Posted on 01/16/2005 5:54:15 PM PST by bikepacker67
FOXBORO, Mass. Jan 16, 2005 — The New England Patriots are a game away from their third Super Bowl trip in four years, thanks to a stifling defense that shut down Peyton Manning and his receivers. Corey Dillon and New England's ball-control offense rushed for more than 200 yards Sunday and kept the NFL's MVP on the sidelines as the Patriots rolled to a 20-3 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
The Patriots will be in Pittsburgh for next week's AFC title game.
Tedy Bruschi, Willie McGinest and coach Bill Belichick's defense frustrated Manning on all but a couple of drives. Manning was 27 for 42 for 238 yards, but the Colts could only fashion a field goal.
Manning is now 0-7 in Foxboro, where he lost his second straight playoff game in the snow. In the Patriots' 24-14 win over the Colts in last year's AFC championship game, Manning was helpless in even whiter conditions, throwing four interceptions.
The main beneficiary was Dillon, who rushed for 144 yards in his first NFL playoff game in his eight seasons.
Tom Brady threw for one touchdown, ran for another and completed 18 passes in 27 attempts for 144 yards as he improved to 7-0 in playoff games.
New England (15-2) led 6-0 on Adam Vinatieri's field goals of 24 and 31 yards in the second quarter with the first one capping a 16-play, 78-yard march that lasted 9 minutes, 7 seconds.
The only points Indianapolis (13-5) scored came on Mike Vanderjagt's 23-yard field goal on the last play of the first half.
When Brady threw a 5-yard scoring pass to David Givens to cap a third-quarter drive that lasted 8:16, Manning had to make his remaining possessions count against the hard-hitting defense.
He didn't and Brady followed with a drive 94-yard drive that ended with his 1-yard touchdown run.
Facing a 20-3 deficit with 7:10 left, even Manning couldn't do much.
The Patriots proved once again they could win without their best defenders. Pro Bowl defensive end Richard Seymour was sidelined with a knee injury and starting cornerbacks Ty Law and Tyrone Poole are on injured reserve.
They did it against a team that had the fifth highest scoring season in NFL history then led Denver 35-3 at halftime of a 49-24 divisional playoff win a week earlier in Indianapolis.
And the season ended for the Colts where it started. They lost the season opener there 27-24 when Vanderjagt missed a 48-yard field goal attempt in the final minute.
I despise the Jets, btw. .....and the Mets.
Agree with both predictions -
Well, if what you say is true, you're o.k. in my book!
I despise the JetsA Gints fan, eh?
Given that I live in Western Mass, by default I get most NYG games for my NFC slate.
And since they rarely play my Pats, I tend to cheer for them. But I'll tell ya, your coach is the wrong mindset for that team.
He was only glorified because Jax was a upstart who overachieved.
I like the Pats, actually. .....and they're worthy of more respect than any team in recent memory.
I hear ya about Coughlin. ...and I suspect it won't be long before the team tires of his act.
I hear ya about Coughlin. ...and I suspect it won't be long before the team tires of his act.From the press I've read in the Post/Daily News, they've long ago gone the passive/aggressive mutiny route.
As an aside... DAMN I FEEL GOOD! It's amazing what a win of your home team can do for your overall constitution!
lol....what did I say?
Can't wait for Jim Rome tomorrow.
Yep, the smack-talking was totally out of control in the Jungle last week. Let's see how many Colts fans step it up and come on in tomorrow.
Dude, your constitution should've been permanently repaired after what happened last Oct ;)
GO STILLERS! RUN OVER THE PATS NEXT WEEK!Well, you have a very good team. If the Patriots don't execute the Steelers are more than capable to capitalize. </Belichickese >
>>F--k you Peyton!<<
Before I report abuse, was this really necessary?
Typical Yankee fan stuff. Nothing notable but funny none the less. The Jungle was out of control. Rome does such a good job with his show. He keeps it funny. I could without some of the interviews but the show generally flows good. Can't wait. I tried to get onto the Indianapolis Star website to chat with Indy fan but for some strange reason, the server is down. LMAO! Losers.
I don't normally regret being born about 20 years too late, but for that reason I do.
Dude, your constitution should've been permanently repaired after what happened last Oct ;)Well ya... but after listening to a week's worth of the Exaltation of Pey-A-Ton, this was a helluva BOOSTER shot.
Yeah, he's a pretty funny guy. Except sometimes when he knows something is funny he'll repeat it endlessly before moving on.
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