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Week 9 - New England 24-20 Indianapolisby Martin Gough - BBC Sport (U2505894) 06 November 2007   New England exploded in the final quarter to win what had been billed as the biggest NFL regular-season game ever, in the house of their arch-rivals the Colts. In Addai the Colts have a player who could make it happen just as easily in poor weather in New England in January Running back Joseph Addai became the first Colt ever to rush for more than 100 yards and catch for over 100 in the same game. He ran wild early in the contest as New England sat back, waiting for the pass. His 73-yard catch-and-run on a broken play for a touchdown at the end of the first half looked to have swung the contest incontrovertibly in Indy's favour.In fact, the Colts should have been 14-0 up early in the contest. Had veteran receiver Marvin Harrison been playing, rather than holding his injured knee on the sidelines, Manning would have had a receiver big enough to make catches in the stifling coverage that comes when the field gets shorter in the red zone. Instead of one Adam Vinatieri field goal from two attempts could easily have been two TDs. Part of the reason I believe the Colts could win a post-season rematch is down to the change in emphasis on their offence, though. In the past they have been great on the carpet of the RCA Dome but easier to break down in the wind and snow of Foxboro, Massachusetts, in mid-winter. This game is likely to be the tie-breaker that gives home-field advantage to the Pats but in Addai the Colts have a player who could make it happen just as easily in poor weather, spotting gaps, juking past defenders and maximising the effects of the short pass. He made New England's vaunted linebacking corps look like the ageing band they are. Meanwhile the Colts defence, even last year one of the league's worst against the run, held Lawrence Maroney (who admittedly, has been struggling with injuries) to 59 yards. Maroney never had an opportunity to make his second move. How did Brady manage to throw 153 of his 255 yards in the fourth quarter? The Indianapolis defensive line were just plain tired. They showed in in the third quarter, when Brady's quick-passing had them on their heals throughout a six-minute, 75 yard drive. Although it only ended in a field goal it did the damage necessary. Will New England go 16-0? Don't be silly. No team that wants to win the Super Bowl can afford to put in the extra effort required to go perfect, especially if they wrap up the AFC East and home-filed advantage early with a few weeks remaining. The trip-up could come on 3 December in Baltimore. Meanwhile, after having to talk about going perfect for much of the last two seasons, the pressure is off the Colts and they can concentrate on securing a second Super Bowl ring. Prediction: Patriots 27-21 Colts (although my reasoning was completely out) - season so far 6-2. You can watch highlights of the game (if you're in the UK) on the BBC website. Some weeks after the Patriots video scandal, a row that has simmered around the Colts for the past few years erupted again, when a Pats official asked the NFL to investigate a strange noise that came up on TV coverage, perhaps giving credence to years-old claims the RCA Dome amplifies crowd noise to give extra advantage to the home side. The league pointed out that the noise was only heard on TV, and not live at the venue, which rather ruined the claims. Latest comments
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Chainz11 (U1119439) posted Nov 6, 2007 Considering how big this game was, what will it be like if both get to the AFC Championship game? Absolutely electric. Many say that Harrison's involvement will change the result if they meet again this year and I'm in no doubt that it will. Suprisingly, I believe that Maroney will have a different game if the rematch happens. If New England secure the AFC East and home field advantage, they can rest key players - the sooner the division is wrapped up, the more time Maroney has to try to get at his best.
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Martin Gough - BBC Sport (U2505894) posted Nov 6, 2007 You're right about resting players. Maroney probably wouldn't have featured as heavily if Sammy Smith had still been fit.
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dave_tex (U6733092) posted Nov 6, 2007 Strangely I agree, somehow losing this one seems to give Indy an edge in a rematch. I’m not sure why…it just seems that way. January in Foxboro would give NE the advantage against most teams but Addai and Indy’s Defense (not to mention the huge chip on their shoulder) could even things out. If the weather is really bad, wind, snow, what-not, it becomes a short-pass/running game. That makes Moss less of a threat and Addai more of a factor and slightly tips the scales to Indy. If the weather is fair, Moss is still the deep threat and the Home field helps NE.
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Tyson_1986 (U9790378) posted Nov 7, 2007 its a sign of a great team, that even while not playing well for three quarters, the PATS still hung in there & got the big plays when they needed them. great teams in the past like the 49ers used to do it exactly the same way, I disagree with the author, if they meet again in the playoffs, the PATS will win it more comfortable.
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pmdymond (U4509158) posted Nov 7, 2007 Who's Sammy Smith? Do you mean Sammy Morris (Pats RB who went on IR last week)?
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donwendy (U1007214) posted Nov 8, 2007 Where to start? The Patriots defence did a number on the Colts offence, bending but not breaking on several drives in the first half until Addai got lucky with his run, Harrison taking out his own men to create the opening. In the 2nd half they got the pressure on Peyton and never allowed him to dictate the game and limited the Colts to one scoring drive in the 2nd half on their own turf.
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donwendy (U1007214)
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