Successive FG tries: IIRC when Denver played the Giants on 9/10/01 there were back to back FG tries to end the 1st half. Elam attempted one and missed, Giants get the ball at the spot of the kick. Owen Pochman then attempted a FG on the next play and missed. I don't remember if that was the last play of the half or if Elam had another attempt.

Conspiracy theory: Ron Winters' crew is one of the league leaders in penalties called (I believe). The NFL knows this, and deliberately sent Winters' crew to the IND-NE game, suspecting a lot of pass interference and defensive penalties would be called, helping make it a "better" game and giving the Colts a better chance to win. The refs were bad but they were consistently, equally bad for each team, but by calling a lot, they were helping the Colts.

I don't actually believe that, just so you know.

"The Giants and the Texans are the same team, except the Giants can run the ball."

That is THE stupidest statement I have ever read. Are you serious? Check the numbers on this very site. Amazing!

Brunell actually completed some nice long passes over the middle in the second quarter. I guess not throwing the ball for two weeks helps.

Also, according to Joe Buck (yeah, I know), the rule is you're not supposed to leave your feet during a celebration, which is why TO got whistled. But by that logic, the Giants should lead the league in penalties by now.

The Washington coaches have a fascination with James Thrash I will never understand; I've just learned to live with it.

Funny you mentioned the John Cougar Mellencamp song. Last week my buddy went on a drunken rant about his hatred for said song. This week I called him everytime it played and just put the phone to the speaker. I plan on doing this for the rest of the season.

On behalf of Patiots fans everywhere (I'm looking at you, Bill Simmons) touche, Peyton. Brilliant. His hurried and off-balance throws are better than most QBs (I'm looking at you, Rex Grossman & Joey Harrington). And the Foxboro/Belichick/Brady monkey is now not only off his back but lying dead with a stake through its heart (but that's only one of your monkeys, Peyton). And Aaron is absolutely right on the Pats play-calling. In fact it may have been the worst of the BB era. It's inexplicable that they didn't run and run and run...especially on that very first drive that ended with an INT. Even Madden called it right...and what's more remarkable: that he got an insight thru the uprights or that Vinatieri didn't (twice!)? Of course Madden reverted to form with his 4Q observation that the Colts with about 5 plus minutes remaining would probably try to score rather than run out the clock. You think so, John?

On the PI call that Belichick was arguing I think in a close up I saw him mouthing something along the line of "c'mon he was making a play on the ball" which was my initial reaction as well. He seemed to be reorienting to the ball not trying to impeded wayne's progress to it, seemed like incidental contact to me.

the illegal contact penalty rather.

Has there ever been any serious talk about implementing some different forms of discipline available to officials? In basketball, you can T someone up to send a message because it's two free throws in a game with 160-220 points, and if you end up tossing them out, it's one game of 82. BFD.

15-yard penalties in football are HUGE. That's got to be an element. They're getting heat from the league to protect the quarterback or crack down on celebrations; they also know that making or not making a borderline 15-yarder could easily be the difference in the game.

This'll sound like I'm kidding, but how about a yellow card/red card, available in conjunction with or separate from a yardage penalty? Lets officials put a clamp on a mild taunt, or a blow to the quarterback that might be legal but rougher than it has to be or something like that, without completely changing the game ... ?

Just a thought.

Nobody noticed, I suppose, but I did say take the points against the Bears in the spread line section. My line of thought was that the Fins would finish what the Cards could not. The corollary is that the Fins will improve greatly in the second half, as "losing disease" starts to recede. They didn't play great against the Bears, but all they need is a little confidence in themselves to leave the ugly chain of mistakes behind.

And BTW, Culpepper was the original carrier of the virus... hope it's not incurable for him.

Also, according to Joe Buck (yeah, I know), the rule is you’re not supposed to leave your feet during a celebration, which is why TO got whistled. But by that logic, the Giants should lead the league in penalties by now.

I don't think it's a matter of leaving your feet, so much as not planting your ass on the ground. Hence, no centerfold modeling, no canoeing, and apparently, no sleeping. I haven't seen any of the Giants ridiculous celebrations (thank god), but they don't sound like the roll-around-on-the-ground type.

How many kicks does a kicker have to miss before he becomes NOT "The greatest clutch kicker of all time".

Tim Gerheim: Nice broadcasting in the Texans-Giants game by Kevin Harlan (I believe). He religiously announced substitutions on both sides — third receivers, defensive line subs, and nickel and dime backs. It was a revelation. I’ve been going to bars on Sunday all season, so I hadn’t really heard any commentary this year. I’m sure Harlan has been doing this all season, but I don’t remember it from last year, when I think he was with Steve Tasker, and hence part of the worst commentator team out there, in my opinion. Now he’s with Rich Gannon, and while Gannon doesn’t bring much to the table, he’s perfectly inoffensive, which is a lot more that I’m used to in Texans games.

I noticed this last week in the Steelers-Raiders game which Harlan and Gannon did. I was pleased. It's nice having announcers who are actually paying attention to the game and informing the viewers about what's going on. You know, as opposed to, say, giving an interview to some celebrity who has nothing to with the game at all. Or babbling about who is on your fantasy team.

Jason Beattie: I’ve never heard of “Garmin� until today, but I already hate them for breaking the seal on “First Inappropriately Early Christmas-Themed Commercial� on November 5! Good lord. And that chick with a unibrow didn’t help.

I first noticed this commercial last week and was going to gripe about it in the game thread but didn't. So they actually broke it out in October. Before Halloween.

11: Did Buck launch into a self-righteous tirade about how disgusting it was and how TO should face the firing squad for is malicious and immoral actions?

This’ll sound like I’m kidding, but how about a yellow card/red card, available in conjunction with or separate from a yardage penalty?

They already have "sideline warnings" and "substitution warnings" where the offense gets one free warning, and then after that it's a penalty. I think you're right, in that you should have warnings for taunting as well.

I mean, if TO sleeps on the ball once, I don't really care. But if it's a shootout game, and TO scores 4 TDs, and he does stuff like that every touchdown, it does take something away from the game itself. So a flag goes down on that play, "Taunting warning, on number #81. Further taunts will result in a 15 yard penalty." And if it's too much to actually remember it on a per person basis, do it on a teamwide basis.

I have a problem with part of the description of the Giants had having a "middling" offensive line...yes part of it is Tiki and Jacobs, but by FO's own standards, the Giants have the #1 run-blocking OL in football...that can't ALL just be Tiki and Jacobs...

I also don't like the "good" defensive line for the Giants...it's the best d-line in the league when healthy, and even despite injuries, is still #2 in run-defense and solid at pass-rush.

I'd describe the Giants as just a BETTER version of the Texans. Both have incosistent QBs, but whereas the Texans have an okay running game, and okay O-line and okay D-Line, the Giants excel there, and they have similar TEs, LBs and the secondary.

The Giants are trying to prove the "you win by passing and stopping the pass" theory wrong...not sure if it's going to work, but the Giants win because they're among the best at running the ball AND stopping the run well, and passing is decent, and as for pass defense...um...Bueller?

Oh, and regarding announcing: I'm now convinced Phil Simms is nothing more than a speaker that constantly fires out common punditspeak over and over and over. I mean, I knew he was awful, but my God, that was a horrid broadcast. The entire game was nothing more than sportswriter cliches and really crappy analysis.

I have a problem with part of the description of the Giants had having a “middling� offensive line…yes part of it is Tiki and Jacobs, but by FO’s own standards, the Giants have the #1 run-blocking OL in football…that can’t ALL just be Tiki and Jacobs…

They also are 16th in the league in pass protection. That's a decent description of "middling."

Yeah, the loogie during the DEN/PIT broadcast was easily one of the top five expectorations I've heard broadcast during a professional sporting event. I have no idea who was responsible for it, but it was truly impressive.

Ryan, I was thinking the same thing. The overall record for turnovers in a season is 63 (by the '78 49ers). If we (the Steelers) can throw 3 picks every game, then we'd only need to lose 2 fumbles each game to break the record. All we need to do is keep giving the ball to Santonio Holmes early, so we can keep getting behind and throw 54 passes.

Great game by the Colts! Tough loss for the Pats. Enjoyable game to watch.

My only gripe? You guys griping. You could have focused on one of many great plays by either team, and you spent most of your time complaining about the officials.

Yes, the hands to the face call was weird. The should have been pi call. The Brady sneak that wasn't.

But the game had Maroney rushing like a beast. Had Brady making several good throws, and the Colts defense playing like they do when they are on. Basically, letting play after play occur hoping for a pick or a mistake.

Vinitari missed a couple, but that's ok. Miss them when we don't need them.

It was a great game. Harrison's catch! (which was without a doubt a catch)

There was some luck, there was some skill, the only thing that would have made it better was another Brady drive, and another Brady pick.

How do you not run every play against the Colts?... I'm dead serious.

LOL, I just noticed the line at the top of the website, nice!

#19:

Does the O-line look good because Tiki and Jacobs are able to consistently get the yards necessary in spite of mediocre blocking, or does the O-line's strong performance give Tiki and Jacobs their yards? It's a chicken-and-egg problem, and one which can really only be cracked by looking at the games (and not just the stats). While I think the line is certainly adequate (FO had it at #15 during their preseason roundups, and that sounds about right if maybe a couple spots low), both Giants RBs have styles that, in my opinion, make the line look better than it is- Tiki's game is all about finding smart cutback lanes and making defenders miss, and Jacobs is a big bruiser who's nearly impossible to take down one-on-one without a few extra yards after contact. Both of these are more versatile running styles than the straight-ahead hit-the hole stylings of a line-dependent back like Edge.

The Giants and Texans have some similarities, but I'd say the Giants have the definite edge with RB, TE, O-line and their starting front 7, while the Texans are equal, not better, in the other positions.

What made this game so close was clearly the injuries- even a team with four starting-quality DEs is going to look unimpressive when three of them are out- I mean, freakin' Adrian Awasom was in on every play.

Well, I as a fan am extremely tired of all the "taunting" and "group celebration" and similar stupid penalties. Not the penalties being called, but the very fact that such rules exist. It is helping to ruin the game.

I believe Roger McDowell was the second spitter.

#19 - While that loogie was definitely impressive on a raw scale, Denver games have historically produced a lot of plegm. So while we should give credit where credit is due, the amount of Phlegm Above Replacement (PAR) is quite high, I would hazard a guess that the Denver-Adjusted Phlegm Above Replacement (DPAR) is still quite large, but far from the historic levels the raw score would indicate.

OK, I didn't pay much attention to football yesterday, but happened to be watching the box score of the Washington Dallas game, saw Dallas in position to kick the winning field goal, saw a three point victory and assumed they won the game.

I am JUST NOW from reading Audibles, realizing Washington won.

Man, that was a horrible loss for the Patriots. Not because it really makes much difference in the long-term (they should still make 12-4 comfortably) but because it was such an error-strewn performance. Interceptions, bad playcalling, dropped catches, poor kickoff defence, penalties, a couple of busted coverages... it was just really sloppy at times.

The Colts seemed to win without ever really playing particularly well. Neither of their lines exercised much in terms of control or dominance, with the oline just getting manhandled in run-blocking. They also seemed to generate a few miraculous gains from apparently busted plays to keep stalling drives going - see that first big pass to Harrison, with Manning flushed out and both safeties allowing two receivers to get behind them, the falling handoff thing to Utecht and the long pass to Dallas Clark when he fell over, got up and was still uncovered by Samuel in the deep zone. All were third-down conversions if I remember correctly, and I think all 3 led to scores. I mean, from an offensive perspective, they were never as methodical or impressive as they had been in last week's destruction of Denver.

The Colts defence was a bit better though, and Bob Sanders just makes an amazing amount of difference; he's a real force against the run, taking great angles and using an incredible combination of speed and fearlessness to blow up quite a few plays. Having said that, I was surprised the Patriots didnt try and run right at him a bit more (especially in the 2nd half when he was really on fire, coming from defensive right to left to attack runners) because his lack of size means it is probably a better idea to target him with a lead-blocker rather than to allow him to run around freely in pursuit. (I was also a bit surprised that the Pats didnt test him deep a little more when he was edging up for the run.) What would really worry me though, if I was a Colts fan, is the nagging suspicion that the combination of qualities that make him the player he is - his bravery and the lack of size (and hence that speed) - will also make him a very injury prone player for the rest of his career.

Totally agree with the abundance of bad calls in yesterday's games. But I absolutely fell out of my chair when Ron Winters ran up and signaled the Patriot first down by Brady when the rest of the officiating crew were ready to bring out the chains. During the review, the chain gang had already moved the markers, so Winters couldn't have overturned the call even if he wanted to. The review was an exercise in futility.

I dont get all the Peyton Man-love today. I think this says it best:

"The Colts seemed to win without ever really playing particularly well. Neither of their lines exercised much in terms of control or dominance, with the oline just getting manhandled in run-blocking."

When the other team gives you five turnovers, three of them at the opponent's 30, and you win by 7 points, your offence didnt have a good day. The Colts won that game because the Patriots (Tom Brady) made mistakes, and lots of them. Manning looked decent, but not great, and got shut down on a bunch of drives.

The Patriots offence blew that game. The only turnover I can really give credit to indy for is the Strip of Corey Dillon.

So let me get this straight: the Colts didn't win that game, the Patriots lost it. Is that an accurate summation of Pats fans feelings??

Mario Williams ... BALLIN'!
Peter King old fuddy duddy ass talking shit about a kid who is playing well, and decided to have a lil' fun. It's a DANCE in a freaking rap video.

basically, this is just a co-sign on #24, you hit it on the head. i get excited and talk smack playing Madden, or shooting hoop. Why don't folks accept this is part of the game.

What, no comments about Bob Sanders? He was one of the keys to the game as far as I am concerned. He personally made the Colts D go from historically bad to just bad. Not only the interception, but he made the tackle on a couple of the only three or four running back tackles for loss that the Colts had.

I'm going to go against the grain and say it was a good hands-to-the-face call against Vrabel. Two reasons for this:

1) Vrabel never argued. Not at all.
2) The only view we got was from behind Clark, and you can't see what Vrabel's left hand was doing (I assume up in Clark's face).

No, Madden was jumping out of his chair about the call, but he misunderstood the call -- he kept saying, "How can that be illegal contact?" It wasn't illegal contact as in past 5 yards; it was illegal hands to the face.

I'll check it on TiVo later, but that, I think, is what happened -- Vrabel used his right hand to the face, but we were blocked by Clark from seeing it (Same thing that Brown was called for against Clark, and that replay showed the ref to be right).

Any chance the Pats can get Charlie Weiss back for the playoffs?

puh-leaze!!!

With this win, IND might move as high as #5 in DVOA!

I know you guys didn't watch it, but the Vikings receivers yesterday had the worst game by a receiving corps I've ever seen in a NFL game. Beyond being unable to get any seperation at all, making zero above-average plays on the ball and having their normal drops (really, the goat of the week cannot be awarded without at least reveiwing Troy Williamson's deop at the end of the game), they managed to get key penalties which took one long touchdown away, and ruined another good field posiition opportunity. The Vkings should just play with a fullback and three tight ends on the field for about 80% of their offensive snaps.

The other game I watched completely was Patriots/Colts, and watching the Colts receivers, it was hard to imagine that the Colts and the Vikings were actually playing the same game.

You're right, Rich (and so unpredictable in your assessment): Manning sucked.

Any QB can have passes for: 44, 18, 16, 33, 36, 29, and then 13 (the last one when you should have been sacked) against the NE defense.

Bill Belichick doesn't need a goddamn f'ing measurement.

38: Thank you.

The Colts weren't "given" anything by the Pats; the Pats made mistakes and the Colts did what good football teams do: they capitalized on them. The reason the game was so close is that the Colts' D is pretty shaky on the whole. But they did a good job of forcing turnovers.

Does anyone else think that if Manning and Brady's stat lines had been reversed, we would be hearing about how Manning 'chokes in big games' while Brady has 'incredible poise' and the ability to 'come through in the clutch'?

There is nothing contradictory in saying Manning and Harrison played great games, as well as New England's defense. It wasn't a good night for the (blank) is clearly superior to (blank) crowd, however.

(Edited for appropriate thread location purposes)

#38

New England's pass defense currently ranks #22 in DVOA, so that's not as far-fetched as you make it seem.

Unless you're being sarcastic. I have a hard time distinguishing sometimes.

As a segue from the Patriots-should-have-run-more talk (which I agree with)... why isn't Maroney starting ahead of Dillon yet? He appears to do everything Dillon does as far as power running and receiving, but the kid is downright explosive. He runs with the same pissed-off style that TO does, but with more consistency.

Normally I would say that Dillon is getting the starts because, as a vet, he's better at pass blocking, but Faulk is in on most passing downs anyway. Having watched every Pats game this season, I would say that Maroney deserves about 70% of the carries instead of the 50-50 split that him and Dillon are currently getting.

Or rather, unless you're NOT being sarcastic.

Whatever.

If Sanders doesn't get hurt (as well as the offense staying healthy, of course), the Colts just might be able to pull of a championship season with a lousy defense.

Question. I was at the Baltimore-Cincy game and was debating a friend on this. When a play is challenged, isn't the entire play reviewed? Case in point, the fumble/non-fumble mentioned in the audibles section. Cincy challenges and overturns the fumble call. Baltimore challenges and loses on the out of bounds call. Shouldn't the Cincy challenge have automatically reviewed the entire play or am I wrong on this? Of course practically officals can't review everything in a short time. But I don't think you can have two challenges to the same play either (though I saw it happen). Any details on this?

RE 28, 33, 46
I agree with the Bob Sanders assessments. He was all over the field last night. It's really amazing how much difference one player can make on a team with poor depth (see Shawn Springs with the Redskins).

I enjoyed the bit of irony in seeing Rodney Harrison commit a flagrant facemask penalty on the same play where he was injured.

No, I am NOT glad he was hurt. Just thought the moment itself was somewhat fitting.

Hope that makes sense. Because I don't physical ill on anyone.

Well, maybe Dennis Green.

don't WISH physical ill on anyone.

Cripes...

18 - if we presume the OL rankings to correctly assess the line, being the BEST run blocking and league average at pass blockin means better than "middling"

23 - Yes, chicken and egg problem. But the Giants line wasn't nearly as good last year (10th in the league, and a breakdown shows that a good amount of the success was on Tiki since the Giants were #1 in 10+ runs)...now yes, some of that is on Brandon Jacobs being impossible to tackle one-on-one, but on power runs up the middle, it's not just one defender going for him, that's more for side to side runs and downfield.

The Giants are only 19th in the league in 10+ runs, but 2nd in power and 9th in stuffed, and have a .11 yards advantage over the next team. There's simply no way that can be put all on Tiki and Brandon. The line can run-block, and run-block well.

I think yesterdays game put all question to rest...Eli Manning is indeed better than Tom Brady.

Peyton Manning played okay. That game after the first quarter was just brutal to watch. It seemed that both teams consistently made bad/stupid plays. The officiating was atrocious. BB outsmarted himself last night. If only they had run the ball...they were getting almost 5 yards a carry, EVERY SINGLE CARRY! Oh, and I hate John Mellencamp.

#30 - Rich, I think you answered your own question. Manning was facing good pressure the whole game, the running game was shut down, and he still managed to play a pretty good game. The Pats faced the vaunted Colts defense, and turned it over 4 times.

Incidentally, this is exactly why so many of us non-Pats fans get so irritated with the 'Manning is a choker' commentary, such as Simmons' last column. Almost everybody here gladly concedes that Brady is a great QB, and the Pats are a great team. This was obviously a flukey game, and I still think they're still the better team. But if the score were reversed, all we'd be hearing about is how much Manning sux and will never win the big one, while Brady will always find a way to make the throws even when his O-line is being overwhelmed.

To reiterate: I still think that the Pats are by far the better team, and would likely beat the Colts in the playoffs should they have a rematch. The game was pretty close throughout; if the Belichick would have stolen a page from the Schottenheimer playbook (when's the last time anybody wrote that?), or Brady stops channeling the post-concussive Roethlisberger, they probably win. But sweet Jeebus, can there at least be some acknowledgement that the guy with the moustache is, in fact, pretty darned good, and that the other 21 guys on the field might have a little bit to do with the outcomes of the games? I'm not even a Colts fan, but after Simmons' column on Friday, I wanted them to put up 50.

Oh and 8 of the 17 sacks against Manning were in the Eagles game. 8 of them. When almost half of your sacks through 8 games are in 1 bad game, does FO do anything to adjust for that...I mean, that's absurd, and I know ancedotes should not normally be used to change objective data, but that does seem to indicate the line is better at pass blocking then the sack rate would indicate.

#23 - I think the Giants O-Line is suffering in everybody's comparison this week because they had a bad week. I've watched every Giants game (yes, I am a biased die-hard) and the O-Line has been great on running plays this year - the best I have seen it since the 80's.

The guards are pulling and sealing outside blocks, which lets Tiki cut back and get his big yards. (Tiki sucks at avoiding in-the-backfield defenders - but if he gets to the line he's always gonna make someone miss. This is half the reason why he didn't excel under Fassell like he has under Coughlin.) And yesterday, Bob Whitfield was awful. Well, Bob Whitfield is awful, but yesterday he saw the field. The only good news is that with Rich Suebert, a backup guard, now center and apparently tackle-eligible - they have some outside help to support him. Plus, McKenzie - teh regular RT was out with a Migrane. I don't think he would have been held out with a migrane against many other teams except the Texans.

re #49:

Was that a facemask? Did they call it? I don't remember them tacking on 15 to the end of the play.

And, I was very happy to see Harrison get hurt trying to put the other Harrison in a head lock. Dirty players deserve anything they get.

(Yes, I do think he's a dirty player. He can be great when not taking cheap shots, but he ALWAYS takes the cheap shot)

I actually don't understand people saying the Colts win without playing well--I think everybody really is taking Peyton Manning for granted. In the last two weeks (road wins against good opponents), yes, the defense and running games were mediocre at best, but the passing game was absolutely terrific. Are we expecting a bit much from Peyton manning when he can do what he did last night and people say he played "okay"?

Manning is doing something he didn't do well last year--he steps up into pressure and throws the ball when taking a hit. That's the sort of thing that could make a difference when the playoffs come.

Maybe I'm just a nostalgic Viking fan longing for good offense, but I love watching the Colts play and each week it seems to me that Manning tops himself. He was excellent last night.

RE: #37

I'd have to give that honor to the Falcons' receivers. Vick had some costly turnovers but he also watched his receivers drop 8 (!) balls on perfectly placed passes. 6 of those drops would've gone for first downs, several of which came on 3rd downs.

I almost wonder if not having Santana Moss is forcing them to get more creative in the passing game.

That's what it seemed like to me, MDS. It was a much more balanced passing attack, except when they got inside the 5, when they gave the play calling over to a zombie from the 1930s ("must... run... up the middle..."). Later in the game the offense slowed down, but I thought the play calling was better overall than in most other games.

how DOES Peyton manage to survive in this league with the top two receivers in DPAR though seven games?

Doug, saying Peyton has the top two DPAR receivers is another way of saying that Peyton has the top QB DPAR and doesn't spread the ball around very much. I agree that they're better than any two receivers on the Patriots, and I agree that Irvin's comments were bizarre. But the reason they have higher DPAR than Smith/Keyshawn or CJ/Housh or Glenn/TO is because of who is throwing to them.

Well, the results are in and it’s pretty clear- Peyton Manning is too good for Bill Belicheck to deal with. Seriously. The game looked like an exact reprise of last year, despite the Colts fielding a weaker team and the Patriots fielding a stronger one. Belicheck had to make aggressive/panicky decisions with his offense because he knew from early on that his defense had no chance of stopping Manning. And they didn’t.

Manning had a chink in his armor before 2005- he was a below-average quarterback when making throws on the move. He made bad decisions and he had poor accuracy. Belicheck was more successful at anyone at flushing Manning outside the pocket while not sacrificing much in coverage. But Manning has clearly worked on that element of his game, to the point where he is now lethal when on the move. He’s just killed the Patriots with big plays down the field after rolling out in each of the last two meetings.

Of course, it probably doesn’t help matters that the officials have decided that New England defenders can’t mug receivers 10-15 yards down the field anymore. That was the other part of their “strategy.� What all that means is that we can probably banish the rock-paper-scissors stuff until New England actually invests some time and money in upgrading their secondary. Because what they are doing won’t wash anymore.

#37, 59- I'd include the Steelers receiving corps in that group of bad days- 3 fumbles lost by three different receivers (when Hines is putting the ball on the ground, you know you're destined for a top-10 pick), all of which fell in the "kick right in the nuts" category of turnovers. There's some competition for the KCW award.

I was just looking through the play-by-play to examine Manning's completions (to look at stats that I care about and most of you probably don't).

17 of his 20 completions went for first downs or touchdowns, and he had completions of 44, 33, 36, 29, and 35 yards.

Those are the sorts of numbers that impress me about a quarterback, telling me his completions mattered (unlike Brad Johnson's completions Sunday), and that he was able to complete big plays downfield (um...also unlike Brad Johnson's completions Sunday).

I'm thoroughly impressed with Peyton Manning.

#62 - Poor Trent Cole. Is 'kicked in the nuts' the new 'keep chopping wood'?

Sad Pats fan here. Some thoughts:

1). This game really highlights how overlooked the safety position is. The Colts D, while not exactly stellar, was much better than most Pats fans (and probably a lot of Colts fans) expected, probably due largely to the play of Bob Sanders. He really is something. On the other hand, the Pats refused to play press coverage for most of the day, which is why the Colts moved at will early on, and I think this was largely due to missing both starting safeties--Harrison and Wilson. Yes, Hawkins and Scott are decent, but in my mind the game started to go south for the Patriots after that first amazing Harrison catch, where the other Harrison got injured. Had Sanders not played, and had Rodney Harrison not gotten injured, I think we may have seen a completely different game.

2). Horrible officiating. Both ways. Enough has been said by other people.

3). Some great moments. Both ways as well. Too bad these two games weren't better officiated. After the first two Colts drives, the Patriots defense settled down and looked the best they've looked all year, practically. They were put in bad situations a bunch of times because of turnovers and a missed chip shot field goal, and kept the game close. They intercepted Manning twice (that one was called back for a penalty doesn't diminish how hard it is to intercept him) and ultimately gave the offense a chance to tie it at the end. The only reason the Colts had so much offensive success was that Peyton Manning had, to my eye, one of the best games of his career--consistently thowing pinpoint accurate deep bombs while being tackled. And Marvin Harrison, winner of this month's "Crotchery Matrix Catch Award", is right up there with Steve Smith and Torry Holt (or Issac Bruce? I don't follow the NFC much and get those two mixed up...whichever is the younger one) as the best WR's in the league. On the other hand, the Colts defense played better than I've seen them play all year as well, forcing the Pats offense into uncharacteristic mistakes. It felt like the playoffs versus Denver last year.

4). Belichick out-coached himself. There was no need to get so fancy with the playcalling when stuffing it down the Colts throat was so easy. Why run clever screens and such when facing a fast but undersized defense? And Brady was, this time, outplayed by Manning. When he misses deep this year, he's consistently been overthrowing his recievers. I guess the Colts watched that on tape, because they're the first team this year to actually have people in position to catch overthrown deep balls. I don't know what was up with his off-target screen throws. Today, at least, Dungy outcoached Belichick, and Manning outplayed Brady. Enjoy it, Colts fans. Those two events will probably never happen in the same game again. I look forward to seeing the Colts and Pats meet in the playoffs.

5) Final thought. A couple of people have commented that both teams played uncharacteristically badly--that the Pats were making dumb mistakes and that the Colts didn't look as sharp as they usually do. Guess what? That's what happen when good teams play good teams. The fact that each team was able to make the other team look "bad" is a testament to how good each team really is. Of course, we as fans, tend to remember the positive and block out the negative (except for playoff losses), so we remember all the times that the Colts and Pats look fantastic beating up on the Jets, or Minnesota, or San Francisco, or whoever else. That's what good teams do. But when good teams play each other, of course they look decidely average and beatable. Because both teams are.

Anyone think Belichick may have been holding back on defensive schemes against Manning, because he wants to wait until the playoffs to bring out the good stuff? Pats have essentially clinched the division already, and though obviosuly they want to win for playoff positioning, but maybe Pats aren't pulling out all the stops on D to save them for an expected playoff rematch.

Amusing that Peyton Manning went out of his way to declare this "a TEAM victory." Different tune than last year's Pittsburg debacle where he threw the offensive line under the Bus. :).

Re 66:

It sounds like you're trying to play Simmons' "Milton Berle" defense of the Pats. However, remember the key part of the phrase "I only pulled out enough to win," which the Patriots... um... didn't.

Purds:

No. A penalty was not assessed. But that sure looked like a facemask to me.

I don't watch enough Patriot games to know whether he does that regularly. But if so one can understand why opposing players label him as a "dirty" player. The game has enough challenges without some guy giving an extra twist, yank, etc. on different plays.

Actually, I think the line threw Peyton under the bus in that game. It's not a crime when you ask someone for the license plate afterwards...

One of the reasons they ran less was that Graham, Neal and Hochstein were out. They still should have ran more though; there were times in the second half when they passed constantly when it was unnecessary.

The ending was just brutal. After Vinatieri missed I knew Brady would drive for the tying TD, and then Kevin Faulk tips the ball to the defender. Just awful.

Ah well, it could be worse. I could be a Pennsylvania football fan.

Manning did play extremely well, and that does not change my irrationally strong dislike of him one bit.

Re: Bengals/Ravens - while it might be nice for the Bengals to be throwing more, I'm not sure Carson will survive if they abandon the run too much. Even when the leave in backs, the line is still getting caved in.

#3... Add me to the list of thinking that is EASILY the most ridiculous statement I've ever seen on this website. It borders almost on moronic. The Houston Texans are 0-4 against the NFC East this season, but they would be better in the NFC? That is a completely idiotic thing to say.

#56... I disagree. The reason Tiki is better now under Coughlin than under Fassel (other than fumbling problems gone) is the offensive line is much better. Under Fassel, the best o-line consisted of 2 UFAs, a 4th round pick, a career backup, and Luke Petitgout. That season, 2002, Tiki led the NFC in yards from scrimmage. The best lineman from that season (2002) is now their number 6 guy, Rich Seubert. Now the line has David Diehl, who's started every game since he came into the NFL 5 years ago, one of the best guards in the NFC in Chris Snee, a very underrated center in Shaun O'Hara, and McKenzie who's light years better than what was at RT the 5 seasons before.

I sincerely hope that some writers on this site will one day take a break from criticizing Eli Manning after victories (since he seems to get quite a few). After watching the perform