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.
Be Very Afraid
Steelers 30, Pats 18.
Hey Vandy... who was ripe for the pickin?
Note to Mr. Manning:
Could you please give us back our coach? We need him this week. You can find him in your head.
Steelers 30, Pats 18.You're nuts.
Whatever the "Over/Under" is, it won't be 48.
LOL! Ya! Give him back!
No sh/t. ....that's why I'm picking the over.
Score is probably right, but teams are reversed! Go Pats, go!
Patriots 16, Steelers 14. Gotta go with the under in this one.
Yet another fool who ASSumes I'm a Jet fan.
Considering I was within 3 outs of that coming true, I'd say that prediction wasn't too far out of line.
Biggest choke in MLB post season history! ;-)
I luv ya Mojo...
On THAT we can agree.
So tell me.. Is Dave Roberts your Bucky Dent?
It has been a bad year for NY sports hasn't it?! Welcome to the new millenium.
It has been a bad year for NY sports hasn't it?!I have this theory that the Yankees won't win again until they lose George, and start treating their minor league development with respect again.
This annual "premier player" spending spree (more than just $$$ BTW, a lot of good prospects) is a longterm shot in the foot.
The Yankees used to be KNWON for their player development - but the lawst to come out of that mold was the awesome (As a Sox fan, I hate to say it) Jeeter.
Damn.. I can't spell after a 6-pack!
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