whydirt wrote:

Bill Dungsroman wrote:

whydirt wrote:

:(

What more proof do we need? The Pats simply own Manning. Hey, even I was convinced that this was the year for the Colts. #1 offense, MVP, record-breaking TD passes and 2 WRs with 1000+ yards and 10+ TDs. Really, every starter on the Colts' offense could legitimately be a Pro Bowler, including #3 WR Stokley (the only dude who really played well today). The defense is still enh, but they're still ranked 3rd overall in takeaways and sacks, two monster categories for any defense. The Pats, still battered and roster-thin. There's WR Troy Brown covering Stokley, there's CB Hank Poteat - Hank Poteat! - who was not even on a practice squad last week, out there. There's Ty Law, Richard Seymour, and Tyrone Poole on the sidelines in street clothes.

But, shit. Driving snow wasn't what did it. Neither was it a total meltdown on the part of the Colts' D. 20 points is better than they've done in a lot of games. Still, Manning INT and fumbles by Wayne and Rhodes. 3 turnovers is all the Pats need. I thought the Colts would win. I thought they might win the Super Bowl, not do almost exactly what they did last season: punk the Broncos at home, crumble in Foxboro.

You may as well print up your Patriots Super Bowl Winners T-Shirts now.

The defense held up as good as it could, considering it was on the field for 2/3rds of the game. Honestly, I wasn't that worried up until that long Pats drive in the 3rd quarter. I hoped that the sluggish start to the offense would get turned around after some patented Tom Moore halftime adjustments. I also assumed that the O-line wouldn't play their worst game of the year.

The direct snap fake really summed up the game for the Colts: they tried to outscheme the Bill Belichick and instead shot themselves in the foot.

whydirt wrote:

Out of curiosity, on that first fumble where Wayne and Bruschi wrestled for the ball as they fell, doesn't possession always go to the receiver when it appears to be contested?