Brady drives the short field but stalls to give the Patriots a Field Goal attempt. Wide right! Score still 24 to 17 Colts Manning 3.5 out of 6 Brady 2.5 out of 8 Interceptions/Fumbles: Manning 0 Brady 2
This Patriot defense is something else. 3rd sack of Manning tonight. Now, on the very next play, Manning is intercepted for the 1st time. Patriots have the ball on their own 45 yard line. Colts still ahead 24 to 17. Manning 3.5 out of 7 Brady 2.5 out of 8 Interceptions/Fumbles: Manning 1 Brady 2
Two plays later, Brady is intercepted. Colts have the ball on the Patriots 46 yard line. Manning 3.5 out of 7 Brady 2.5 out of 9 Interceptions/Fumbles: Manning 1 Brady 3
Peyton and the Colts kick a Field Goal to make it a two possession game after driving inside the 20. Colts 27 Patriots 17 Manning 4 out of 8 Brady 2.5 out of 9 Interceptions/Fumbles: Manning 1 Brady 3
Brady drives the Patriots down to the 9 yard line but has to settle for the Field Goal. Colts 27 Patriots 20 Manning 4 out of 8 Brady 3 out of 10 Interceptions/Fumbles: Manning 1 Brady 3
Peyton drives the Colts all the way to the Patriots 29 yard line and settle for a 46 yard Field Goal attempt at the 2 minute warning. Field goal wide right. Still a one possession game for the Patriots. Colts 27 Patriots 20 Manning 4 out of 9 Brady 3 out of 10 Interceptions/Fumbles: Manning 1 Brady 3
Two plays into the 11th offensive possession, Brady is intercepted for the 4th time. Colts run out the clock by taking a knee twice. Colts win 27 to 20. Manning 4 out of 9 Brady 3 out of 11 Interceptions/Fumbles: Manning 1 Brady 4
I think that I can safely say that Peyton won this head to head match between himself and Brady. :wink:
Pats put that game on a SILVER PLATTER and told Colts.. " here take it"! You cant win with that many turnovers and penalties no matter who you are playing. Colts should have won by more. For Colts to go deep into playoffs they need to toughen up their D and get a running game. Manning will take them just so far. jiffer
The Colts lost to the Steelers in the playoffs last year because they couldn't protect Peyton. The last couple of weeks they've played against 2 very tough defenses. It looks like their protection has improved. (meanwhile the Steelers are no where near what they were defensively last year.) The Colts keep scoring until they force you to abandon your runnin game and become one dimensional. They look awfully good to me.
Giving up over 5 yds per run, I don't know why the Pats didn't just pound it on the Colts, they started off well but seemed to quit after the first drive. It would seem to me that long slow drives would keep Manning on the bench and keep the NE defense rested. Madden pointed out that when they (Pats) went to the passing game and screens they were playing into the only strength of the Colts...speed on defense.
Local talking heads are hashing this out all morning long. It might seem far fetched , but the thinking is that the road to the Super Bowl is going to have to go through Indy no matter what. They think Belichek might be holding back showing just what he DOES have planned to win ONE BIG game. As a result he chose not to to run in this game. jif
My theory FWIW is that NE felt it had to score quickly and often. You normally can't do that with your running game. The running game is a potent weapon when you are ahead, but it's tough coming from behind when the clock is working against you. As leaky as Indy's run defense is, they came to play last night, and they stuffed several key running plays. I'm sure this figured into BB's play calling in the 2nd half. He's a great coach, but you can't win 'em all. Indy's on a roll, but until we get to the Super Bowl, you won't see any semi-intelligent Colts fans puffing their chests, even with an 8-0 record.
Sid I wonder if the Colts will handle the unbeaten thing better this year if they get to 10 or 11 wins. Last year I thought they made a big mistake when they got to that point and started talking about resting players etc, it's the NFL you don't rest players. Of course the tragedy with Dungy's son was another thing.