Could Peyton Manning, at 33, be getting better?

Check the numbers: He's on pace to set career highs in attempts (626), completions (442), yards (5,090) and completion percentage (70.6). He's also on target to throw 32 touchdown passes (which would be third best in his career), 10 picks (third lowest), and is averaging 8.13 yards per attempt (3rd) with a 105.2 QB rating (2nd).

And for the fourth time in five years, Manning's Colts are undefeated going into their November showdown with the Patriots. They were 7-0 in '05, '06 and '07. They're 8-0 this time around.

His doing it without Marvin Harrison (released) or Anthony Gonzalez (injured). It's impressive, to say the least, and Manning's mere presence presents problems for any defensive coach -- Bill Belichick included -- during game week.

"He prepares very hard, and the things that you’ve shown, he’ll be ready for," Belichick said moments ago at his day-after press conference. "The looks that are different, he sorts them out pretty quickly and can figure out what you’re doing. You gotta be careful with him.

"It’s hard enough trying to stop him the way it is, it’s even worse when you tell him, ‘Well, here’s what we’re gonna do, what do want to do about it?’ They’ll have something they can do about it. You don’t want to put yourself in that position any more than you have to. You gotta be in position to play, but you don’t want to tell him, 'This is where we are, go ahead, attack us.'

"You want to try to keep it moving a little bit, and keep him off-balance, and not do the same thing all the time, or not do the same thing from the same look, have a couple different changeups off it, so you’re not locked into one thing. That usually doesn’t work against him, whatever that thing is, doesn’t matter."