Patriots 20, Colts 3 (1/16/'05): The greatest rivalry of the past 10 years -- maybe in the history of the NFL -- is about to have another chapter written. If it's anything like last year's chapter, well, there'll be a lot to talk about during the postgame tailgate Sunday night.
 |
DILLON: Killin' field.
|
There have been so many great games between the two teams that it's hard to pick a favorite. Each has scored huge wins against the other. That's what makes it such an entertaining rivalry. The Colts have gotten the better of the Pats lately, but back in the winter of '04/'05 it was the Patriots who were dominant.
I've been lucky to see a lot of great games during the past 20 years. Well, mostly the last 10. Some of the best have been against the team in white and blue with the horseshoe on their helmet. (One of the all-time great sports uniforms, by the way). The best of those games came on a cold, snowy January afternoon. The Patriots were on the verge of becoming a dynasty and they took a big step towards that by playing -- and winning -- what turned out to be a classic old-school NFL playoff game.
The Colts came into Gillette in the playoffs for the second straight year. The Pats had knocked Indy out in the AFC title game 24-14 the previous January, torturing Manning with four interceptions in the snow. It was such a beating that the NFL decided to change the rules so that wide receivers (namely Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne) would have more freedom to roam untouched. More accurately, Colts GM Bill Polian decided to change the rules and the league went along with him. The Colts, thanks to those rules, had scored 49 points against Denver in the first round the week before with Manning passing for more than 450 yards. The story line coming into the rematch was how can the Patriots defense stop the unstoppable? Bill Belichick and his veteran players had the answer.
It was one of the more memorable pregame tailgates we've ever had -- despite the snow and 15 degree wind chill. The parking lot was a giant holiday party. Tents were up to protect from the elements but most people huddled outside talking about our favorite subject -- Pats vs. Colts. We had a large fire pit to keep warm, as well as a variety of cocktails to do the same. Since there were about a dozen of us at the tailgate, the pregame meal included everything from shrimp and sausage to lamb and steaks that Shep had marinated for days. My nephews Pete and Nate were planning on meeting up with us. They were bringing their cousin who lived in ... Indiana.
Nate called my cellphone to find out where we were in the lot. "We'll be there in a few minutes," he said. Then he paused, laughed a little, and asked "My cousin Andrew has got his Colts gear on. Is that gonna be a problem?"
"Not at all," I said. "As long as he's not an annoying jerk."
"No. He's cool,'' Nate answered.
I poured myself another drink and scanned the lot for Nate and Pete. I waved as I saw them coming up the aisle. Both were laughing. As I looked behind them I saw why. There was a guy walking a few steps back adorned in a Manning #18 jersey and a big blue horse's head made out of foam -- like the "We're #1" fingers. It was Andrew. Nate wasn't kidding. He sure had his Colts gear on. Everyone in Pats gear gave him a warm New England welcome as he walked by grill after grill.
Everyone watched as he walked up to our tailgate like a room full of guys turn to look as an attractive woman walks into a bar. Pete and Nate said hi to everyone and then introduced Andrew. We all started in on the "Your Colts are gonna get killed" talk. Good natured of course. Except for Billy (see: The Snow Bowl). He walked up to Andrew and greeted him in the way that only Billy can.
"Hey kid," he said. "If the Colts win tonight I'm going to set that foam horse on fire. Even if it's still on your head." Andrew kept that foam head on through the whole tailgate. The kid had guts.
The game -- expected by many to be a shootout or a Colts blowout -- was one that called for guts too. The unstoppable offense got the opening kickoff and went a quick three-and-out. That was the pattern for the game. Manning would throw, and throw, and throw (42 times, in fact), but the Pats D always had an answer. Bruschi. Harrison. Vrabel. Seymour. Johnson. Samuel. McGinest. Troy Brown. Troy Brown? Yup. Troy Brown.
Brown is known for catching the most passes in team history and for his skills as a kick returner, but on this bitter cold day he also played defensive back. As old school as you can get. The Patriots, with a wide receiver at D back, stopped the Indy offense time and time again. Manning would complete a pass only to watch his receiver get smashed and the ball roll on the icy turf. Late in the first quarter the Colts had reached midfield and faced a 3rd-and-9. Manning had Brandon Stokley open across the middle for what would have been a first down. Brown cut in front of Stokley and knocked the ball out of the way. Colts punt. Each possession, each play had the crowd urging the defense on. Each time the defense responded. Especially Bruschi.
Late in the first half, with the Pats leading 6-0, Manning hit running back Dominic Rhodes at the Pats 40-yard line. Bruschi arrived at the same time as the ball and as he tackled Rhodes he ripped the ball out of his hands. Indy turnover. Bruschi came to the sideline and raised the ball to the crowd. The place went nuts.The defense held the unstoppable offense to just three points for the entire game. It was the best performance by any Patriots defense and one of the best by any defense in the playoffs -- ever.
It was matched on offense by an equally impressive running game. The Pats added veteran Corey Dillon during the offseason and he was a key part in the ground attack improving from 27th in the league in '03 to 7th in '04. The combination of Clock Killin' Corey Dillon (1,600 yards that season) and the Pats veteran defense was the real unstoppable force that season. The Patriots dominated the time of possession and dominated their rivals from start to finish.
Rivalries are the essence of sports. The challenge of trying to defeat a great opponent. It makes for great entertainment and theater. As a Pats fan, I love the Colts. How can you hate them? They are a great team and Manning is one of the all-time greats. That comeback in the '06 AFC title game earned them much deserved respect. Indy is always tough to beat. That's what makes it so much fun when the Pats beat them.
On that January day in '05, the fervent 69,000 rose to their feet on the Colts' first offensive play of the game and never sat down. Whether on offense or defense, first down or third, everyone stood and roared. Gillette was a great homefield advantage that day. Hopefully it will be again this Sunday. I'm ready to stand for three hours.
No comments:
Post a Comment