Get used to it Indy! The Colts built a dome team that excels inside on a fast track. It's just too bad that most of the playoff teams in the AFC play outdoors on frozen, snowy fields. The Colts will have more of these days over the years.
The Patriots' depleted defense did what they had to do; get pressure on Manning quickly, and control the clock. In fact they didn't just control the clock, they dominated it.
New England's defense got to Manning quickly and their linebackers really came up big. And Troy Brown play his best all-around game of the year. They only sacked Manning once, but they hurried him all day and moved him out of the pocket, where he is never effective. They also played the receivers tight and aggressive and kept the pressure on them. The Colts dropped at least 5 passes they should have caught.
Offensively, the Patriots did exactly what has to be done to beat the Colts. Take notes, Shanahan. New England went on long, time-consuming scoring drives using a good mix of running and passing. That's all there is to it. They had the ball for over 37 minutes! Corey Dillon and Kevin Faulk pounded the Colts defense relentlessly.
I said it before, Bill Belichick with 2 weeks to game plan is scary. Now he gets another shot at Pittsburgh, and that game will be a great one to watch. It is the matchup that every old-school football fan wants to see. Punishing runners, great defenses, excellent coaches; what more could you want?
Finally, a note to the Colts. If you ever want to go to the Super Bowl, you must clinch the #1 seed in the AFC. You don't have a team that can beat a good team outdoors in January.
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