Oswlek

Last year's Colt team barely beat a NE team that would lose by 3 TDs against this NE team.

Last year's Indy team would have given up at least 40 points to NE. There never would have been a lead to hold on to. Indy is a *lot* better than they were last year.

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"They have one objective," said Washington cornerback Shawn Springs. "They whoop people's [backsides]. If you understand that, it answers all your questions. They might not lose [this year]."

Lloyd_Christmas

I find the quote dumb except for the playing until the very end part of it.

The Colts are the ones who had the burning desire for most of the game. They outplayed, outphysicalled us, and out schemed us for the better part of 3 quarters. Of course, they had some help from the refs too.

In the 4th quarter, the Patriots finally lit a fire under it and played up to their potential. I still contend that this should have been a blowout, but hats off the Colts for making me sweat it out.

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A Truly Vindictive Fanboy-type Poster

"My name is William Stephen Belichick, Coach of the New England Patriots, Three Time Super Bowl Champion, Defensive Guru, Pride of Karlovac, The Greatest Coach in the History of the NFL Since Vince Lombardi. Target of the spygate lynching, Defender of our Dynasty's legacy. And I will have my vengeance, in this game and the rest."

patchick

I'll say! Both teams played until the end. Heck the Colts were even simulating snap calls on the final kneeldowns!

spacecrime

When the going got tough, the Colts disappeared.

Banks didn't say the Colts didn't care about winning.

But a team as good as they are, not to be able to hold a 10 point lead with 9 minutes to go in the game?

Sorry, last year the Colts would have held on for the win.

MoLewisrocks

BS. Last years Colts team never faced a team remotely as talented or competitive not to mention nearly fully healthy as this years Patriots. The 2006 Patriots were a lot easier to hold off because that offense couldn't make a play for much of the 2nd half while our D was gassed and Manning's O was better by virtue of Harrison and Glenn. And Dungy schemed that game very differently, as he often did last season, allowing the other team blow it's wad early while pacing his players for the second half . This time around with questions on his offense he had his O & D play balls to the wall from the coin flip and this time they were the ones who were gassed on D and flumoxed on offense with a half a quarter to go.

Fogbuster

I think there's some over-reaction going on here. Don Banks ain't Peter King or most of the other SI / sports media crowd who are loving it getting in their smack on the Patriots.

Here's the part of Banks' story that I see as the gist of it all (and which I heartily agree with):

"On this day, burning desire was wearing red, white and blue, and playing until the very end."

Burning desire, the sheer will of the Pats to win, that's what Banks is emphasizing, and I think he nailed it. He doesn't fault the Colts in the least, except to say that the Pats simply wanted it more. The Colts obviously played their hearts out -- and props to them for that -- but, in the end, the Pats (led by TBrady) simply wanted it more. And they got it. Good for the Pats!!




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Fogbuster

I think Dungy figured his only chance of grabbing a W yesterday would be to play balls out from the opening gun. Dungy has seen the tape of the Pats' artistically orchestrated annihilations of all opponents so far this season, and he knew he had to grab the mojo from the bell or it would be lights out. (And I think he is right about that.)

When all the Colts' intensity, skill, and scheming sputtered and misfired just a bit at the end yesterday, there the Pats were, primed and ready to counter-punch for the win.

OUTSTANDING come back win for the Pats!! Character building at its best. (I just hope they don't make it a habit.)


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