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The cover story is, of course, the Patriots' come-from-behind victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

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Posted by Mike McDermott  at 11:57 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Pats' postgame notes

These are courtesy of the New England media-relations department:

BRADY SETS SINGLE-SEASON FRANCHISE TOUCHDOWN PASS MARK

With three touchdown passes against the Colts today, Tom Brady raised his season total to 33 touchdown passes, setting a new franchise record and passing Vito “Babe” Parilli’s previous record of 31 touchdown passes in 1964. Brady tied the record with a 4-yard scoring strike to Randy Moss in the second quarter and set a new record with his 32nd scoring pass of the season, a 3-yard strike to Wes Welker in the fourth quarter. He added his 33rd touchdown pass of the season on a 13-yard score to Kevin Faulk in the fourth quarter. Parilli threw his 31 touchdown passes for the Boston Patriots during the 14-game American Football League season. Brady reached 33 passes in the ninth game of the season.

BRADY SETS NFL RECORD FOR MOST CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH 3+ TOUCHDOWN PASSES

Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes today, setting an NFL record with his ninth straight game with three or more touchdown passes. He broke the old record of eight consecutive games, set by Peyton Manning in 2004. Through nine games this season, Brady has totaled 32 touchdown passes and just four interceptions.

BRADY LEADS 25th CAREER COMEBACK

Tom Brady led the Patriots to a 24-20 victory following a 20-10 fourth-quarter deficit, marking the 25th time in his career that he has led the Patriots to a win following a fourth-quarter deficit or tie. He accomplished the feat for the 19th time in the regular season and has also done it six times in the playoffs (including three times in the Super Bowl. Against Indianapolis, the Patriots trailed 20-10 following an Indianapolis touchdown with 9:42 left in the game. Brady then led the team on a seven-play, 73-yard scoring drive to make the score 20-17 on a 3-yard touchdown catch by Wes Welker with 7:59 left and on the Patriots' next drive led a three-play, 51-yard drive that ended in a 13-yard touchdown catch by Kevin Faulk that gave the Patriots a 24-20 lead with 3:15 remaining in the game. The comeback against the Colts marked the Patriots’ fourth fourth-quarter comeback from a deficit of 10 or more points with Brady at the helm and the first one that was won in regulation time. The last time Brady led a comeback of 10 or more points was on Dec. 29, 2002, when the Patriots defeated the Miami Dolphins 27-24 in overtime after trailing 24-13 with 4:59 remaining in regulation. Brady’s other comebacks of 10 or more points in the fourth quarter came on Nov. 10, 2002 at Chicago (a 33-30 win following a 30-19 deficit with 5:16 remaining in regulation) and in the 2001 divisional playoffs against Oakland on Jan. 19, 2002 (a 16-13 overtime win following a 13-3 deficit entering the fourth quarter).

MOSS TIES SINGLE-SEASON FRANCHISE RECEIVING TD RECORD

Randy Moss hauled in a 4-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the second quarter to give the Patriots a 7-3 lead. The touchdown was Moss’s 12th receiving touchdown of the season, tying the Patriots’ single-season franchise record also achieved by Stanley Morgan in 1979. Moss’s 12 touchdown catches are the fifth highest total of his 10-year career, trailing his career-best 17 scoring grabs in 1998 and 2003, his 15 touchdown catches in 2000 and his 13 scoring receptions in 2004. On the same touchdown pass where Moss tied the franchise touchdown reception record, Tom Brady tied Babe Parilli’s 1964 mark with his 31st touchdown toss of the year.

100-YARD GAME FOR MOSS

Randy Moss had 145 receiving yards on nine receptions, marking his sixth game this season with at least 100 receiving yards. The 100-yard receiving game was the 52nd of his career, a total that ranks third all-time behind Jerry Rice (76) and Marvin Harrison (59). Stanley Morgan holds the Patriots single-season record with nine 100-yard receiving games in 1986.

GREEN MACHINE

Jarvis Green strip-sacked Peyton Manning with 2:30 remaining in the game on third-and-nine at the Colts’ 49-yard line with New England holding a 24-20 lead. Rosevelt Colvin recovered the fumble, giving the Patriots possession at the Indianapolis 46-yard line and ending Indianapolis’ bid for a potential go-ahead score. The sack was Green’s fourth of the season and raised his career total to 22.5 sacks. It was his first forced fumble of the season and was the seventh forced fumble of his career. Last season, Green tied Mike Vrabel for the team lead with three strip sacks.

FAULK SCORES FIRST TOUCHDOWN OF THE SEASON

Kevin Faulk scored his first touchdown of the season on a 13-yard reception from Tom Brady that gave the Patriots a 24-20 lead with 3:15 remaining in the game. The touchdown was the 24th of Faulk’s career and was his 11th career touchdown reception. He has also scored 11 rushing touchdowns and two touchdowns on kickoff returns.

WELKER CATCHES SEVENTH TOUCHDOWN PASS OF THE SEASON

Wes Welker caught his seventh touchdown pass of the season, a 3-yard scoring grab from Tom Brady in the fourth quarter to cut the Indianapolis lead to 20-17. Welker, who had just one touchdown reception entering the 2007 season, has now caught six touchdown passes in his last four games. Welker entered the game tied for second in the NFL with a team-high 56 receptions this season.

SEYMOUR TIPS FIELD GOAL TRY

Richard Seymour tipped Adam Vinatieri’s 50-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter, getting his fingertips on the ball and forcing Vinatieri’s first career miss in the RCA Dome. In his seven-year career, Seymour has blocked five career field goals in the regular season and one in the playoffs. Heading into today’s game, Vinatieri was 55-for-57 on indoor field goal attempts in the regular season, with his only two misses coming at Houston’s Reliant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2003 while playing for the Patriots against the Houston Texans.

MOSS CATCHES 55-YARD PASS

Randy Moss hauled in a 55-yard pass in the fourth quarter that gave the Patriots a first-and-goal at the Colts’ 3-yard line. The catch was Moss’s longest of the season and his longest since Oct. 2, 2005, when he grabbed a 79-yard pass while playing for the Oakland Raiders against the Dallas Cowboys. Moss’s 55-yard grab was the second longest by a Patriots player this season, trailing only Donte Stallworth’s 69-yard touchdown reception at Dallas on Oct. 14.

VRABEL RAISES SEASON TOTAL TO 8.5 SACKS

Mike Vrabel sacked Peyton Manning for a 4-yard loss in the third quarter. The sack raised Vrabel’s season total to 8.5 sacks, a mark that leads the team. Entering this week’s games, Vrabel’s 7.5 sacks led all NFL linebackers and ranked second overall in the AFC and fifth overall in the NFL. Last season, Rosevelt Colvin led the Patriots with 8.5 sacks. Vrabel’s single-season career high is 9.5 sacks, achieved in 2003 with the Patriots. Following his sack of Manning, Vrabel had 47.0 career sacks, a mark that ranks sixth among all active NFL linebackers.

HARRISON HAS FIRST INTERCEPTION OF THE SEASON

Rodney Harrison intercepted a Peyton Manning pass in the third quarter, giving the Patriots possession at the Indianapolis 30-yard line. The interception was Harrison’s first of the season and was the 33rd of his career. Harrison’s last interception came on Oct. 30, 2006 at Minnesota. Harrison, who also has 30.5 career sacks, is the only player in NFL history with at least 30 career sacks and at least 30 career interceptions.

DEFENSE BEARS DOWN

The Patriots defense clamped down and held the Colts to a field goal on two occasions in the first half after long pass interference penalties gave the Colts a first-and-goal from inside the 10-yard line. In the first quarter, a 37-yard penalty gave Indianapolis a first-and-goal from the 9-yard line, but Asante Samuel’s pass deflection in the end zone on third down kept Indianapolis out of the end zone and forced a 21-yard field goal by the Colts. In the second quarter, a 40-yard penalty gave the Colts a first-and-goal from the six-yard line, but Randall Gay stuffed Dallas Clark on third down for a 2-yard loss on a pass play that once again kept the Colts out of the end zone and forced a 25-yard field goal.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 10:45 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

Patriots come back for improbable win

They played poorly for much of the game and set a franchise record for penalty yards, but the New England Patriots still emerged undefeated from today's showdown with the Indianapolis Colts.

The Patriots came back from a 20-10 fourth-quarter deficit, with Tom Brady throwing touchdown passes in the final eight minutes of action to Wes Welker and Kevin Faulk. Brady, who was picked off twice, ended with three touchdowns and 255 yards.

With the Patriots ahead, 24-20, and the Colts driving near midfield with less than three minutes left, Jarvis Green helped seal the win by knocking the ball out of Peyton Manning's arm just as Manning was attempting to throw the ball away. Rosevelt Colvin picked off the ball out of the air, and the Patriots needed to get just one first down to cinch the win. They got it, on a pass from Brady to Welker.

We'll have a complete report tonight on projo.com's Patriots page, including stories as soon as they are filed and a photo gallery from Bob Breidenbach, who is in Indianapolis. For now, we invite you to post your comment on the game.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 7:23 PM | Permalink | Comments 2

Brady sets new team mark

INDIANAPOLIS -- Tom Brady's three-yard touchdown pass to Wes Welker was his second of the game and his 32nd of the season, a new Patriots record.

Brady surpassed Vito "Babe" Parilli's team standard of 31 TDs, which stood for 43 years.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 6:56 PM to Tom Brady | Permalink | Comments 0

Brady picked AGAIN

INDIANAPOLIS -- After throwing just two interceptions all season, Tom Brady now has had two passes picked off this afternoon.

Colts linebacker Gary Brackett grabbed an underthrown Brady pass in the first minute of the fourth quarter and returned it 28 yards.

Indianapolis proceeded to turn that turnover into a touchdown, driving 32 yards in 8 plays, QB Peyton Manning sneaking over from the 1 for the score.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 6:33 PM to Tom Brady | Permalink | Comments 0

Kaczur struggling, too

INDIANAPOLIS -- Not only do the Patriots have to be concerned about what Colts DE Dwight Freeney is doing against LT Matt Light, but RT Nick Kaczur is having all sorts of problems pass-blocking against Indy end Robert Mathis, who recorded his second sack of the game in helping to push New England back out of field-goal range, after a Rodney Harrison interception had given the Pats excellent field position early in the third quarter.

The vaunted New England offense finished the first half with only half as many yards (114) as Indianapolis (229).

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 6:03 PM to Nick Kaczur | Permalink | Comments 0

Brady ties Parrilli, Moss ties Morgan

INDIANAPOLIS -- Forgot to mention that Tom Brady's six-yard touchdown pass to Randy Moss tied him with Vito "Babe" Parrilli for the Patriots' single-season touchdown record.

Brady now has 31 TDs, a mark Parrilli set in 1964.

Moss' reception was his 12th touchdown of the season, tying the Pats' franchise mark for receiving scores in a season, set by Stanley Morgan in 1979.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 5:52 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

First halftime deficit

This is the first time this season that New England has trailed at halftime. They were behind in the third quarter against the Cowboys briefly, but led at the half.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 5:42 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

REALLY LOUD

INDIANAPOLIS -- When the Patriots have the ball, the Colts fans are roaring on every play. It is, without question, the loudest, most-adverse conditions the Patriots have faced this season.

I don't know what the decibel level is, but I've spent some time on the flight deck of aircraft carriers, and it seems the crowd noise this afternoon ranks right up there with the sound when (in my day) an F-4 was catapulted off the deck.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 5:20 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Seymour credited with tip

It has just been announced that Richard Seymour is being credited with tipping Adam Vinatieri's 50-yard field goal attempt earlier in the first quarter.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 4:46 PM to Richard Seymour | Permalink | Comments 0

Time to re-think strategy?

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pats have played only two linebackers on the Colts' first two possessions and Indy has taken advantage of it by carving up New England on the ground.

Still, Indy has only 3 points, thanks to Anthony Gonzalez's drop in the end zone on third-and-goal.

If you're a Colts' fan, do you think Marvin Harrison would've hung on to Peyton's pass?

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 4:43 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Vinatieri misses

INDIANAPOLIS -- When Adam Vinatieri -- he of the the two, Super Bowl winning kicks when he was playing for the Patriots -- missed a 50-yard attempt on the Colts' first possession, it was only the second time in 16 tries this season that he'd failed to put the ball through the uprights.

Of course, it also was the first one he'd tried from beyond 40 yards.

More surprisingly, it was the first attempt Vinatieri had missed in the RCA Dome since coming to Indianapolis last season.

Still, the Colts drive consumed about six-and-a-half minutes, while the Patriots were 3-and-out on their first possession -- the first time all season they've failed to put points on the board the first time they had the ball.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 4:37 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

First drive, no points

INDIANAPOLIS -- This is the first time this season that New England has not scored on its opening drive of the game. They ended their first possession of every other game this season by putting points on the board -- six TDs and two FGs, if memory serves.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 4:37 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Interesting alignment

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pats opened defensively in a 4-2-5 alignment, using an extra defensive back, even on first down, in attempt to control the Colts' passing game.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 4:20 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

You'd think it was a playoff game

BY JIM DONALDSON
Journal Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS -- The press box is more than full this afternoon. Not only is every seat taken, but the Colts have had to set up an auxiliary press area in what usually is the dining area of the press box to accommodate writers and broadcasters from across the country. Craig Kelley, the Colts' highly-capable, longtime V.P. for Media Relations, said this is the largest press corps he can remember for a regular-season game in Indy.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 3:50 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Big break for the Patriots

BY JIM DONALDSON
Journal Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS -- It's a huge plus for the Pats that both Marvin Harrison and Tony Ugoh will be inactive this afternoon -- and that TE Ben Watson will play.

With Harrison out, the Pats can concentrate more on stopping Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark. Anthony Gonzalez may be a first-round draft choice, but he's still a rookie, and does not pose the threat that a healthy Harrison does.

Ugoh, Indy's second-round pick this year, out of Arkansas, is the Colts' starting left tackle. His absence could require the Colts to put a tight end on that side to help protect Peyton Manning.

Similarly, keep an eye on how Pats' LT Matt Light does with Indy's speed rusher, Dwight Freeney. Light sometimes struggles with speed guys, which may result in Kyle Brady staying in more often to block, rather than running routes. Stating the obvious, it's imperative that the Pats protect QB Tom Brady.

Conversely, having Watson in the lineup will make the Pats' already-potent passing game even more effective. When opposing defenses already have to worry about Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Donte Stallworth, adding a 6-3, 255-pound tight end who can run is another huge headache.

Yesterday, if pressed, I'd probably have taken the Colts, plus the points. Now, with Harrison and Ugoh out, and Watson playing, I like the Pats.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 3:27 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Game inactives: Watson to play; M. Harrison, Ugoh will not

Here are the game inactives:

For the Patriots:
QB Matt Gutierrez - third quarterback
S Mel Mitchell
S Eugene Wilson
LB Eric Alexander
T Wesley Britt
G Billy Yates
TE Marcellus Rivers
DL Kareem Brown

For the Colts:
WR Craphonso Thorpe
DB Michael Coe
DB Brannon Condren
LB Freddy Keiaho
LB Tyjuan Hagler
T Tony Ugoh
WR Marvin Harrison
DT Quinn PItcock

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 3:17 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Watson warming up

The Patriots have started filtering on to the surface here at the Dome, and Benjamin Watson (questionable, ankle) is out there warming up. He is not being carefully watched by members of the training staff, which has shown to be a good sign with players in recent weeks.

Watson has been stretching, doing plyometric drills, and also ran some sprints with Mike Vrabel.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 1:41 PM to Ben Watson | Permalink | Comments 0

Welcome to the RCA Dome

Hey all --

Praise be, the day is finally upon us.

For three-plus hours, at least, there will be no debate, no speculation, no discussion about who is better, why they're better...the Pats and Colts will just get to play.

Of course, depending on the results, the debates and discussions will begin anew: how much were the Colts hurt by the injuries to Marvin Harrison and Tony Ugoh? Can the Patriots really go undefeated? Is Bob Sanders the best defensive player in the NFL? Is Tom Brady the best quarterback ever?

But as the game is going on at least, all of that stuff will be tabled. We hope.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 1:17 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Showtime: When all's said and done, it'll be the Patriots who come out on top

By Shalise Manza Young
Journal Sports Writer

It's time.

After a week of hype and hyperbole, analysis and overanalysis, the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts face off today in one of the most highly anticipated regular-season games in National Football League history. Today, at 4:15 p.m., all the questions that have arisen regarding the first matchup ever between two undefeated teams this late in an NFL season will be answered.

WHEN THE PATRIOTS RUN THE BALL
The key for the Pats is a healthy Laurence Maroney, and he seems to be just that after missing three games because of a groin injury and then seeing limited playing time when he returned two weeks ago against Miam. The Pats will need a strong running game to keep Indianapolis from (a) loading the secondary with defensive backs in an attempt to clamp down on the Pats' passing attack, and (b) teeing off on Tom Brady. The Colts' run defense is better than last year but is still just fair -- it allowed 141 yards to Tennessee, 223 to Denver -- and Maroney could be in for a big game. His backups, Kevin Faulk and Heath Evans, have dramatically different styles than Maroney, which could complement the overall running game.
Edge: Patriots

WHEN THE PATRIOTS PASS THE BALL
For as much of an impact as Randy Moss has had this season, this is the game where he may make the biggest difference. Indianapolis has a small and quick secondary, and those are the types of players the taller Moss has taken advantage of all season. The Colts will have to account for him on every snap, which should open the field for the other receivers, in general, and Wes Welker, in particular. Benjamin Watson has been hampered by an ankle injury, but if he plays he could also be a big factor. If the offensive line continues to give Brady the kind of time they've provided all season, he should continue his unprecedented streak of throwing at least three touchdown passes in every game.
Edge: Patriots

WHEN THE COLTS RUN THE BALL
The Patriots have allowed opponents to rush for more than 100 yards only twoice all season, and keeping their foes under 100 is a weekly team goal. They'll have their work cut out for them today because the Colts' one-two combination of Joseph Addai and Kenton Keith has been effective all season. But this is where the return of Richard Seymour should make a difference for the Pats. If Vince Wilfork draws extra attention from the Colts' offensive line, as he probably will, it will free Seymour -- along with fellow defensive linemen Ty Warren and Jarvis Green -- to block the running lanes and prevent Addai from getting outside the tackles, where he does his best work.
Edge: Patriots

WHEN THE COLTS PASS THE BALL
After playing so poorly for so long against the Patriots, Peyton Manning seems to have unlocked the secrets of Bill Belichick's defense. He has passed for 320-plus yards in each of his last three games against the Pats and won all of them, after going 2-10 against New England over the first six seasons of his career. (The first four games were played before Belichick's arrival as head coach.) He'll be hampered today if Marvin Harrison, who missed practice most of the week because of a knee injury, isn't at 100 percent, but he still has weapons in receivers Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark. The Pats' best defense may be their offense. If Brady & Co. can control the ball and keep Manning off the field, it may be New England's best shot at containing a quarterback who has rung up 105 points against them in the last three meetings.
Edge: Colts

SPECIAL TEAMS
Adam Vinatieri may be as automatic as they come on field-goal attempts, but the knock against him has always been his leg strength, particularly on kickoffs. This may be a big hidden edge for the Pats. They're averaging more than 29 yards per kickoff return -- and they may be better than that against the Colts, who allow an average of 25 yards per kick return. And that could give New England a huge advantage in the field-position battle. Brady and his offense are difficult enough to contain. Brady and his offense on a short field are even tougher to stop. The punting game could be another boon for the Pats, as Welker is averaging 10.1 yards per return and the Colts are the worst in the league in punt coverage.
Edge: Patriots

COACHING
This is Belichick's first shot at the Colts after one of the most bitter defeats of his career -- the last-minute 38-34 loss in the AFC Championship Game last January, in which the Pats blew a 21-3 lead. Historically, the Patriots are ready to play in big games. Motivation should be no problem today, not with the memory of last January and all that's happened since (Spygate, the tarnishing of the Pats' image, the comment by Colts coach Tony Dungy that New England's rule-breaking was "a sad day" in the NFL) still so fresh in their minds.
Edge: Patriots

THE WINNER?
The oddsmakers have installed the Pats as 5 1/2-poing favorites, which is incredible when you consider that they're playing the defending Super Bowl champions -- who, by the way, are also undefeated -- on the road. Incredible though it may be, that's what they're saying.

And that's what we're saying, too.

Edge: Patriots

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 7:42 AM | Permalink | Comments 0