This game is going to present quite a few problems for the Colts. First, the Ravens can run the ball very effectively as they made very apparent last week against the Patriots. The Ravens are also a very physical football team and, after not trying to win a football game for the past three weeks, the Colts may be a little rusty. And getting back on track is going to be very difficult against an intimidating team like the Ravens.

But don’t discount the Colts quite yet. It’s true that their offense is based on timing and that may be a little off early, but once Manning completes a few passes they should pick right up where they left off and that will be a lot easier this time around than it was in their earlier game against the Ravens. Baltimore is now without their top three cornerbacks and the one place you don’t want to be thin at when facing Manning is the secondary.

Defensively, the Colts are extremely underrated. They are not spectacular against the run, which could pose problems. But with Manning at quarterback, they aren’t going to have to shut the Ravens out, just keep them out of the end zone as much as possible and let the offense do their thing. The Colts defense feeds off their offense and their bend-but-don’t-break philosophy has worked perfectly all season long. Joe Flacco is going to have to make some plays in the passing game for the Ravens to have a chance. The Ravens' aerial weapons are pretty weak and the Colts' young secondary won’t be overwhelmed by their talent.

I just think that this is a pretty tall task to ask of the young Flacco, to outgun the greatest gunner of all-time. He simply doesn’t have the ammunition to keep up with the game’s premier gunslinger. The game will be close for three quarters, but Peyton will pull the trigger in the final period to kill the Ravens' chances for a comeback. Prediction: Colts 27, Ravens 17.
--- BRANDON KOPCEUCH.

Bonus Prediction

Peyton Manning has never had great success against Ed Reed and the Baltimore defense. The Colts run defense has struggled at times this year and Raven running back Ray Rice is arguably the most explosive player in the postseason right now. These two seemingly should add up to a win for the Ravens. However, at the end of the day, the matchup that will decide this game is Manning vs. Joe Flacco. With Flacco’s health concerns this is even more of a mismatch than it seems on paper. The Colts will struggle at times but get past the tough Ravens. Prediction: Colts, 24-10.
--- TOMMY ALTER.