The clock stopped with the 3rd-down "incompletion". When Gostkowski kicked the FG to make the score 31-28, there was 7:42 remaining. There were 3 different opportunities to score a TD and/or kill time on those last 4 plays before the FG.
When the Traitor kicked his FG to tie, there was 5:31 remaining. Disgraceful coverage, BTW, by Hawkins v. Dallas Clark on the dolts' very first play from scrimmage, after Gostkowski's kickoff.
When Gostkowski kicked his 43-yard FG to make it 34-31, there was 3:49 remaining. Outstanding catch by Grahambo on the first play from scrimmgge after Hobbs' return. Lousy play-calling thereafter by Skippy, incl. 2 clock-stopping incompletions.
And finally, when 12-Men-in-the-Huddle (Too-Many-Men-on-the-Ice?) happened, there was 3:22 remaining. Nice 3-and-Out by the defense, who had both pressure and tight coverage on each play.
^^^Cousin? Cousin DeeDub???^^^
Re-watch the game, then get back to me!
Here are a few more observations for ToyBoy(this is first half only, yet to rewatch 2nd half again):
1.) Being AT the game, I can honestly say I felt better about our chances(at half) watching it live than I did when I watched the replay. This may sound crazy, but basically from the tape, I got the sense that NE was kicking our ass in the first half. Among the noisy crowd at the Dome, all I knew was it was 21-6 at half, and we get the ball to start the second.
2.) NE Db's (Samuel, Hobbs) made some GREAT PLAYS in the first half. Two long plays to Harrison, Samuel was right there. Passes were SLIGHTLY behind Marvin (had Manning thrown them a bit more to the inside, perhaps Marv has a chance), either way, good coverage. Marv makes those plays on occassion, but he wasn't able to on those. Reggie Wayne had on right in the bread basket in the end zone, but Hobbs DOVE to break up the TD. The other miss was early, when Addai got by Bruschi, had 2 chances to catch the ball, one with hands, one with the ball pinned on his leg, but he doesn't come up with it. The point is, Indy had 4-5 near miss big play balls. This is the exact opposite of the November game, when those "near misses" were "big hits".
3.) NE had pretty much everything go their way for MOST of the first half. The Maroney fumble (which looked like a TD had he not coughed it up) was VERY FORTUNATE. There were 3-4 Colts around the ball, but somehow, it gets knocked out and NE scores. I know this happened to Indy, even though it was a fumble, the NE recovery was certainly MUCh more of a fluke than Indy's recovery. NE went for it on TWO fourth downs. The first was on 4th and your ****, so it made sense to go for it, as it was only 1-2 inches. The second fourth down play was 4th and 6. Long FG, but certainly makable for your new kicker. On THAT play, from my vantage point at the game (field level, 20 yard line, Pats side), it APPEARED as though TB got open on a pick play. Replay shows otherwise (just stacked the receivers), good play for the first.
4.) The Nadir for the Colts came when Pats had a 2nd and 5 from the 27 with about 5 and a half to play in the half. THEN, it turns. A RB loses a yard, 3rd and SIX. THEN, the TBrown interference. IT WAS A GOOD CALL! As Simms stated, the defender had established position, and the offensive player RAN RIGHT THROUGH the defender. FLAG! (first of the game for PATS-they missed a face mask on Wilkins on the kick return just prior to the pick 6, but IMO, no big deal) Even so, PATS still had an opportunity to make good after that. But no, WATSON gets called for motion, then the sack, and out of FG range. It should be noted, all went downhill for Pats shortly after the Bob Kraft National Television Audience NOSE PICK with about 7:30 to play in the half.
5.) With 2:44, 3rd and 10 from the 12, MANNING AND COLTS get it going. The get into a rythm and put Pats on their heels, move it down the field quickly. Manning is faced with another 3rd and 10 from Colts 28 with :48 on the clock, CONVERTS. Shortly thereafter (Rhodes stuffed on 1st and goal from about the 5), Clark gets open in end zone, defender (Sanders??) has his hand draped all over Clark's inside (left) arm, elbow, essentially forcing him to attempt a one handed grab. THIS IS AS EGREGIOUS AS ANY CALL OF THE DAY. Next, comes the "trip" play. A flag was actually thrown, but for the second week in a row, the initial infraction is over-ruled, no call. The only thing that get s me is that an actual flag was thrown, so the ref obviously saw something. Again, the PRIOR play is where they really screwed up, IMO.
My question though, is this. Where was the flu when Dillon ripped his long gain? What about T.Brown? Did he have the flu on SOME plays and not others? Hobbs and Samuel played great on many plays (they got beat too, but really played well). Did they have the flu? Were they dehydrated? Gaffney had a nice spring in his step in the back of the end zone, was he hurting? Or is it just the guys that don't make the plays that are hurting? The thing that irks me is for example, after the 4 pick debacle in November, many Pat trolls on Indy's board were insinuating that Brady MUST be hurt, it has to be, no way he's 100%. Hell, there are even guys there that will tell you if it were not for this or that, the Pats would have beaten the '85 Bears! It ALWAYS SOMETHING!
