Peyton Fumble Puts Patriots Past Colts 24-20

Posted by Jeff Sack on November 4th, 2007 filed in Game Stories, Main

A key fumble picked up by Roosevelt Colvin as Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning lost the ball in the waning moments of the fourth quarter was the difference as the New England Patriots came back to defeat the Colts 24-20. With the win Sunday afternoon,New England remains the only undefeated team in the NFL as they now stand at 9-0, Indianapolis falls to 7-1. The Patriots scored 14 unanswered points to take the contest.

For the first time this season New England’s opponent scored first. Indianapolis kicker Adam Vinatieri put a 21 yard field goal through the uprights, at the 3:05 mark of the first quarter to give the Colts a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. New England answered back in the second quarter, as Patriots quarterback Tom Brady hit new BFF wide receiver Randy Moss with a four yard touchdown pass. After Steve Gostkowski’s point after at the 12:00 minute mark it was Patriots 7 Colts 3. Indianapolis then scored ten unanswered points before the end of the half as Vinatieri again hit a field goal this time for 25 yards to make it 7-6. And with just 13 seconds left in the quarter Manning hit Joseph Addai with a pass up the middle and Addai went 73 yards intro the end zone. After Vinatieri split the uprights for the extra point the Colts walked into the locker room at the half leading New England 13-7.

New England cut Indianapolis lead to just 3 points by the end of the third quarter, as Gostkowski hit a 34 yard field goal with 2:36 remaining in the period. However Manning ran into the end zone at the 9:42 mark of the fourth quarter and after the extra point was made it was Colts 20 Patriots 10. It would be the last points Indianapolis would score on Sunday.

As I said in an earlier column this week previewing this game New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is playing at a different level in 2007, than he has in seasons past. Brady again had that laser like intensity on his face the moment he got the ball back with his team down by 10. He knew what he had to do, and how to do it. Brady mastered the moment rather than allowing the moment to master him.

With machine like precision Brady led the team down the field completing a 3 yard pass to Wes Welker at the 7:59 mark and with the point after being good Brady and the boys were down by three at 20-17. And then with 3:15 remaining in the game Brady hit old pal Kevin Faulk with a 13 yard pass, and after Gostkowski kicked the point after New England was back on top 24-20. Manning had one more chance to drive down the field but after he fumbled the ball which was recovered by Colvin the threat was over New England had avenged last year’s lost at least for the time being in last years AFC Title game.

In my preview I said I would be shocked if either team won in a blowout, I predicted an Ali/Frazier type battle at 41-38 Patriots. This was more like Hagler/Leonard, a lot less punches thrown than I anticipated but exciting all the same. The Patriots have won Round One this season. I have the feeling Round Two will take place in the playoffs.

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