Although New England and Indianapolis haven't been in the same division since 2001, tonight marks the seventh year in a row that the Patriots have played the Colts in the regular season.

That streak is likely to be extended in 2010.

If the Pats win the AFC East, and the currently undefeated Colts win the AFC South, they'd meet again next year in Foxboro, according to the scheduling format laid out by the NFL.

Since Bill Belichick became coach in New England in 2000, the Patriots have beaten the Colts in 8 of 13 meetings. The Pats dominated the series in the early years of the Belichick era, winning 7 of 8, including the AFC championship game in Foxboro in 2003.

But the Colts have won 4 of the last 5, including the 2006 AFC championship game in Indianapolis, when they overcame a 21-3, first-half deficit to win, 38-34 -- the biggest comeback in a conference championship game in NFL history.

The Colts also won last year's game in Indy, 18-15, when Matt Cassel was at QB for the Patriots in place of the injured Tom Brady.