Colts Save Season As Ex-Patriot Wins It

COLTS 18

PATRIOTS 15

The Colts have saved their season, and in the process, set the AFC East for a wild and crazy second half.

The game was a real struggle for both teams, as defense dominated most of this ballgame. The Colts had a 7-6 lead at the half, but they were not playing well. Once again, Marvin Harrison was a non-factor, and Joesph Addai did absolutely nothing on the ground. As for New England the continue to struggle without Tom Brady and Laurence Maroney. Matt Cassell was not hit as much as in previous games, but was still erratic. He threw for only 204 yards, and rarely dared to throw the ball deep. Everything Cassell threw were either screens or check-downs to the backs.

In the third, the Pats put together a nice drive to open the quater, as BenJarvus Green Ellis, the third string running back, scored from six yards out to make it 12-7. Bill Belichick tried to go for two points, but Kevin Faulk was stopped a yard shy of the goalline to keep the Patriot lead to only five.

The Colts proceeded to move down the field. Peyton Manning, who had his best game of the year, 21 of 29 for 254 yards and two touchdowns, hit Dallas Clark for 18 to open the drive. Manning later connected with Reggie Wayne for gains of 15 and 11 to get into Patriot territory. Finally, Manning lobbed it to Tony Gonzalez in the back of the endzone for the touchdown. The Colts went for two, and Manning zipped it to Wayne for the conversion 15-12 Colts.

The Patriots drove the ball into Colt territory and got to the Indy seven yard line, but were faced with a 4th and one. Belichick decided to go for it, initially, but suddenly called timeout, as his players got the first down. The timeout was granted and the Pats settled for the field goal. It turned out that this was a huge moment in the game.

The Colts efficiently moved the ball down field and set up Adam Vinatieri for a 52 yard field goal. The kick was perfect. It was Vinatieri's first 50 yard field in more than six years, as he stuck it to his ex-team.

The game clincher came, when Bob Sanders, who returned off the disabled list picked off a Cassell pass in the closing minutes to end any hopes of a Patriots comeback.

The Colts are 4-4, and the Patriots are now 5-3.

This creates a three-way tie in the AFC East; creating a fasinating scenerio that puts the New York Jets in great position to make a second half run. The Jets, who beat Buffalo today, will have a chance to beat up the Pats in 10 days, when the meet on Thursday November 13. That game could go a long way in determining who wins this division.