| GAME LEADERS |
| QBs | RBs | WRs |
|
Tom Brady
Yds: 232
TDs: 1
Rat: 79.5
|
Corey Dillon
Yds: 48
TDs: 1
Avg: 6.9
|
Benjamin Watson
Rec: 5
Yds: 48
TDs: 0
|
|
Peyton Manning
Yds: 349
TDs: 1
Rat: 79.1
|
Dominic Rhodes
Yds: 69
TDs: 0
Avg: 4.9
|
Dallas Clark
Rec: 6
Yds: 137
TDs: 0
|
| TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS |
| TEAM OFFENSE | TM | PER GAME AVERAGE |
| Total Yards | NE | 335.6 |
| IND | 379.4 |
| Yards Passing | NE | 212.5 |
| IND | 269.3 |
| Yards Rushing | NE | 123.1 |
| IND | 110.1 |
| TEAM DEFENSE | TM | PER GAME AVERAGE |
| Yards Allowed | NE | 294.4 |
| IND | 332.3 |
| Pass Yds Allowed | NE | 200.2 |
| IND | 159.3 |
| Rush Yds Allowed | NE | 94.2 |
| IND | 173.0 |
| GAMEDAY MATCHUP |
| W | L | T | PF | PA | DIV | CON |
| NE | 12 | 4 | 0 | 24.1 | 15 | 4-2-0 | 8-4-0 |
| IND | 12 | 4 | 0 | 26.7 | 23 | 3-3-0 | 9-3-0 |
| H2H MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001) |
| New England leads 6-3 |
| Nov 5, 2006 | IND 27, @NE 20 |
| Nov 7, 2005 | IND 40, @NE 21 |
| Jan 16, 2005 | @NE 20, IND 3 |
| Sep 9, 2004 | @NE 27, IND 24 |
| Jan 18, 2004 | @NE 24, IND 14 |
| Nov 30, 2003 | NE 38, @IND 34 |
| Oct 21, 2001 | NE 38, @IND 17 |
| Sep 30, 2001 | @NE 44, IND 13 |
(Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Peyton Manning will look to continue his recent mastery of the Patriots.
Finally!
Maybe it was the little prayer that Peyton Manning said just before the start of the game-winning drive. Or maybe it was the confidence the Colts simply had in their QB. Whatever it was, Manning and the Colts are heading to the Super Bowl.
Len Pasquarelli
| SCOUTS' TAKE |
Fatigue was a crucial component of this football game. The Patriots began to wear down the Colts' undersized front early in the game. They extended drives with clutch plays on third and fourth downs and utilized three ballcarriers to inflict the pounding while keeping their attack balanced with precise passing. But the Colts absolutely dominated the time of possession from late in the first half through the entire third quarter by keeping the tempo up on offense and fatiguing a heavier, aging Patriots' defense in a very warm dome. They began to gash the Patriots between the tackles and New England could not account for Dallas Clark with all the attention they dedicated to the Colts' wide receivers. In a fantastic football game, the Patriots clearly won the special teams battle, but Indianapolis had much more gas in their tank when it mattered most.
|
