Eagle Scout: Eagles-Colts: Strengths and weaknesses

So you may have heard of this Peyton Manning guy. He's been known to throw a touchdown here and there, and you also may have seen him in the occasional TV commercial.

Everything the Colts' offense does well starts with him.

And here are the Eagles, who, in their last game, gave up 276 yards passing and three touchdowns to Kerry Collins. How do they prevent a repeat - or worse? What weaknesses can the Eagles probe?

Here is a look at the teams:

Kevin Kolb. Michael Vick. Kevin Kolb. Michael Vick. It's Vick's turn to drive again, but whoever has been behind the wheel, the offense has moved. The Eagles rank eighth in the NFL in points per game and in the top 10 in rushing, passing, and total yards per game.

With Vick, they regain another weapon to go along with Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy, and DeSean Jackson. They can throw; run; and, with so many playmakers, use a variety of formations to confuse defenses.

Vick's running adds an element for which few teams can prepare.

The defense - and particularly the secondary - spent the bye week as a local whipping boy. But the defenders have excelled at creating quarterback pressure and are able ball thieves, with at least one interception every game and 11 total. Led by Trent Cole, the Eagles have 21 sacks, tied for eighth-best in the NFL. Pressure and turnovers might be the best ways to slow down Manning.

The run defense has been strong lately, although the Colts don't rely on that phase as much as other teams.

Andy Reid is 11-0 after bye weeks. He gets his teams ready, and these Eagles are eager to erase the memory of the Tennessee loss.

Anyone who saw Kenny Britt's outburst knows the first place to look for weakness: the secondary. Regular starting cornerback Ellis Hobbs is hurt and will be replaced by Dimitri Patterson, who has never started in his five years in the league.

Rookie safety Nate Allen is coming off his first big down moment and will have to show he can rebound.

The offensive line appeared to stabilize for a few weeks but allowed steady pressure to the Titans and faces a tough pair of defensive ends this week. Jason Peters has missed the last two games with a torn meniscus, and Vick, who suffered a rib-cartilage tear, hasn't played since Week 4. Do they have rust to shake off? And if the Colts sit back in a soft defense - as the Redskins did - can Vick find the holes?

It all comes back to Manning. The Colts rank second in the NFL in passing yards per game and touchdown passes. Despite their reliance on the pass, they have given up a league-low seven sacks, and Manning has thrown just two interceptions.

They are among the best in the red zone and on third down.

Basically, the offense rolls.

The Colts' wide-receiver corps is banged up, and tight end Dallas Clark is out for the season. But Manning has still thrown for plenty of yards and completions. Case in point: With Clark out, third-year backup Jacob Tamme caught six passes last week, doubling his career total. He was one of five players who caught at least three passes last week.

Defensively, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis provide a menacing pair of defensive ends.

At least the Eagles don't have to worry about the run. The Colts rank 23d in the league in rushing yards per game and are picking up fewer than 4 yards per carry. The Colts' backs, though, do factor into the passing game.

The Colts' defense is only OK. It ranks 12th in points allowed per game, and the rushing defense is soft: 28th in the NFL. It is giving up 4.9 yards per carry. LeSean McCoy might have some openings. If so, the running game could increase the Eagles' time of possession and help keep Manning off the field.