to make him earn it by limiting his big play opportunities.

Cincinnati at Buffalo

Bengals' Game Plan

• Throw the ball over the middle. The Bills' two-deep coverage will limit Carson Palmer's ability to hit Chad Johnson or T.J. Houshmandzadeh outside the numbers. But Johnson and Houshmandzadeh should find plenty of room between the hashes with John DiGiorgio taking deep drops in the middle of the zone.

• Crowd the line of scrimmage. The Bengals must limit Marshawn Lynch's running room and make the Bills one-dimensional with J.P. Losman in the lineup. If Cincy can force the Bills into long-yardage situations, Deltha O'Neal and Johnathan Joseph will have opportunities to come up with interceptions.

Bills' Game Plan

• Limit the explosives. The Bengals' offense thrives on the big play and has produced 26 of more than 20 yards. The Bills will try to limit plays of that magnitude by sitting in two-deep coverage and forcing Palmer to settle for underneath throws.

• Play long ball. With Losman back under center, the Bills will look to stretch the field with deeper throws to Lee Evans and Roscoe Parrish. Expect to see the Bills use more of their vertical passing game against the Bengals.

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