Pats-Colts Game Story - S. Swanson

FOXBORO, Mass. -- Bitter cold and whipping snow: Just another football Sunday in New England. And it seems, just another AFC playoff win for the New England Patriots who beat the Indianapolis Colts 20-3. The match-up marked, yet again, the end of the Colts’ road to the Super Bowl.

Noticeably similar to last year’s AFC championship game at New England’s Gillette Stadium, the Patriots defense succeeded in disrupting almost every pass that the Colts quarterback Peyton Manning tried to throw.

Trouncing speculation of a high scoring game, both sides went scoreless after the first quarter. The Colts came out running. The Patriots came out throwing. But with the league’s MVP leading the Colts, and running back Corey Dillon, who anchors the Patriots’ running attack, a strategy change seemed to be in order. After an incomplete pass to Colts tight end Dallas Clark and two thwarted play-action fakes, the Colts offense couldn’t move behind the Patriots’ fast and aggressive defense. Manning just couldn’t seem to get the ball to the receivers, while Dillon charged down the center time and again.

“I think our defense was what made this game successful,” Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady said. “Three points to one of the best offenses in the history of football is incredible.”

The Patriots drove for their second field goal by kicker Adam Vinatieri early in the second quarter, while they held the Colts to a single field goal late in the half. That field goal was the only time the Colts lingered within the 20 yards of the Patriots’ goal line. Linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel were recognizing and anticipating the Colts’ moves, shutting them down at each play. Bruschi’s recovery off of Colts running back Dominic Rhodes fumble showed how quickly the Patriots’ defense was on the ball.

Gaining their rhythm at the end of the second quarter, Colts’ head coach Tony Dungy seemed confident going into the second half.

“We are fortunate to only be three down. I think we can just play our normal game for the second half,” Dungy said.

Dungy didn’t factor in the damage that Patriots Dillion could do.

Rushing for a total of 144 yards, Dillon was key to the Patriots’ strategy. Short passes and patience were what Patriots’ coach Bill Belichick knew would get them past the Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney.

“We were pretty successful in our running game. We wanted to keep Payton Manning off the field and control the clock a little,” Dillon said.

Patriots offense did exactly that, holding Manning to just 238 yards passing. After throwing a scoring pass to wide receiver David Givens and running in a one yard touchdown, Brady and the Patriots locked up the win. Even a final drive by the Colts couldn’t get them the points they needed to beat the Patriots.

“They just outplayed us. They were a little more physical than us…They outplayed us in the second half when it counted,” Dungy said.

"… when you finish with a loss in the playoffs, you can't be happy about it. Eventually, it will be our time,” Manning said. But for now, it is the Patriots’ time once again.

The New England Patriots (15-2) will play the Pittsburgh Steelers (16-1) at Heinz Field on Sunday, January 23 for the AFC division title.