Patriots pull off comeback in so-called "Game of the Century" against the Colts

Okay, let's get right down to brass tacks. Sunday's epic game between the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts was an exciting game. The game was marked by a comeback by New England which trailed by 10 points with just over nine minutes left in the game. It featured two previously undefeated teams, (New England at 8-0, the Colts 7-0) the latest point in NFL history that two such teams had met in a game. But, let's not call it the "Game of the Century", as most folks in the media had been advertising this match up all of last week.For the most part, the football gurus were wrong in their prediction, (not on the final outcome as many people had New England winning); but in the fact that people were stating that it would be a high-scoring affair on the likes of a 41-38 final score. With probably two out of the all-time five best quarterbacks in history, (by the time that Tom Brady and Peyton Manning both end their careers and shown in the picture above after yesterday's game congratulating each other); people were of the belief that touchdowns would be thrown all over the place, and that both defenses would be powerless to stop the other team's offense. Wrong again, know-it-all's! I guess that's why they have to "play the game".It was the defense play of both teams that dominated throughout, especially Indy's until the final 10 minutes of the game. Both quarterbacks were hit repeatedly by on-rushing lineman and backers coming in on blitz schemes throughout the game. Brady, who entered the game with over 30 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions so far this season, threw up two picks in the game. On one play, Manning was jolted on a sack, hit simultaneously by three New England defensive players. After the play, Peyton was seen staggering to the sideline and I can not recall ever seeing the Colts' quarterback hit so aggressively on any single play previously.Although the most dominating offensive player for Indy was their running back Joseph Addai, (who set a single game Colts' record by statistically having over 100 yards rushing and receiving each), the team missed their other most effective weapon; wide receiver Marvin Harrison who sat out the game with a knee injury. Indy was foiled late in a comeback when several receivers, not used to being key performers in clutch situations, were unable to catch late throws coming from the arm of Manning. For the Patriots, performances from Brady, their all-world receiver Randy Moss, (who had one great catch late in the game to aid in the comeback) and Wesley Welker, made all of the difference as New England overcame that late deficit.So, New England marches on towards their goal of having the first undefeated season since the 1972 Miami Dolphins. Although Indy did come up short, they could take solice in the fact that no other team this season has been able to slow down the Patriots offensive juggernaut. New England continues on its pace to set an NFL record for most points scored in a season. Until Indy's playoff run last season which culminated in a Super Bowl triumph, the team has been known previously as being a team that had a sieve for a defense. Indeed, earlier this decade Indy won most of their games because they did happen to outscore teams 41-35. Then in the playoffs played in cold weather, (a couple of times coincidentally against the Patriots) while their defense still gave up over 30 points per game, it was the Colts' potent offense which was ineffective when the temperatures hovered around 15 degrees. It is no longer the case, as the Colts have players on defense who are willing to aggressively hit their opponents squarely in the mouth, particularly their all-pro safety Bob Sanders. Perhaps the two teams will meet again in the AFC playoffs, undoubtedly the next time up in Foxboro, Mass. While the Patriots would be the favorite in that scenario, do not expect to have a game along the lines of a 38-35 as the final score. Yesterday's game was more of an accurate assessment of what potentially lies in store if the two teams were to meet again in January.By the way, the greatest NFL game that I ever saw was the "Immaculate Reception" game late in 1972. That game was in the playoffs between the Oakland Raiders against the Pittsburgh Steelers, played in the old Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. That exciting, riveting game was won late on a 4th down play when Terry Bradshaw threw up a hail-merry type pass which bounced off two colliding Oakland/Pittsburgh players simultaneously. The deflected ball ended up being scooped out of the air, (just before hitting the ground) by Franco Harris who caught it and rumbled into the end zone to mark a ferocious Steelers' comeback. To this day, the Pittsburgh player who had the ball deflect off of him, (Frenchy Fuqua) will not say if he was the last person to touch that ball before Harris was able to miraculously catch it, or did it bounce off of the Oakland defender. In those days, the NFL rules stated that an offensive player could not catch and advance a thrown pass if it had been last touched by his teammate. To this day, I can recall that game as being the best NFL game that I ever saw based on the dramatic ending, and the high stakes with it occurring during the playoffs. Before Pittsburgh made their comeback in the waning moments of the game, it was Oakland led by their quarterback Kenny Stabler who had marched down the field on a long drive to score the go-ahead touchdown against the Steelers. I still remember then Raiders' coach John Madden, (now more famously known for endorsing probably the greatest sports video game in history) jumping up and down on the sideline, excitedly, in the belief that his team had just won the game. The only problem was that there was still time on the clock to allow that amazing Steelers' comeback. Sorry, but yesterday's game did not even come close to matching the drama and excitement of that Raider-Steelers game some 35 years ago.The question is, can anyone knock off the still undefeated New England Patriots this season. I welcome any comments to this post!