Prime-time punchout: 5 takeaways help Indy remain only unbeaten
by Phil Richards of the Indianapolis Star
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Peyton Manning piled up the big numbers but the Indianapolis Colts' much-maligned defense made a bunch of the big plays Sunday as it contributed five takeaways to the Colts' 27-20 victory over the New England Patriots at rowdy, chilly Gillette Stadium.
It's only midseason, but the Colts' 30th victory in their past 33 regular-season games pushed them to 8-0 and gave them what amounts to a three-game lead on the Patriots (6-2) in the chase for the AFC's No. 1 playoff seed, because of the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Colts are at least two games ahead of everyone else in the conference and remained three up on Jacksonville (5-3) in the AFC South.
It was the Colts' second consecutive victory at New England after a run of nine losses in succession here. Manning completed 20-of-36 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns to become only the second Colts quarterback to throw for 300 yards in three consecutive games. John Unitas did it in 1963.
"You have to win as a team," Manning told an NBC reporter after the game. "You can't win playing as an individual against these guys."
The Colts embodied team. On a night when they were outrushed 148 yards to 53, the defense kept taking the football away. Defensive tackle Raheem Brock forced and recovered a fumble. Safety Antoine Bethea intercepted one pass in the Colts end zone. Safety Bob Sanders stole another at the Colts 3-yard line.
A drunk Tom Brady threw 4 int's against the Colts
A drunk Tom Brady threw 4 int's against the ColtsThe second of linebacker Cato June's pair of interceptions came on a pass that deflected off Patriots running back Kevin Faulk and put the game away. It came with 1:18 to play with New England driving and at the Colts 39. "They were around the ball," Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said. "They've got good aggressiveness on defense. They got their hands on it. They didn't drop any."
Adam Vinatieri, who played the first 10 years of his career for New England before signing with the Colts as a free agent in March, had a forgettable homecoming night. He converted 23- and 31-yard field goals but missed from 37 and 46. He was booed throughout by the sellout crowd of 68,756.
Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison caught eight passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns. It was his seventh 100-yard game against the Patriots, two more than he has against any other NFL team. Harrison's most spectacular catch was for the third-quarter game-winner, the touchdown that gave the Colts a 24-14 lead. He beat cornerback Eric Hobbs into the end zone. Harrison stretched with his left hand, tipped Manning's pass, then gathered it in and got both feet down before he fell out of bounds.
It was touch, artistry, ballet. And it came against one of the NFL's top defenses...[READ MORE].
Beyond the Box Score
As everyone expected, this turned out to be a great game. I didn't expect the Colts to step up on defense like they did, but then again, I'm 1-8 in fantasy football this year so what do I know. You get that feeling though that this is another year the Colts are poised to make a run at a perfect season. Things just happen for them to put all the pieces in place...like June's reception to seal the deal for Indy. You could almost say it was a pick of destiny if they end up running the table on the rest of their opponents. Who's on tap for the Colts?
Sun 11/12 Buffalo
Sun 11/19 at Dallas
Sun 11/26 Philadelphia
Sun 12/3 at Tennessee
Sun 12/10 at Jacksonville
Mon 12/18 Cincinnati
Sun 12/24 at Houston
Sun 12/31 Miami
Buffalo played great against an awful Green Bay team despite losing Willis McGahee, but I can't imagine them posing a threat to the Colts, who should be able to put up a lot of points against their young secondary. The Dallas game will be interesting, but then again, I'll take Peyton over Romo anyday...Philly could put out the upset playing at home, but I don't see it; just not enough fight in those bones anymore. Tennessee...not a chance.
Jacksonville and Cincinnati at this point look like the biggest hurdles facing the Colts. The Jags could beat any team in the league if they played a great game for four quarters, especially with that stellar running tandem. Cincinnati has been down the past couple weeks but I think they'll make a strong return in the second half of the season with some offensive firepower back.
Houston could play the darling and upset the Colts, and the same with Miami, but it's unlikely. Then again, the Dolphins already ended Chicago's bid at a perfect season, and wouldn't it be something to see the Dolphin's try to protect their franchise's record of a perfect season by defending it against the 15-0 Colts at home in Miami? Now that's a game.
Tenacious D - "The Pick of Destiny"