NFL Nation: RR Patriots-Colts 111509
Rapid Reaction: Colts 35, Patriots 34
November, 15, 2009
11/15/09
11:55
PM ET
By Tim Graham | ESPN.com
INDIANAPOLIS -- What in the world was that?
The New England Patriots stated their case they deserve to be known as the AFC East's best team.
And then they let it slip away.
The Patriots were on their way to beating the Indianapolis Colts, but Bill Belichick's nonsensical decision to go for it on fourth-and-2 from their own 28-yard line -- not the Colts' 28-yard line -- with two minutes left cost them dearly.
The Patriots didn't convert, and with the short field, Peyton Manning made Belichick pay. Four plays later, Manning hit Reggie Wayne for a touchdown with 13 seconds left to give the Colts an improbable 35-34 victory in Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Patriots went into the Colts' home and dissected them for about 58 minutes, holding a 34-21 lead in the fourth quarter.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was better than Manning, who threw two bad interceptions. Brady completed 29 of 42 attempts for 375 yards and three touchdowns.
New England's offense was impressive, scoring touchdowns on drives of six, two, five and two plays. The Colts went into the game having allowed only one touchdown drive of six plays or fewer.
Randy Moss caught nine passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Kevin Faulk rushed 11 times for 79 yards. Laurence Maroney would've had a two-touchdown game had he not fumbled at the goal line in the third quarter.
Rookie left tackle Sebastian Vollmer continued his strong play, keeping Dwight Freeney from sacking Brady. Last week, Vollmer shut out the 2008 AFC sacks king, Joey Porter.
And, yet, none of it mattered.
The New England Patriots stated their case they deserve to be known as the AFC East's best team.
And then they let it slip away.
The Patriots were on their way to beating the Indianapolis Colts, but Bill Belichick's nonsensical decision to go for it on fourth-and-2 from their own 28-yard line -- not the Colts' 28-yard line -- with two minutes left cost them dearly.
The Patriots didn't convert, and with the short field, Peyton Manning made Belichick pay. Four plays later, Manning hit Reggie Wayne for a touchdown with 13 seconds left to give the Colts an improbable 35-34 victory in Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Patriots went into the Colts' home and dissected them for about 58 minutes, holding a 34-21 lead in the fourth quarter.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was better than Manning, who threw two bad interceptions. Brady completed 29 of 42 attempts for 375 yards and three touchdowns.
New England's offense was impressive, scoring touchdowns on drives of six, two, five and two plays. The Colts went into the game having allowed only one touchdown drive of six plays or fewer.
Randy Moss caught nine passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Kevin Faulk rushed 11 times for 79 yards. Laurence Maroney would've had a two-touchdown game had he not fumbled at the goal line in the third quarter.
Rookie left tackle Sebastian Vollmer continued his strong play, keeping Dwight Freeney from sacking Brady. Last week, Vollmer shut out the 2008 AFC sacks king, Joey Porter.
And, yet, none of it mattered.
Rapid Reaction: Colts 35, Patriots 34
November, 15, 2009
11/15/09
11:52
PM ET
By
Paul Kuharsky | ESPN.com
INDIANAPOLIS -- A ridiculously nervy fourth-down attempt by the New England Patriots in the fourth quarter in their own end of the field came up short, and the Colts didn’t let Bill Belichick off the hook.
Poised until then for their first loss of the season, the Colts took full advantage: A four-play march to a touchdown that turned a game, and doubtlessly the NFL world, on its head.
Peyton Manning’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne gave the Colts their ninth win, 35-34, over AFC archrival New England, and surely sparked the most heated round of questioning Belichick will field since his days as head coach of the Cleveland Browns.
It washed away an off night for Indy that included a limited pass rush, a pretty bad case of the dropsies, some uncommonly bad throws by Manning and some serious coverage issues that allowed Randy Moss to run wild.
The city will have a tough time falling asleep tonight and an awfully hard time responding to its alarm clock in the morning.
Once the euphoria dies down, the Colts will dive into a big pile of work.
Jim Caldwell has been selling his team on the idea that, despite the record, it was far from perfect, and players -- led by perfectionist quarterback Manning -- were clearly buying it.
Even with the miracle finish made possible by Belichick’s call, it’s an easy-to-renew theme from here, with a tough trip to Baltimore next week before a divisional rematch on the road in Houston.
Poised until then for their first loss of the season, the Colts took full advantage: A four-play march to a touchdown that turned a game, and doubtlessly the NFL world, on its head.
Peyton Manning’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne gave the Colts their ninth win, 35-34, over AFC archrival New England, and surely sparked the most heated round of questioning Belichick will field since his days as head coach of the Cleveland Browns.
It washed away an off night for Indy that included a limited pass rush, a pretty bad case of the dropsies, some uncommonly bad throws by Manning and some serious coverage issues that allowed Randy Moss to run wild.
The city will have a tough time falling asleep tonight and an awfully hard time responding to its alarm clock in the morning.
Once the euphoria dies down, the Colts will dive into a big pile of work.
Jim Caldwell has been selling his team on the idea that, despite the record, it was far from perfect, and players -- led by perfectionist quarterback Manning -- were clearly buying it.
Even with the miracle finish made possible by Belichick’s call, it’s an easy-to-renew theme from here, with a tough trip to Baltimore next week before a divisional rematch on the road in Houston.
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