Momentum Swings Back To New England: Colts At Patriots November 21st 2010
The Colts have dominated this rivalry since 2005. They won five of the last six matchups against the Patriots entering Gillette Stadium last year.
The Colts were banged up and were 6-3 entering Foxboro for the first time since 2006. The Patriots were having a good season, owning the best record at 7-2 in the NFL at this time in facing the Colts.
The game was much like the previous few. Manning and the Colts fell behind early and found themselves behind by 17 points in the fourth quarter.
Manning led the Colts to 14 straight points to pull the Colts within three late in the fourth. The Colts defense made a huge stop to get Manning the ball back, and he led them down to the Patriots’ 24-yard line with under a minute left.
Already in field goal range, you would have thought the Colts would have kept it conservative to tie the game at least and head to overtime with all the momentum.
Manning had other thoughts and went for the win, but Patriots corner James Sanders had other thoughts of his own, picking off Manning with 32 seconds left in the game to seal the win. That was Manning’s third interception of the game.
Reich’s Trick Play Fools Belichick Again
Did the Colts’ first touchdown, a flip to Nyheim Hines after a direct snap, look familiar? Frank Reich said it was a variation of the “Philly Special” he and the Eagles used against the Patriots in Super Bowl LII.
And he was ready with jokes.
Amazing: Earlier this week, @bkravitz tweeted: If the Colts run the Philly Special this week, Ill pay Frank Reich $20.Reich called a run version of it for the teams first touchdown.Reich after the win: Bob, you owe me $20.Bob: You take Venmo?
Stephen Holder
Quenton Nelson Knows The Significance
Colts All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson wasn’t part of the team in the Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady era, but he understands what ending this losing streak to New England means to the organization.
Quenton Nelson gets it: “With the rivalry with the Patriots, we were playing for all the Colts that came before us because we knew how much this game meant to them.”Well said from a guy who obviously wasn’t here at the height of this rivalry.
Stephen Holder
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An Uncharacteristic Night For New England
This is not the Patriot Way.
The narrative of this game should NOT be, Can Patriots win when Mac Jones trails by 14-20 points?The narrative of this game SHOULD be, You wont win when you lose turnover battle, give 10 points on special teams, commit drive-killing penalties and give up 200 on the ground.
Jeff Howe
Pete Prisco Cbs Sports:
Pick: Colts 24, Patriots 20
This is a huge game for both teams and both are coming off the bye, so there is no advantage. The Patriots were dominant in the wind last game against the Bills with their run game. They will try and use that again here to key the offense, but it won’t be nearly as successful. The Colts will do the same with Jonathan Taylor. I think the Colts get the best of it.
Jason La Canfora, CBS Sports: Colts
Will Brinson, CBS Sports: Patriots
Dave Richard, CBS Sports: Patriots
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: Patriots
John Breech, CBS Sports: Patriots
Jamey Eisenberg, CBS Sports: Patriots
Jared Dubin, CBS Sports: Colts
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New England Fell To The No 2 Seed In The Afc Following The Loss In Indy
For a minute there, it looked like the New England Patriots were in the midst of another lost season. After retooling the roster over the offseason following a 7-9 campaign in 2020, Bill Belichick’s team limped out to a 2-4 start and was winless at home following Week 6. It was at that point where the team looked lost. A chunk of the new faces struggled to mesh and the defense was breaking at points in the game where they could barely afford to bend.
However, following that overtime loss to Dallas, the Patriots would flip a switch and turn the season on its head. They went on a seven-game wining streak that breathed new life into the 2021 campaign and now has them in the thick of the AFC playoff picture at 9-5. The defense has blossomed into one of the top unit in the NFL and the offense has started to click both in the passing game and on the ground. As I’ve noted previously during this streak, this is one of Bill Belichick’s masterpieces.
But where does New England go from here with three weeks remaining in the regular season? Below, we’re going to take a look at the current playoff picture and where the Patriots stand in it all. We’ll also dissect the club’s remaining schedule, highlights some areas of improvement, and predict where they’ll ultimately finish.
Patriots Vs Colts Live Updates: Highlights And Analysis As Jonathan Taylor Puts Away Patriots After Double
The New England Patriots entered Saturdays critical meeting of AFC rivals with a league-best seven-game win streak, but it was the Indianapolis Colts who looked like bullies most of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis scored the first 20 points, and Jonathan Taylor slammed the door on a frantic Patriots rally in the final minutes to seal a 27-17 victory.
After the Patriots cut the deficit to 20-17, Taylor ripped off a 67-yard run with 2:01 to play. The NFLs leader in rushing, scrimmage yards and touchdowns totaled 29 carries including 18 before halftime for 170 yards, helping the Colts overcome an ugly showing from Carson Wentz .
The Colts defense and special teams also played huge roles. Linebackers Darius Leonard and Bobby Okereke each intercepted Mac Jones, and Matt Adams blocked a punt that E.J. Speed recovered for a touchdown.
Things got heated later in the third quarter, as Colts wideout Michael Pittman and Patriots safety Kyle Dugger got into a fight and were both ejected. New England trailed 20-0 at the end of three, but Jones tossed two touchdowns to Hunter Henry to climb back into it.
New Englands loss left the Kansas City Chiefs alone in the top spot in the AFC. The Colts moved within a game and a half of the Titans for the AFC South lead.
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Last Of The Unbeatens: Patriots At Colts November 4th 2007 Rca Dome
The 8-0 New England Patriots traveled and played the 7-0 Colts in the first matchup between the two teams after the Colts’ miracle comeback against the Patriots the year before in the AFC Championship game on the very same RCA Dome turf.
The matchup was the latest point in the season two undefeated teams matched up.
The Patriots offense averaged over 34 points per game entering this game, but the Colts defense actually showed up ready to play.
The Colts led 20-10 in the fourth quarter, but Tom Brady hit Randy Moss for 58 yards to lead the Patriots to the 3-yard line on one drive. Brady hit Wes Welker for a three-yard strike to pull the Pats within three.
The Patriots stopped the Colts on their next drive and got the ball back.
Brady hit Kevin Faulk for another fourth quarter touchdown pass that gave the Patriots a 24-20 lead in scoring 14 straight points.
Manning tried to lead the Colts on one last drive to win the game, but he was intercepted by Indianapolis native Roosevelt Colvin near midfield, which sealed the Patriots 24-20 win.
The Stardom Of Jonathan Taylor
With the offensive line creating displacement and Pinter picking up the run blitz, Taylor is able to hit the hole for at least a five to six yard gain if he were a normal running back. However, it is sufficient to say that Taylor is simply different.
He hits the hole with two defenders, safety Devin McCourty and linebacker Donta Hightower, waiting for him. Now, these arent two typical starting defensive players. McCourty is a three-time All-Pro that could be on his way to the Hall of Fame one day. Hightower is a two-time Pro Bowler and former All-Pro himself that has been a dominant player for years.
The odds of making one of these players, let alone both, miss in the hole seems extremely low.
Taylor just makes it look too easy. There is something oddly satisfying about him doing this to two players that landed on the Patriots All-Decade List to end the Colts 12-year drought against the team.
This is an insane jump-cut that allows Taylor to slide right by Hightower for the long run. Simply an elite player making an elite play.
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How Much Concern Should There Be Over Carson Wentz’s Lackluster Night
The Colts scored a massive 27-17 victory over the Patriots Saturday night, a win that has been overdue since the last time Indianapolis beat New England . And they did it while their quarterback had only slightly more impact than the beer vendors roaming the aisles at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Carson Wentzs lone touchdown pass was little more than a toss to Nyheim Hines on the Colts second possession of the evening. He completed just five passes for 57 yards in the entire game. And his biggest offensive contributions did not involve throwing the ball but, rather, his three successful quarterback sneaks on fourth downs.
So, if youre a Colts fan and trying to make sense of a rousing victory that significantly boosted the teams playoff chances but also harboring some despair about the state of the passing game on Saturday night, there are different ways to view this.
Without Brady Patriots Fall 18
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
The Patriots were still picking up the pieces from their Super Bowl loss to the Giants, and then Tom Brady tore up his knee.
New England, with Matt Cassel at quarterback, still battled against a good Colts team, but the loss of firepower was too much to overcome.
Manning was his usual efficient self, throwing for 254 yards and two touchdowns. The Patriots stayed close all game but two dumb mistakes by Jabar Gaffney and David Thomas prevented them from holding on to the lead.
Vinatieri kicked a 52-yard field goal to give the Colts the lead late in the fourth quarter and the Patriots couldn’t muster the strength to comeback. The loss ultimately kept the Patriots from making the playoffs that season, despite having the most wins ever for a non-playoff team. If only Brady was playing.
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A Look At The Nfl Standings With Week 15 Underway
Week 15 is already provided some fireworks in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs having a thrilling victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on “Thursday Night Football” and the Indianapolis Colts holding off the New England Patriots on Saturday night. The league has seen 29 games decided by a game-winning score on the final play this season, an incredible amount of dramatic finishes.
Week 14 certainly had some thrillers as well. Two of those games had an impact on the playoffs in each conference, as the San Francisco 49ers beat the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime on a walk-off touchdown while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did the same against the Buffalo Bills. The loss by Cincinnati took the Bengals out of the top seven in the AFC standings while the Bills’ loss dropped them to seventh — the final playoff spot in the conference. The 49ers jumped to sixth in the NFC with their victory while the Buccaneers remained in the hunt for the top seed in the NFC.
This playoff race is getting more unpredictable by the week. Below, you can find a division-by-division breakdown of the current standings and what each contender is facing on their schedule the rest of the way.
Adam Vinatieri Switches Sides And Downs Patriots 27
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Adam Vinatieri, the Patriots hero and best ever placekicker, signed with Indianapolis in the offseason. His two field goals helped the Colts stay undefeated by defeating the Patriots for the second season in a row.
New England, coming in to the game having won four straight, had a chance to contend in this game. But Tom Brady’s four interceptions, including a game-ending one by Cato June, spoiled a potential upset.
Both teams showed they belonged in the upper echelon of NFL teams, but the Colts were on a different level this week.
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The Comeback: Patriots At Colts January 21st 2007 Afc Championship Game
That date is a date any Colts fan will remember like a birthday, anniversary, or life-changing moment. Many Colts fans remember exactly where they were and what they were doing on this day.
This was the first ever home AFC Championship Game the Colts had ever hosted. The hype around the city the week leading up to this game was bigger than any moment the city has ever seen.
This was the big bad evil Patriots who have knocked the Colts out of the playoffs every year it seemed. The weather and fact of playing in New England was always the excuse for the Colts in losing in the playoffs to New England. This year, there were no excuses anymore. If they were to ever make a trip to the Super Bowl, this was it.
The raucous crowd was what I thought was the loudest I have ever heard a crowd roar in the first quarter of this game, until the Patriots ruined it.
New England jumped out to a 21-3 lead, with Patriots corner Asante Samuel intercepting a Peyton Manning pass and returning it 39 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter.
That moment you could have heard a pin drop in the once raucous dome.
Peyton Manning led the Colts 80 yards on 15 plays at the end of the half to set up an Adam Vinatieri 26-yard field goal to put the Colts down 21-6 heading into the half.
The Colts scored on the first possession of the second half to cut the Pats lead to 21-13.
The Patriots scored next to take a 28-21 lead.
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Why The Patriots Should Learn From The Jets
Once Bill Belichick has shown the film from Saturdays game with all the mistakes, including his own I suggest he should also show the film from this Oldie But Goodie: Patriots 45, New York Jets 3, on Dec. 6, 2010 at Gillette Stadium.
The Jets were epically, couldnt-get-out-of-their-own-way horrible that night, and by the time it was over they were battered, bruised and deflated.
And yet, just a little more than a month later, they returned to Gillette Stadium and posted a stunning 28-21 divisional-round victory over a Patriots team that had gone 14-2 during the regular season and was coming off one of those lovely first-round byes. Maybe it was those lame bulletin-board foot jokes directed at Jets coach Rex Ryan by Pats receiver Wes Welker that fired up New York.
Or maybe, and heres the lesson, they werent as bad a team as they looked during that 45-3 loss to the Patriots on Monday Night Football. Are the Patriots as bad as they looked Saturday night?
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The Nfl Announced Today That The Nfl Week 15 Game Between The Patriots And The Colts Will Be Played On Saturday December 18 At : 20 Pm
Today the NFL announced updates to the Week 15 schedule.
NFL Network will broadcast two games EXCLUSIVELY on Saturday, December 18, starting at 4:30 PM ET with quarterback Derek Carr and the Las Vegas Raiders traveling to face quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns. Raiders-Browns will also be available on local broadcast stations in Las Vegas and Cleveland .
NFL Network’s schedule continues at 8:20 PM ET with running back Jonathan Taylor and the Indianapolis Colts hosting quarterback Mac Jones and the New England Patriots. Patriots-Colts will also be available on local broadcast stations in Boston and Indianapolis .
Fans can stream these games through NFL digital properties across devices , NFL Network distributors’ apps and sites, and on phones via Yahoo Sports and the respective teams’ mobile properties. Live game audio will be broadcast nationally by Westwood One, and carried on SiriusXM and TuneIn.
For a full list of viewing options, fans can visit NFL.com/watch.
Full details on broadcast teams for each game will be announced at a later date.
Undefeated Colts Steamroll Patriots 40
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Manning and the 8-0 Colts finally got what they’ve been waiting fora win over the New England Patriots.
The Patriots defense was banged up with Richard Seymour out and cornerback Randall Gay playing at safety, and Manning absolutely carved them up. He threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns in a momentous performance.
Tom Brady did all he could to keep the Patriots in the game , but a porous defense made it impossible to keep up with the high-octane Colts.
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Colts Swing Rivalry Their Way: Colts At Patriots November 7th 2005
The Colts entered Foxboro for a Monday Night Football matchup undefeated at 8-0. The Patriots were the two-time defending Super Bowl Champions, but struggled out of the gate and were 4-3.
Everyone still favored the Patriots, thinking they would use this game to turn their season around. After all, Peyton Manning was winless in Foxboro at 0-7 to date.
The Colts dominated this game, winning 40-21 on the national stage.
The game was so out of hand Tom Brady was benched in the fourth quarter for back up Doug Flutie.
The game is the most lopsided outcome to this day since 2001.
This was also the moment many experts said the Colts turned the corner with winning the next three match-ups and five of the next six.
