The Indianapolis Colts had the biggest comeback in AFC Championship history and beat the Patriots, 38-34. Peyton Manning threw for 349 yards, scored on a run and a pass, and led a last minute drive that shed his image of a bad postseason quarterback.
The Patriots had a monster first half, jumping to a lead of 21-3 thanks to touchdowns by Logan Mankins, a lineman who recovered a fumble and smashed into the endzone; Corey Dillon on a seven-yard run; and Asante Samuel who returned an interception 39 yards.
However, the Colts rallied back, with Adam Vinatieri kicking two field goals and one yard touchdowns by Peyton Manning and Dan Klecko. Manning passed to Marvin Harrison for a two point conversion to tie the game at 21 with 4:06 left in the third quarter.
Ellis Hobbs got the Patriots back in the game with an 80-yard sideline sprint on the kick return, setting up a Brady TD pass to Jabar Gaffney to take the lead. The touchdown was replayed several times to determine weather Gaffney had run out of bounds before the catch, but the call stood and New England was up 28-21.
Just 1:26 minutes into the fourth quarter, the Colts' Dominic Rhodes fumbled the ball at the goal line for the Colts, but a quick move by lineman Jeff Saturday recovered the football in the endzone and tied the game at 28.
With 7:45 left in the game, Stephen Gostkowski booted a 28-yarder to put the Pats on top, but 2:11 later, Vinatieri answered with a 36-yard kick to tie the game yet again at 31.
Article comments
1 - RJ Elliott
"The Indianapolis Colts had the biggest comeback in AFC Championship history and beat the Patriots, 38-34."
Didn't know that. Great game! I called it almost perfectly!
2 - alessandro nicolo
Who was that guy from Home Depot with the pencil in his ear and a sweatshirt coaching the Patriots?
3 - RJ Elliott
"Peyton won't choke until at least Week 13."
- RJ Elliott, Sep. 7, 2006
On Week 13, Indy lost to Tennessee 20-17. In fact, they lost three of their last five games.
Manning's numbers in the Wild Card round were bad: 1 TD, 3 INTs. Manning's numbers in the Divisional round were also bad: 0 TDs, 2 INTs.
I picked the Colts to beat the Pats by 2. They won by 4. I predicted it would be a game for the ages. And it was.
Er, what was your point again?
4 - RJ Elliott
"Indianapolis (13-4) at Baltimore (13-3) - 4:30 - CBS
The Ravens defense should be able to shut down the Colts offense. Also, Indy is a poor road team.
BALTIMORE BY 9"
- RJ Elliott, Jan. 13, 2007
The Ravens defense DID shut down the Colts offense. The Colts scored a total of 0 TDs in that game. Manning was only 15-for-30 for 170 yards and 2 INTs.
Indy WAS a relatively poor road team during the regular season, going 4-4.
Also, I managed to pick the exact spread...just with the wrong winner. Of course, 7 out of 9 "experts" also picked the wrong winner.
The real question here, MCH, is why a "professional" sports writer like yourself didn't have the 'nads to offer his NFL picks even once this season, or post-season.
5 - Ken Edwards
I still say the Colts are a poor road team.
One win does not make it so.
One Super Bowl win does not make it so.