I usually say the end result doesn’t matter but I, along with many Patriots fans, players and staff aren’t happy with how the game unfolded Sunday at Gillette Stadium. The New England Patriots, the far superior team in this matchup, had a large fourth quarter lead of 31-3 over the winless Indianapolis Colts and nearly let it slip away as they held on for a 31-24 win.
The game didn’t start good and it didn’t end any better. And judging by the comments made by Bill Belichick in the post game and some of the players, there isn’t much to be happy about.
Former UConn QB Dan Orlovsky started a bit unsure of himself in his first start of the season but as the game went on he gained his confidence. By the fourth quarter he was playing well and put up some ridiculous numbers going 18 for 20 for 240 yards 2 TD’s and 1 INT in just the final 15 minutes. In the quarter the Colts also went 4 for 4 on 3rd down conversions (10 of 15 overall). Overall Orlovsky finished 30 for 37 for 353 yards 2 TD’s, 1 INT and he was sacked twice.
His biggest target was WR Pierre Garcon who had 9 catches for 150 yards and 2 TD’s and WR Austin Collie pitched in 7 grabs for 70 yards.
Another former Husky, Colts RB Donald Brown, also put a dent in the Patriots defense, who seemed to revert to what they looked like earlier this year and not the improving squad of the last three weeks. Brown had 14 carries for 41 yards and 1 TD, while his backfield mate Joseph Addai had 39 yards on 13 carries as the two combined for 80 yards on the ground.
While New England is still thin defensively it is no excuse for the way the 4th quarter developed. The Patriots no doubt miss S Patrick Chung and LB Brandon Spikes, who were out. That meant that they had to move personnel around and one of the moves was S James Ihedigbo going into a linebacker slot with WR Matthew Slater playing safety for most of the game.
Meanwhile New England, working on its fourth center of the season, was having a tough time establishing any type of a running game. As a team they had 23 carries for just 73 yards.
Luckily QB Tom Brady and the passing game was able to find a rhythm and he spread it around the field completing 29 of 38 for 289 yards, 2 TD’s, 0 INT’s and 1 sack. All of those TD passes went to TE Rob Gronkowski which gives him a NFL record-tying 13 on the season.
WR Wes Welker had 11 catches for 114 yards and WR Deion Branch had his 500th career reception during the game and had 3 catches for 37 yards.
Next week the Patriots go on the road to face the Washington Redskins in another 1 p.m. start.
Colts at Patriots Gamebook. This includes the box score, all the stats, play by play, drive charts and more.
Colts at Patriots Game Recap via Associated Press.
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Turning Point of the Game
The Patriots touchdown in second quarter by BenJarvus Green-Ellis just before half gave them a 17-3 lead at the break and you had the feeling they were putting the game away.
Offensive Player of the Game
Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski had 5 catches for 64 yards and 2 TD’s and he ran once for 2 yards and a TD. He tied the record of 13 touchdown catches by a tight end.
Defensive Players of the Game
WR/S Matthew Slater had 7 tackles (6 solo), 1 forced fumble and DE Vince Wilfork had 10 tackles (5 solo), 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss and 1 QB hit.
Game Notes
Starters for the Patriots were:
On Offense:
LT – Light
LG – Mankins
C – McDonald
RG – Waters
RT – Solder
TE – Gronkowski
TE – Hernandez
WR – Welker
WR – Branch
QB – Brady
RB – Faulk
On Defense:
DE – Wilfork
NT – Love
DE – Carter
LB – Ninkovich
LB – Mayo
LB – Koutouvides
CB – McCourty
CB – Arrington
S- Slater
S – Jones
S – Ihedigbo
Inactives for the Game:
Patriots
1. T Sebastian Vollmer (foot)
2. LB Brandon Spikes (MCL)
3. C Dan Connolly (groin)
4. LB Dane Fletcher (thumb)
5. S Patrick Chung (foot)
6. RB Shane Vereen
7. QB Ryan Mallett
Colts
1. QB Peyton Manning (neck)
2. TE Dallas Clark (fibula)
3. RB Ryan Mahaffey (concussion)
4. DT Drake Nevis (back)
5. TE Brody Eldridge (hand)
6. DB K. Thomas
7. DE J. Hughes
The spread (Patriots minus 21) WAS NOT covered. The over/under (48) WAS COVERED. I GAVE the points (Patriots) and took the OVER. I am now 7-4-1 vs. the spread and 8 of 12 calling the under/over.
The Patriots lead the overall series 46-29, which includes a 2-1 post season advantage.
New England is 26-12 vs. the Colts at home, 5-2 at Gillette Stadium.
New England is PLUS 8 in turnover differential
Bill Belichick now has 186 wins – 9th all-time. Chuck Knox is 8th with 193.
Tom Brady is now 9-4 vs. Colts.
Brady’s 2 TD passes give 30 on the year and 291 TD passes in his career he is now tied for 6th all-time with Warren Moon. Brady passes Johnny Unitas (290) during the game.
WR Wes Welker now has catches in 94 consecutive games including playoffs, 77 as a Patriot. The last time Welker did not have a catch in a game was 12/24/05 as a Dolphin.
TE Rob Gronkowski tied the NFL record of 13 touchdown catches by a tight end. He had one rushing touchdown as well. The NFL ruled it was a lateral taking away the record of 14 touchdown catches.
On Saturday the Patriots released WR Taylor Price and promoted C/G Nick McDonald from the practice squad.
T Nate Solder was fined $7500 for his clipping penalty against the Eagles last Sunday.
Indianapolis is 2-10 as the road team since 1998; they are 2-5 in Gillette Stadium.
The Colts are 7-17 in the last 24 games vs. the Patriots dating back to 1996.
Indianapolis coach Jim Caldwell is 1-2 vs. New England in his career.
Colts QB Dan Orlovsky is now 0-8 in his career with all his previous 7 losses coming with the Detroit Lions in 2008.
Indianapolis K Adam Vinatieri was actually booed in Gillette Stadium. This makes me sick. People you need some perspective, the man is a Hall of Famer and he earned it by playing for the Patriots and making some of the GREATEST PRESSURE KICKS in NFL history. That was pretty petty.
Indianapolis is 29-16 in December games since 2001 it’s the 4th best record in the league in the time span.
Ron Winter was the game referee. The temp at kickoff was 51 and it was cloudy.
Game Attendance: 68,756 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro MA.
Pro Bowl voting is open until December 19th, cast your votes for deserving players.
Post Game Interviews
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Patriots QB Tom Brady post game press conferences via patriots.com
This Week in the AFC East
Tennessee edged Buffalo, 23-17
NY Jets walloped Washington, 34-19
Miami crushed Oakland, 34-14
AFC East Standings
Patriots 9-3/3-1
Jets 7-5/3-2
Bills 5-7/1-3
Dolphins 4-8/1-2
Next Game
The Patriots visit the Washington Redskins next Sunday at FedEx Field in Landover MD. Kick off is at 1 p.m. on CBS.
Follow Steve on Twitter @djstevem
Photo credit: AP Photo
