why i am holding onto the tiniest shred of hope

Colts face their biggest test.

It's a measure of the New England Patriots decline that the Indianapolis Colts are three-point favorites Monday night in Foxborough, which has been a house of horrors for them recently.

Yes, the Colts are the NFL's only unbeaten team and the Patriots have lost three times. But Indy has been eliminated by the Patriots in the playoffs the last two years, hasn't won in Foxboro since 1995 and has lost six straight games to the Patriots.

Peyton Manning? He's 0-7 in New England.

The Colts' unbeaten run could work against them -- they have to lose at some point, just as Houston had to win eventually.

only one question remains: what does Monday Night hold...?