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00:00:00Sunny but chilly afternoon in Foxborough and a sellout crowd for a crucial AFC Eastern Division
00:00:18match between the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots. These two teams harboring
00:00:23playoff hopes. Below the line are the teams fighting for the wild card. New England 7-4
00:00:29Indianapolis 6-5 and the Colts lose most of the tiebreakers so today especially crucial
00:00:34for them. Tom Hammond and Bob Trumpy in Foxborough and Bill Parcells has not been a pleasant man to
00:00:39be around this week after the Broncos drubbed him last Sunday and game 10 against the Jets. They're
00:00:45behind 21-0, 24-0 against Denver so first item of business is get off to a good start. Second item
00:00:51of business would be to stop the run. No question the last four weeks the Patriot defense has been
00:00:56run over by the likes of Thurman Thomas, Abdul Jabbar, Adrian Murrell of the Jets but last week
00:01:03they were absolutely torn to shreds by Terrell Davis. 211 total yards on offense in the last
00:01:09four weeks and the Patriots have not been able to even slow people down on the run let alone stop
00:01:14them. And normally that would be welcome news for the Colts to have Marshall Falk but because of
00:01:19injury he's just been a shadow of his former self. Yeah since the second week of the season and he tore up
00:01:23his toe that dislocated toe you can see the difference in contribution 95 to 96. Still not
00:01:27healthy. Better than he's been in previous weeks but still not healthy. He's the guy who somehow has
00:01:32to get something done today so that the Colts can at least drive the ball for a while keep their
00:01:36injured defense off the field. And Colts coach Lindy Infante says this is a game his team must win.
00:01:43Harbaugh against Bledsoe the Colts and Patriots when we return to Foxborough.
00:01:47Foxborough in the sun probably not too chilly although the air temperature 38 degrees here at
00:01:56kickoff and not much wind as Lindy Infante says considering the rest of the schedule for the
00:02:02Colts this is a game they must win to really stay alive for the playoffs. And Bill Parcells well he
00:02:08starred the next three games for the Patriots. He said if they're going to get in the playoffs it's
00:02:13probably going to take 10 wins. They need to take the next three. Chris Gardocky will kick off for
00:02:19the Colts.
00:02:22Meggett and Brown the deep men for the Patriots. This is Troy Brown for about the five.
00:02:28And Brown to the 30 and to the 35 before he stopped. A good return by Troy Brown. Ball came loose but he
00:02:36was already down. Marcus Pollard making the stop for the Colts after a 30-yard return.
00:02:41Bruce Armstrong leads the offensive line. The four-time Pro Bowl performer. They've done a good job
00:02:47for the Patriots this season.
00:02:51Drew Bledsoe has passed for nearly 2,900 yards second in the NFL. He leads in attempts and
00:02:56completions. Curtis Martin has rushed for 12 touchdowns. That's second in the NFL.
00:03:03High formation.
00:03:04Here is Curtis Martin the tailback on first down fighting his way for about two yards before he's
00:03:12thrown back by the center of the defense led by Whittington and McCoy. Now this defense for the
00:03:17Colts is missing five starters today. One of them Tony Saragusa up front. Whittington, McCoy,
00:03:23Martin and Bennett there. Corriott, Grant and Alberts are the linebackers. Harad is injured. He's the
00:03:29leading tackler on the season and three starting defensive backs are out. Eugene Daniel is in
00:03:34there. He's the only normal starter for the Colts in the defensive backfield. John Burke is in at a
00:03:40tight end spot. Here's a give again to Curtis Martin. First free and has a first down to the 47
00:03:46before he's tripped up by Tony McCoy. So the Patriots who haven't rushed effectively all season get a
00:03:53first down on two consecutive carries by Martin. And in talking to Martin yesterday, I mentioned to him,
00:03:59you know, he had 1400 yards last year, not as much this year. He said, hey, we were six and 10 last
00:04:03year. I'm willing to run less and win more if that's what it takes. Here he is again.
00:04:11And a good game across midfield down into cold territory to about the 47 before Trev Alberts puts
00:04:18him down. Well, this is the aggressive start that Bill Parcells was talking about controlling the line
00:04:23of scrimmage, not allowing the opponent to really get any head of steam, any feeling like
00:04:28well, the Patriots are going to do something stupid today. This is an excellent offensive
00:04:33line that Parcells has and a very good running back behind it. He's going to use it here early
00:04:38in a lot. Martin three carries 18 yards. Here's number four. And again, a good gainer. Curtis
00:04:46Martin just tripped up. Nearly broke free. Jason Belser got him around the ankles. A 10-yard gain.
00:04:53Four straight carries by Martin and 28 total yards. And Tom, one of the big defensive replacements
00:04:59is Siragusa. He's not in there. He is a great big guy who can stop anybody. You see McCoy and also
00:05:07number 90 Martin trying to stand up there. But again, an excellent offensive line. That defensive
00:05:13line from the Colts hurt. Very hurt. And the Patriots taking advantage of it. Gash in motion. Martin is the
00:05:19only setback. And he'll carry it again. This time hit at the line of scrimmage and then
00:05:24driven back. In fact, dropped for a loss of a couple by Bernard Whittington.
00:05:29You never know when Bill Parcells says things are going to be different this week. And he starts
00:05:34yelling and screaming. You never know who he's going to appoint. He told me yesterday, Tom,
00:05:39three guys played well last week. Just three. This morning, I heard him talking on the air.
00:05:44Two guys. So I don't know what happened last night. But one guy's performance last week
00:05:48suddenly was downgraded. Well, they came out and they said, well, we'll run Martin until
00:05:52they stop him. They did there. This time they go to Martin again. And he takes it to about
00:05:59the 36-yard line where Steve Martin and Trev Alberts get him. He went to the Pro Bowl last year,
00:06:05first time. And he met, checked into the hotel in Hawaii with Emmett Smith. They became a good
00:06:11friend, did a lot of things in the offseason. And he said, that's the one person at the Pro Bowl
00:06:15that I wanted to meet, get to know, and start to hang around with.
00:06:21Third down. And Dave Meggett, the third down specialist, is on as you see Martin on the
00:06:25sideline.
00:06:28Three wide receiver formation.
00:06:30Bledsoe's first pass. Look one way, the other, and a great catch by Terry Glenn, the rookie.
00:06:41Jason Belzer brought him down. But did you see Glenn go upstairs to get that one?
00:06:47Gain of 19 yards.
00:06:48Yeah, Tom, not a particularly good throw by Drew Bledsoe. There is good pressure by the Colts.
00:06:54They employ the fire zone or zone blitz, and that is they have people dropping out in coverage.
00:07:00And Bledsoe kind of sidearms it. Oh, and you're right. Excellent catch by Terry Glenn,
00:07:04who has now won the heart of Bill Parcells.
00:07:07Yeah, it wasn't easy.
00:07:10But she now has.
00:07:14And Martin again, and twisted down for a loss of one.
00:07:17Tony Bennett did the job that time.
00:07:19And you remember the story, I guess, that Coach Bill Parcells was referring to Terry Glenn
00:07:25as she earlier, and that was the worst of insults in many people's eyes, and just his way of
00:07:31motivating. He is not an easy man to play for, and some can and some can't. Phil Simms, I
00:07:36guess, was the ideal player to take Parcells' abuse with a grain of salt. Some cannot do it.
00:07:43Martin again.
00:07:49Hole on the left.
00:07:50Inside the 10 down to the 8-yard line.
00:07:53Caught from behind by Ray McElroy.
00:07:55That one is a 9-yard gain as the
00:07:58ground game suddenly a resurgent for the Patriots.
00:08:01This is the best part of the offensive line.
00:08:03You've got Roberts at guard.
00:08:05You've got Armstrong at tackle.
00:08:06And they out-muscle him.
00:08:08Armstrong just holds up.
00:08:10Ellis Johnson, 62, and the Martin not touched until he's about 7 or 8 yards down the field.
00:08:15Yeah, they've quickly gained control of the line of scrimmage here.
00:08:19Keith Byers in the game, and an H-back at the bottom of your screen on the 10th play of the drive.
00:08:25Curtis Martin gets a block at the corner, and then good penetration by the Colts' defense
00:08:30to stop him at the line of scrimmage.
00:08:32No gain.
00:08:33Quentin Corriott.
00:08:34And on 4th down, the field goal unit heads out onto the field.
00:08:41So the Patriots drive it downfield and suddenly stall inside the 10th.
00:08:45I'm kind of surprised here.
00:08:47I really am.
00:08:48I mean, if you want to establish a mindset for your team,
00:08:52going for it on 4th down, and it looks like about a yard and a half,
00:08:56but Parcells is conservative, so he wants the points.
00:09:00Well, remember, 21-0 against the Jets, 24-0 against the Broncos.
00:09:04At least he wants to get something.
00:09:06Minuteri to attempt the field goal.
00:09:09About a 26-yard attempt, and it is good.
00:09:12So Parcells and the Patriots take the opening kickoff and a 3-0 lead.
00:09:24I bet some big old lobsters are lurking in that water.
00:09:27I have to get my hands on one.
00:09:29Yeah, if you don't like lobster, boom.
00:09:32Sunny New England afternoon, though a bit chilly.
00:09:35And the Patriots have 3-0.
00:09:37Here's Minuteri's kick.
00:09:39Aaron Bailey from the 5.
00:09:42Bailey has a pretty nice return.
00:09:46He is across the 30 before Jerome Henderson leads to the special team's charge,
00:09:52and now it's Jim Harbaugh's chance with the football.
00:09:56An experiment this week at left tackle.
00:09:58Jason Matthews, who's played right tackle virtually his entire career,
00:10:02moves to the left, giving Tony Mandaritz the start at right tackle.
00:10:06And Jim Harbaugh, of course, not as effective as last year.
00:10:09He's taken a supreme beating this year, I'll tell you.
00:10:13He has been sacked 31 times and hit no telling how many.
00:10:17And as we documented earlier, Marshall Falk, with an injury to his toe,
00:10:20has been not very effective either, averaging only 2.8 yards a rush.
00:10:25That's Harrison in motion.
00:10:36And Marshall Falk.
00:10:42About 2 or 3 yards before he was driven back by Willie Clay.
00:10:45So the Patriots open up going to their running game,
00:10:49and the Colts try to answer.
00:10:51Jones, Wheeler, Wyman, and McGinnis,
00:10:52who's having an excellent year up front for the Pats.
00:10:55And today, Saab starts in place of Slade at linebacker.
00:11:02Monty Brown gets a start for Todd Collins.
00:11:05And Reynolds, Smith, Malloy, and Clay in the defensive secondary.
00:11:092nd and 7 for Harbaugh.
00:11:18Draw play, delayed handoff to Marshall Falk.
00:11:22Cuts his way across the 35 to the 36, only about 2 yards,
00:11:26and Saab makes the tackle.
00:11:28Dwayne Saab getting the start at linebacker today.
00:11:31He's played 11 games.
00:11:33This is his third start of the season.
00:11:34Former 1AA All-American and Defensive Player of the Year
00:11:39and 1AA for New Hampshire.
00:11:41You will see the Patriots make almost wholesale changes
00:11:45on various down-and-distance situations defensively.
00:11:48And Carcell uses an awful lot of defensive players every week.
00:11:54Harbaugh in the shotgun.
00:12:00Quick slant, broken up.
00:12:04Intended for Brian Stabline and Lawyer Malloy
00:12:07with an excellent defensive play.
00:12:09The rookie from Washington made the play for the Pats.
00:12:15This is the nickel package that the Patriots use.
00:12:17They use three linebackers and McGinnis, the defensive end, to rush.
00:12:22And you're right, Malloy was all over that quick slant.
00:12:25Excellent reaction.
00:12:27You saw the corner blitz.
00:12:28Malloy picks him up.
00:12:29Incomplete pass.
00:12:30Three downs and out.
00:12:31And Chris Gardocki will punt.
00:12:34Having a Pro Bowl type see the season is Gardocki.
00:12:37Look at those numbers.
00:12:3818 inside the 20.
00:12:40Only one touchback.
00:12:42Booms that one toward Dave Meggett.
00:12:44Meggett backtracks to the 10.
00:12:50And down at about the 20-yard line.
00:12:52It was a 54-yard punt.
00:12:5610 yards on the return.
00:12:58Still 3-0.
00:13:05Patriots opening drive netted three points.
00:13:07And the surprising aspect of it, Ben Coates to the Pro Bowl
00:13:10as a tight end the last two years.
00:13:13He was caught a pass in 60 straight games.
00:13:16Was not on the field.
00:13:18Not an injury.
00:13:20John Burke was there.
00:13:21Replaced him.
00:13:21Maybe he's the guy that you said was downgraded by Parcells.
00:13:24Coaching decision that Coates is on the sideline.
00:13:26Coates has 50 catches.
00:13:28Second leading receiver this year.
00:13:29Here's Curtis Martin again.
00:13:31And another good gain as he rips off nine yards on first down
00:13:35before Stephen Grant can get him to the turf.
00:13:37Well, the one thing I can tell you about Bill Parcells,
00:13:41it may be a while before you understand the injury to a Colt at Stephen Grant.
00:13:46That figures, I mean, the Colts have a virus.
00:13:51But I was going to say about Parcells, I mean, you're not sure when you're going to eventually
00:13:55get the message about, I didn't like your performance last week.
00:13:58But you're going to get it.
00:13:59And the one thing about Parcells, he does not mind doing it in public.
00:14:04You know, having Coates on the sideline, he's got two defensive starters from what he told
00:14:10us yesterday, two new linebackers.
00:14:12I mean, he wants to make sure that these guys get the point.
00:14:16You play my way, you sit.
00:14:17Stephen Grant leaves the game, shaken up, replaced by Elijah Alexander, a linebacker.
00:14:25There's Grant, 59, and made that last tackle.
00:14:28Martin now has carried 10 times in this first quarter for 46 yards.
00:14:32And here he is again.
00:14:38And he'll have a first down just short of the 35, where he's tackled by Tony McCoy.
00:14:44And Tom, in talking to Curtis yesterday, went to the University of Pittsburgh two years ago,
00:14:47only played three games as a senior, but he said to train, he used to run up and down the
00:14:52steps at Pitt Stadium.
00:14:53And he said, I ran him so much, there were 103 steps.
00:14:56I remember, counted them.
00:14:58I said, how about here?
00:14:58And he said, now, there aren't enough steps here in Foxboro.
00:15:00He said, I've got to train some other way.
00:15:04First down for New England.
00:15:06And Martin is the only setback.
00:15:09Carries again.
00:15:11Curtis gets three yards on first down.
00:15:15Alberts and Martin.
00:15:17And pretty soon, the Colts are going to have to commit some extra people up front.
00:15:22There are those stairs that are not enough.
00:15:26Just 20-some rows.
00:15:27Yeah.
00:15:28Used to 103.
00:15:29Yeah, you can't get to the next level without going around.
00:15:32So, see, Curtis Martin can't run the stadium steps here if you get a Pitt.
00:15:37Needs another touchdown to set the record.
00:15:40And Ben Coates now comes in at tight end.
00:15:42His first appearance, except on special teams.
00:15:45That coach is in motion, coming from the top of the screen, set wide.
00:15:52Play action fake.
00:15:53Bledsoe's pass to Gash.
00:15:54There's a flag down.
00:15:56Sam Gash bucked out of bounds at the midfield.
00:15:58Striped by Eugene Daniel.
00:16:00Gain of 13 if it stands.
00:16:02You know, I hate to say this, but when the back judge throws the flag, he's watching the tight end.
00:16:09I pray that this is not on the tight end.
00:16:15There's that tight end thing again.
00:16:16Larry Nemers, by the way, is the referee today.
00:16:19It's going to be against Indianapolis.
00:16:22You and the tight ends.
00:16:24You must be president of the union.
00:16:26Well, I'm a dues-paying member.
00:16:28Illegal hands to the face.
00:16:30Defense number 31.
00:16:31Penalty is declined.
00:16:34Pushed out.
00:16:35Derek Frazier with hands to the face.
00:16:37The 13-yard gain will stand.
00:16:39Spot the ball at the Indy 49-yard line.
00:16:42First down, New England.
00:16:43Patriots already up three points with just over five minutes left in the first quarter.
00:16:49Delayed handoff to Martin.
00:16:52Sort of a little counterplay that time.
00:16:54They're trying him every which way, and it's been mostly effective.
00:16:57With Stephen Grant back in the game to make the tackle.
00:16:59Now, Tom, not fancy.
00:17:02The counter, the power.
00:17:04They got a double-team block, tight end tackle.
00:17:06Fullback lead.
00:17:07Sam Gash, excellent leading fullback blocker.
00:17:11This is basic 1950 run the ball right at their mouth.
00:17:16Approached by the New England Patriots here.
00:17:19And again, Parcells says, we're going to do it until you stop it.
00:17:21That's Byers in motion.
00:17:24Martin.
00:17:26Having a good game to the 40.
00:17:27He's going to be about a yard short of the first down with Grant again at the bottom of the stack.
00:17:32And help from Trev Alberts.
00:17:33Boy, they're certainly making the point here, aren't they?
00:17:36We are going to shove you all over the place.
00:17:38Here you see you also got the right guard pulling.
00:17:41Excellent play.
00:17:42They're just trying to power to a spot.
00:17:45Byers leads.
00:17:45Kicks out Trev Alberts.
00:17:4771.
00:17:48Rucci up through the hole.
00:17:50I don't think they want to wear Curtis Martin out in the first quarter here, but they're giving it a shot, aren't they?
00:17:55Yes, they do.
00:17:56If they can, they will.
00:17:58I-formation on third and one.
00:18:00And it is Curtis Martin.
00:18:01And he bangs for the first down behind William Roberts.
00:18:10Again, Grant makes the tackle for the third straight time.
00:18:13He's fighting a hold of middle linebacker than he normally, where Jeff Perraud patrols and is the Colts' perennial leading tackler.
00:18:21Stephen Grant, moving inside, has done a good job the last couple of weeks.
00:18:25One of the most athletic players that I think the Colts have on their team.
00:18:29He's usually in there in the nickel package when everybody's back and healthy, but he can run well from sideline to sideline,
00:18:36which is what is necessary for a middle linebacker.
00:18:40What else?
00:18:41Curtis Martin to the 35.
00:18:44That's about four yards on first down.
00:18:46Big Bruce Armstrong, 78, gets up after leading the interference.
00:18:51Tony Bennett and Ellis Johnson getting a piece of the tackle.
00:18:56This is not a big defensive line.
00:18:58With Siragusa out, the only real big guy in there is McCoy.
00:19:03And you can see that Bennett at 240.
00:19:06What do you say is the prerequisite for a big guy up front stopping the run?
00:19:09Big butt.
00:19:10The more, the better.
00:19:15Curtis Martin.
00:19:18It's the Curtis Martin show here in the first quarter.
00:19:20Nearly to the 30.
00:19:21Grant and Alberts again.
00:19:26I wonder when the offense learned from Parcells that this is what they were going to do.
00:19:32I mean, Parcells will tell Ray Perkins, you run it until I tell you to do something else.
00:19:37Just like that.
00:19:38Absolutely.
00:19:39I mean, he and Perkins have been together for a long time.
00:19:41And the tuna can get in your face.
00:19:44How many times do you think Martin is carried in the first quarter?
00:19:4811.
00:19:4917.
00:19:5017.
00:19:53Third down here.
00:19:54And Megan is in the backfield.
00:19:55Let's those pass.
00:19:57He is caught for a first down by Terry Glenn.
00:20:00Diedrich Mathis runs him out of bounds.
00:20:0411-yard gain for Glenn, who had a mild concussion and didn't play in the second half last week against the Broncos.
00:20:10Tom, this is the way the New York Giants played.
00:20:13When Parcells had Sims, he had Joe Morris.
00:20:16This is exactly the way they played football.
00:20:18Two tight ends.
00:20:19Spread the defense.
00:20:20Keep firing with the run at the line of scrimmage.
00:20:22A little play action on third down.
00:20:24Use Megan out of the backfield.
00:20:25This is New York Giants championship-style football.
00:20:29Look at Terry Glenn, the Patriots' leading receiver this season.
00:20:34Hand off to Curtis Martin again.
00:20:39Tackled by Alberts.
00:20:40As we send you to Greg Gumbel in New York for an update.
00:20:43Greg?
00:20:44All right, Tom.
00:20:45We take you to Baltimore, where the Ravens have jumped on top of Jacksonville.
00:20:49Mike Caldwell picks off Mark Brunel.
00:20:52Carl Brunel, his league-leading 19th interception.
00:20:55And Caldwell goes 45 yards for the touchdown with the extra point.
00:20:59It's the Ravens' seven.
00:21:00The Jaguars nothing, Tom.
00:21:02All right, Greg, thank you very much.
00:21:03Three nothing here with the Patriots driving in a fast first quarter due to all the Patriots running inside the final minute here.
00:21:11Jaguars and the Ravens playing for the second time in three weeks.
00:21:14Off to the end zone, wide open, touchdown, Sean Jefferson.
00:21:20That was too easy.
00:21:24Jefferson beats Frazier for 13 yards.
00:21:27Hitch and go.
00:21:27The audible called by Drew Bledsoe.
00:21:38Frazier bid on the hitch.
00:21:40Couldn't keep up with a go.
00:21:42How about that drive?
00:21:47Third touchdown catch of the season for Sean Jefferson.
00:21:51Inventary to add the extra point.
00:21:53And it's good.
00:21:59Well, the Patriots are taking care of that first order of business.
00:22:02Getting out early.
00:22:03They take a 10-0 first quarter lead on Bledsoe's 19th touchdown pass.
00:22:12A textbook first quarter by the New England Patriots.
00:22:15Sean Jefferson catching the touchdown pass from Drew Bledsoe as they up the lead to 10-0 with 50 seconds left.
00:22:21And Bledsoe will kick off to Aaron Bailey.
00:22:29Short kick.
00:22:30Real short.
00:22:31Bailey from the 15 with a head of steam.
00:22:34And to the 37-yard line.
00:22:37Very short kick by Bledsoe.
00:22:38That time, Marty Moore makes the tackle.
00:22:41Tom, let's go back to the touchdown.
00:22:43Here's Sean Jefferson.
00:22:44Frazier bites on the hitch.
00:22:46And Jefferson sells it beautifully.
00:22:49And then this is a great throw by Drew Bledsoe.
00:22:52Make sure there's enough air underneath it.
00:22:54And he keeps it in the end zone.
00:22:56Touchdown.
00:23:00Pretty textbook drive for the New England Patriots.
00:23:09Both now try to answer here in the closing seconds of the first quarter.
00:23:13Lamont Warren in motion.
00:23:14Carball.
00:23:15First down pass.
00:23:17Screen.
00:23:18Complete to Falk.
00:23:19Falk lowers his head and rams ahead.
00:23:21Got a gain of about six yards.
00:23:23Willie Clay makes the tackle.
00:23:26He is more of a receiver now for the Colts than he is a running back.
00:23:30And that's to protect his toe.
00:23:32The Colts have tried hard not to identify that dislocated toe as a turf toe.
00:23:38But it has all of the symptoms of the turf toe.
00:23:41That chronic joint problem that just can't...
00:23:44You just don't see Marshall Falk at 100%.
00:23:46A little easier playing on grass this week for him.
00:23:50And see if we get a playoff here before the quarter ends.
00:23:54Just barely.
00:23:56Nothing doing.
00:23:57It would have been better to let the quarter in.
00:23:59And Marshall Falk on the draw play, surrounded by Willie Clay.
00:24:03Clay coming from that free safety spot on the Blitz in the perfect place at the perfect time.
00:24:11That brings the first quarter to a close on a seven-yard loss.
00:24:15You're watching the NFL on NBC.
00:24:17Tom Hammond and Bob Truppy starting the second quarter in Foxborough.
00:24:25The Patriots leading the Colts 10-0.
00:24:27Indianapolis facing a third and 11 play here.
00:24:30This is already a huge play for the Colts.
00:24:33First play in the second quarter.
00:24:38Harbaugh from the gun.
00:24:39And into the pocket.
00:24:42Gets it complete to Marshall Falk.
00:24:45Tries to put on a move or two.
00:24:47And Corlin Brown slaps him down short of the first down.
00:24:53Falk just a circle pattern out of the backfield.
00:24:56Nothing fancy.
00:24:58And you can see the drop of the nickel package.
00:25:02Make sure that everybody's in front of you if you can.
00:25:04There's three guys there to just encircle Marshall Falk.
00:25:06And there's to keep him from making the first down.
00:25:10On fourth down, Chris Gardocki's first punt covered 54.
00:25:17And Dave Meggett standing at the 10.
00:25:21Gardocki sails it his way.
00:25:23Meggett from the 8.
00:25:26Can't get to the outside.
00:25:28But just slip a couple of tackles.
00:25:30Cuts back the other way.
00:25:31And spins his way to the 37-yard line.
00:25:34Jason Belser finally makes the tackle after a good return by Meggett of 23 yards.
00:25:41It's been all New England.
00:25:45A tough afternoon for Jim Harbaugh, Lindy, and Fonte in the Colts who trail 10-0.
00:25:50Total domination in the opening quarter by the New England Patriots.
00:25:54Drew Bledsoe is 4 for 4 for 57 yards and a touchdown.
00:25:57Curtis Martin is carried 18 times and is closing in on 100 yards.
00:26:03Here's Curtis again.
00:26:04He only has some finest yards in the book there.
00:26:07He's driven back by Ellis Johnson, who is first to arrive on the scene, then joined by Steve Martin.
00:26:13Well, here he is.
00:26:14He won't see one team dominate quite that much very often.
00:26:19Look at the total yards and time of possession.
00:26:21And, of course, that time of possession, the exact opposite of the way the Patriots have played the last several weeks.
00:26:28So, Marcellus has gotten a message to his players, and they have had a quick, aggressive start.
00:26:34Well, this time they stop Martin on first down.
00:26:37Let's see if that changes the philosophy.
00:26:39Counterplay.
00:26:40Curtis Martin with a flag down.
00:26:42Bang to the turf at the 39 by Derek Frazier.
00:26:45Larry Nembers has spotted, his crew has spotted, a hold against New England.
00:26:54Tom, I do notice that the Colts, in trying to get the bigger butt in there, they've got Ellis Johnson, who is now playing deep.
00:27:01Holding.
00:27:03Offense number 33.
00:27:04Ten-yard penalty.
00:27:07Second.
00:27:08Sam Gash guilty of the hold.
00:27:09Excellent lead blocker, but sometimes you do have to stick a hand out here.
00:27:16Let's see.
00:27:17He's on 95, Winnington.
00:27:19Winnington, yeah, does drag him down.
00:27:21But Ellis Johnson, making the transition from defensive end to defensive tackle, he's in there just for more bulk in the middle of this Colt defense.
00:27:32Second and long.
00:27:33Let's go.
00:27:36Rifles it to Gash.
00:27:37Complete.
00:27:38Breaks the tackle.
00:27:39Gash at midfield and knocked out of bounds.
00:27:41First down, New England.
00:27:43Grant and McElroy finally catching up, but a 26-yard gain.
00:27:48Gash slipped the initial tackler and made it a big play for New England.
00:27:53Now, Gash was flanked out, way out to the right, just runs a pattern down the field.
00:27:57Bledsoe guns it, and the Patriots fans saw missed tackles like that last week against Denver.
00:28:03Now, this week, the attitude of the team is, uh-oh, we better not miss anything.
00:28:08And you're seeing a stellar November performance here at the start by the Patriots.
00:28:13Gash slammed Derek Frazier, and they're matched up again on this play.
00:28:17Bledsoe being chased, and Drew throws it away.
00:28:23Grant was coming on a blitz when Corriott was there, too, in Bledsoe's face, and he just sailed it out of bounds.
00:28:28And now that's what the Colts are going to have to resort to, a little more blitzing, which allows the Patriots bigger plays.
00:28:34If they can just protect the quarterback, the Colts now have to take some chances defensively.
00:28:40And with the new people playing different positions, you can get somebody out of alignment.
00:28:44All of a sudden, the receiver is wide open, free down the middle.
00:28:48That was the first pass that Bledsoe has missed.
00:28:51He's now 5 of 6.
00:28:52Here's Curtis Martin again, ridden down by Steve Martin.
00:28:58He's going to be about 4 yards short of first down yardage.
00:29:04Martin looking for the sideline.
00:29:05Am I going to be replaced?
00:29:07Please replace me.
00:29:08Give me a break here.
00:29:10And he is replaced by Dave Megan.
00:29:1280 yards here in the first half on 20 carries.
00:29:14Yeah, give him a drink of water.
00:29:17Grab the oxygen.
00:29:18Rest, son.
00:29:18We're going to use you some more.
00:29:20Take that saddle off for a minute.
00:29:22It's going to be back on if he continues to gain as he has.
00:29:25They'll ride him all afternoon.
00:29:28Bledsoe.
00:29:29Sacked.
00:29:29Ball loose.
00:29:31And the Patriots get it back.
00:29:34Max Lane recovered the fumble as Dent and Bennett sandwiched Drew Bledsoe and knocked the ball free.
00:29:41There's Max Lane, who still won't give that ball up.
00:29:43Just a three-man rush by the Colts.
00:29:46Only three men and neither offensive tackle can handle the defensive ends of the Colts.
00:29:55Good recovery, but Bledsoe is absolutely blindsided by the old man.
00:30:00Richard Dent.
00:30:01And Tom Tupa will punt for the first time in the game.
00:30:05But first, the Colts will take a timeout.
00:30:08Looks like Indianapolis did not have proper personnel on the field.
00:30:12So, they waste a timeout with 11.35 left in the second quarter and already down 10.
00:30:23Welcome back to Foxborough.
00:30:25Tom Hammond, Bob Trumpy.
00:30:26As Tom Tupa punts the ball away.
00:30:28First New England punt of the game.
00:30:30Fair catch called for by Brian Stabline and taken.
00:30:34At about the 16-yard line.
00:30:36Well, tonight, Dateline looks at bad credits.
00:30:39Miss even one payment and your credit rating could be ruined.
00:30:43Now, some companies claim they can clear your name.
00:30:45But can they?
00:30:47A Dateline undercover consumer alert.
00:30:50That's later on Dateline, only on NBC.
00:30:52Keep watching that show.
00:30:55They start to scare me.
00:30:56You can't do anything or go anywhere, you know?
00:30:59Everybody's under investigation.
00:31:07Jim Harbaugh and the Colts need something desperately.
00:31:09They begin here at their own 17-yard line.
00:31:17First down pass.
00:31:18Quick drop and off the hands of Ken Dilger.
00:31:21Incomplete.
00:31:21Dwayne Sab was defending Dilger.
00:31:25And it didn't look like it was going to be a big gainer in any event.
00:31:27But Dilger normally sure-handed.
00:31:29Yeah.
00:31:29And, Tom, maybe just as important as a three-step drop by Harbaugh.
00:31:34It looks like Lindy and Bonnie already a little afraid of the pass rush here by the Patriots.
00:31:39Does not want to put his quarterback in too much jeopardy.
00:31:41As Harbaugh's reading the Lindy and Bonnie phone book there.
00:31:48As the play is taped to his wrist.
00:31:50And looking for a second and ten success here.
00:31:55Dilger in motion.
00:31:57Flag down.
00:31:57Play stopped.
00:32:01Should have been stopped.
00:32:03Yes.
00:32:03Kirk Loudermilk is still blocking his man.
00:32:09It'll be a false start against the Colts.
00:32:11Flyer to the snap.
00:32:12False start.
00:32:1364 offense.
00:32:15Five-yard penalty.
00:32:16Still second down.
00:32:17Doug Wydell, number 64.
00:32:21Puts the Colts in a bigger hole now at second and 15.
00:32:24Yeah.
00:32:25Just what you need, you know.
00:32:28This Colt team so injured after a wonderful start to this season.
00:32:32Lindy and Bonnie calls it a virus.
00:32:35They didn't have one guy get hurt at one position.
00:32:37They get four guys hurt at one position.
00:32:40Second and 15.
00:32:41Patriots have their nickel defense.
00:32:42Five defensive backs.
00:32:46Protection for Harbaugh now begins to break down and he runs for it.
00:32:50This is the captain comeback we saw a year ago as he scrambles forward for a game.
00:32:55Ted Johnson forced him out of bounds.
00:32:57Actually, with the way he ran last year, as told us several times this season,
00:33:01teams won't let me run anymore.
00:33:04They have spies on him.
00:33:06He still has that Achilles strain in his ankle that kind of slows him down a bit.
00:33:10But a great competitor.
00:33:13And, of course, celebrating somewhat this week with the Michigan win over Ohio State.
00:33:17Kurt Loudermilk from Ohio State, the center,
00:33:19has to carry Harbaugh's helmet off the practice field every day for the rest of the year
00:33:24because the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes.
00:33:29Third and seven.
00:33:33Dime defense for the Patriots.
00:33:37Harbaugh again scrambles free of trouble.
00:33:40Tucks it underneath and is taken down for maybe a yard gain by Chris Slade.
00:33:46Scooter and Magruder also helping on the play as, once again, the Colts will have to punt.
00:33:50They also had, the Patriots also had Corwin Brown on the blitz.
00:33:55He was, there's number 30 right there.
00:33:57Watch him.
00:33:59And Harbaugh's looking, help, help.
00:34:00Somebody turn their head around.
00:34:02Scooter Magruder is the first one that flushes him.
00:34:05And then several Patriots there to get Harbaugh on the ground.
00:34:09And Chris Gardocky will be called on once again.
00:34:17Not as good a punt this time.
00:34:19Meggett takes it at about the 39-yard line.
00:34:23And it's back to the 45 where the Patriots will take over with great field position
00:34:28after the tackle by Banta.
00:34:3010-0, New England.
00:34:32It's remaining in the first half, and the Colts still do not have a first down.
00:34:38Man.
00:34:38Trailing 10-0 in great field position here for New England.
00:34:41First down at their own 45.
00:34:46Curtis Martin behind blockers, cutting back to midfield.
00:34:50Gate of about five behind the block of Armstrong and Roberts.
00:34:54Bernard Whittington makes the tackle, and Martin is on record-breaking pace.
00:34:59The all-time record for carries in a game for New England is 38,
00:35:03set by Jim Nance in 1966.
00:35:07And 21 now for Curtis Martin here in the first half.
00:35:10Tom, I'll tell you, Jim Nance was a big old Husky fullback.
00:35:14You know, he could handle 38 carries.
00:35:16Curtis Martin, not that big.
00:35:19Here he is again.
00:35:22Big enough to get three yards and put the tackling Steve Martin on his back.
00:35:29And it'll be third down at about a yard and a half.
00:35:31Tom, I beg your pardon, but let's give credit to these guys up front.
00:35:34If nothing else, Parcells has gotten the point across.
00:35:37Boys, it's in your hands today.
00:35:39As long as you can control the line of scrimmage,
00:35:42we're going to give you the opportunity to control the line of scrimmage.
00:35:45Offensive linemen love this.
00:35:47You beat up the other team.
00:35:49Troy Brown and Dave Meggett into the third down lineup.
00:35:55Hand off to Meggett.
00:35:57Dancing his way for a first down.
00:35:58Diving to the 38 of Indianapolis.
00:36:01Where he's covered by Ray McElroy.
00:36:05Now again, a guy like Meggett, so valuable.
00:36:08Willing to return the kicks and punts.
00:36:10And come in on the third down.
00:36:12Again, great blocking up front.
00:36:14Control the line of scrimmage.
00:36:16The offensive line has pushed the Colts way back.
00:36:20The Colts, is it a cliche to say, on their heels?
00:36:25Maybe even on their back to this point in the first half.
00:36:28Ben Coates in the game and in motion.
00:36:31Fake to Martin.
00:36:32Bledsoe fires complete to Gash.
00:36:34Covered by Grant out of the backfield.
00:36:36And takes it for about an eight-yard gain.
00:36:39Tony Bennett over at the sideline to help make the play on Gash.
00:36:43Tony Bennett, the defensive end.
00:36:46Out covering Gash out of the backfield.
00:36:48Just another little aspect of a multiple offense that's based on control of the line of scrimmage.
00:36:54Play action.
00:36:56And then find somebody short.
00:36:57Break a tackle.
00:36:58Pick up the first down.
00:36:59Or close to it.
00:37:00Oh my goodness.
00:37:0222 yards for Indianapolis.
00:37:04No first downs.
00:37:05Will Parcells is saying, as Curtis Martin carries again, that we're kind of not like other teams.
00:37:12We don't try to establish the run.
00:37:14And, of course, Bledsoe leads the league in attempts.
00:37:16And here they come out today.
00:37:17This is a coach's dream.
00:37:18Steve Martin made the tackle with McElroy.
00:37:21First down, New England.
00:37:22And I'm telling you something.
00:37:24Of all the jobs I would not want around the NFL, is if someone asked me to try to figure out Bill Parcells,
00:37:31you have no chance to figure out Bill Parcells.
00:37:35And that's intentional.
00:37:37He plays it that way.
00:37:40Ben Coates, the motion man.
00:37:43Play action fake.
00:37:44Bledsoe fires for the corner of the end zone.
00:37:46Incomplete.
00:37:47Overshooting Sean Jefferson, who already has a touchdown reception.
00:37:51He was covered with a veteran, Eugene Daniel, who had the two pickoffs,
00:37:54including a touchdown return against the Jets a week ago.
00:37:58Now, here is the growth of Drew Bledsoe, I think.
00:38:01Watch Ben Coates.
00:38:02He's going to come open right down the middle.
00:38:04Last year, he would have thrown up to Coates every single time.
00:38:07But because Coates, see, down the middle, he chooses to go to the outside.
00:38:11But Coates used to be his favorite and sometimes only receiver.
00:38:15Now Bledsoe has learned to throw to somebody else.
00:38:18Looks like he should have thrown to Coates at that time.
00:38:21Curtis Martin, second effort, will get him a couple.
00:38:27When Coriott credit for that stop for the Colts,
00:38:30whose defense has to be getting weary,
00:38:34being pounded continually by the offensive line of the Patriots
00:38:37and having seen their offense fail to register a first down yet
00:38:41with six and a half minutes to go in the half.
00:38:43Martin now up to 94 yards on 24 carries.
00:38:48My goodness.
00:38:50Everybody on the sideline, Pat, way to go, way to go, guy, way to go.
00:38:53You bet.
00:38:54Way to go.
00:38:54They get in with Jefferson, Graham, and Brown on third down.
00:39:01Coriott shows blitz, then backs out of it.
00:39:05And the pass threaded in there to Troy Brown,
00:39:08who makes a catch between Sam Burroughs and Derek Frazier.
00:39:12Bledsoe put it right there for 10 yards.
00:39:15Bledsoe has improved so much throwing a ball this year.
00:39:19Actually admitted to me the other day
00:39:21that the separated shoulder at 95 did, in fact, affect his delivery.
00:39:25The left arm was the one that was,
00:39:27the left shoulder was the one separated.
00:39:30And as a counterbalance, he was carrying it too low.
00:39:33Therefore, he was erratic.
00:39:34With his coach, Palmer, they kind of straightened it out,
00:39:37throwing with much more accuracy at 96.
00:39:41Curtis Martin stopped for a loss.
00:39:43A couple of yards by Ellis Johnson.
00:39:46In fact, and didn't they go back and look at the scouting combine tapes
00:39:50to see just what the form should be for Bledsoe.
00:39:53Even looked at some other quarterbacks.
00:39:55Elvis Gerbach, who sort of built the way Bledsoe is,
00:39:57and Brett Favre for his quick release.
00:39:59And I think the sum of that story is that Parcell still does not believe
00:40:04in a quarterback coach.
00:40:05He says the offensive coordinator does that.
00:40:07But some guys need it.
00:40:09Bledsoe does.
00:40:10Chris Palmer is the guy that's the buffer for Bledsoe.
00:40:13Bledsoe, short drop, and Bledsoe throws the out,
00:40:17complete to Glenn.
00:40:18And Terry Glenn has another Patriot first down inside the,
00:40:22whether the market had about the five-yard line,
00:40:24or Jason Belser chased him out after a gain of 13 yards.
00:40:28He's in the slot.
00:40:29Just runs the out pattern.
00:40:30Excellent protection.
00:40:31Nothing tricky about this.
00:40:33Linebacker coverage.
00:40:34And I'm telling you,
00:40:35when you go back and get 1990 New York Giant films,
00:40:38Parcells may have gone back and picked out one of those old game plans.
00:40:41And this looks so much like the way the Giants used to play.
00:40:45And they just dominated teams.
00:40:47And that's what the Patriots are doing today.
00:40:49And Drew Bledsoe has just gone past 3,000 yards passing this season.
00:40:54Now at 3,001.
00:40:55And looking for more.
00:40:57Touchdown to Glenn.
00:40:585-yard touchdown pass after a good play-action fake to Curtis Martin.
00:41:14And you're going to see the whole middle of the field open up.
00:41:18It looked like Stephen Grant, 59,
00:41:20fought so hard on the play-action fake,
00:41:23there was absolutely no one in the middle of the end zone.
00:41:31Then and Terry the extra point.
00:41:33Puts it through.
00:41:36Well, Bledsoe goes over 3,000 yards
00:41:39with a flourish on this touchdown pass.
00:41:41His 20th of the season.
00:41:43How total has the dominance been for the Patriots?
00:41:514.37 left till halftime.
00:41:54As Vinatieri gets set to kick off
00:41:56and the Colts do not have a first down.
00:41:58They've been outgained by nearly 200 yards.
00:42:02Aaron Bailey lets it bounce.
00:42:04Picks it up on the hop.
00:42:07And is driven to the turf with a flag flying in.
00:42:11Stopped at the 19-yard line.
00:42:12And we'll check the penalty marker.
00:42:19Total yards, 215-22 in favor of New England.
00:42:24My goodness.
00:42:24Nearly 200 more.
00:42:29Also, we're told that John Burke, the Patriots' tight end,
00:42:32has an injured ankle but probably will return.
00:42:36Lindy knows which way the penalty is going.
00:42:38He was telling his guys, make them kick it again.
00:42:40And I'm guessing it's against the Patriots.
00:42:48Offside.
00:42:49On the kickoff.
00:42:50Number 80.
00:42:52That penalty is declined.
00:42:54We have an illegal block in the back above the waist
00:42:57during the return on number 44.
00:43:00That penalty is accepted.
00:43:03Ten yards, first down.
00:43:06Well, Lindy was misinformed.
00:43:08Maybe just hoping.
00:43:09Look, look.
00:43:10Wait a minute.
00:43:11What are you talking about here?
00:43:14Chris Hetherington is the man called for the illegal block in the back.
00:43:17Now, maybe we're not done yet.
00:43:20The referee coming over to Lindy and Fonty.
00:43:26He called offside on New England, didn't he?
00:43:29He did.
00:43:31And said that was declined.
00:43:32Now, how could that be?
00:43:48Larry Numbers explaining it to Lindy and Fonty.
00:43:51Well, the penalty against the Colts is going to stand.
00:44:00Well, can you cause a fuss and see if he'll explain it to us?
00:44:07We'll take a break.
00:44:08You're watching the NFL on NBC.
00:44:1017-0, 4.29 to go to halftime.
00:44:16And because of the change of possession, we're told,
00:44:19the foul, the offside against the Patriots is disregarded.
00:44:26The illegal block in the back against the Colts.
00:44:28Penalty is taken.
00:44:29Putting the ball back to the nine-yard line.
00:44:33Pretty much the way the day has gone for the Colts.
00:44:36Disregarded New England penalty and put us back ten yards.
00:44:39I bet the bus won't be able to start when the game's over.
00:44:47Play action fake.
00:44:49Harbaugh with a roll.
00:44:50Plants his feet and delivers downfield.
00:44:52Complete.
00:44:53First down across the 30-yard line to Marvin Harrison.
00:44:56And let's go back to Greg Gumbel in New York for an update.
00:45:01All right, Tom, and we'll take you right out to Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City
00:45:04where the Chargers have had the advantage early on.
00:45:06Leonard Russell scores from four yards out.
00:45:09Two-touchdown lead for San Diego.
00:45:11They blew a 14-point lead to the Bucs last week.
00:45:14Seven minutes to play in the first half at Kansas City.
00:45:1614-0 San Diego, Tom.
00:45:18All right, Greg, thank you.
00:45:2014-0.
00:45:21Two teams also fighting for a wild-card berth, as are these two.
00:45:25And it's been all New England here.
00:45:26Marshall Falk on first down.
00:45:28Gets a gain of about four yards before he's tackled by Willie McGinnis,
00:45:32as the Colts have just registered on that pass to Harrison their initial first down of the game.
00:45:39And watch McGinnis, now defensive end, catch Falk from behind.
00:45:43Now there's effort.
00:45:44You think that McGinnis didn't get the message from Parcells during the week?
00:45:49Run to the ball.
00:45:50Get there.
00:45:51I don't care where you're lined up.
00:45:52Get there.
00:45:54McGinnis is having an outstanding year in his third season from Southern Cal.
00:45:58Fourth player taken in the draft in 94.
00:46:02Short drop.
00:46:03Harbaugh's pass.
00:46:04Rifle complete.
00:46:06Close to midfield.
00:46:07The catch again made by Marvin Harrison, the rookie from Syracuse.
00:46:10Tripped up by Ricky Reynolds after a 13-yard game.
00:46:13At the top, the one thing that the Patriots have to guard against
00:46:17is to get a little lackadaisical here with a 17-0 lead.
00:46:22Lose some of their steam, their enthusiasm.
00:46:25That's a simple slant pattern run by Harrison.
00:46:28Nice catch.
00:46:28Good throw by Harbaugh.
00:46:30Now moving the ball, other Colts.
00:46:32For the first time today.
00:46:35Plenty of time.
00:46:36Harbaugh's pass on target to Dawkins.
00:46:39Has it with a first down at the 34-yard line of New England.
00:46:43Willie Clay first to hit Sean Dawkins.
00:46:45His first catch goes for 17 yards.
00:46:48And Dawkins, over the last four games, has been a huge receiver for Harbaugh.
00:46:5218 catches for 290 yards over the last four games.
00:46:57Excellent protection.
00:46:59Ball beautifully thrown just out over the outstretched hands of Monte Brown.
00:47:03Nice catch.
00:47:04Dawkins, another first down.
00:47:06Harbaugh finding some rhythm now.
00:47:09And getting protection.
00:47:13Hit as he let it go.
00:47:15Dilger with a catch in traffic to the 9-yard line.
00:47:18Lawyer Malloy draped all over him, and now they say no catch.
00:47:23Dilger is lobbying.
00:47:24I caught it between my knees.
00:47:28Which would count?
00:47:29Which would count?
00:47:30Good job by Harbaugh to avoid the rush.
00:47:33Excellent coverage.
00:47:34That's a catch.
00:47:36That's a catch.
00:47:38Well, is it dropped yet?
00:47:40No, it never caught.
00:47:41Excellent call by the official.
00:47:42Never had control, did he?
00:47:43Never had control.
00:47:49Thought for a moment he had it, but he really never had control.
00:47:52And it's second down.
00:48:01Another slant complete to Harrison.
00:48:05Tackled immediately by Reynolds for a gain just about two yards short of the first down.
00:48:12As we reach the two-minute warning, as the Colts finally showing some life.
00:48:16Colts trying to get a lift just before halftime.
00:48:22Their only effective drive of the game.
00:48:24Two minutes left.
00:48:25They're down 17.
00:48:27Marvin Harrison already.
00:48:28Three catches, 41 yards on this drive.
00:48:31Third down.
00:48:32Harbaugh from the gun.
00:48:39Harbaugh chased.
00:48:41Got away and buys some time.
00:48:43Now decides to run.
00:48:44And he has the first down.
00:48:47Jim Harbaugh with a nifty run.
00:48:50Lawyer Malloy chased him out of bounds, stopping the clock at 1.50.
00:48:55And Harbaugh made that one happen.
00:48:57You're going to see the nickel package here run by New England with six defensive backs.
00:49:01A four-man rush.
00:49:03And Harbaugh again shows his competitive spirit.
00:49:06When he gets out here and there's a defensive back out there,
00:49:09most quarterbacks, it looks like, going to go to the sideline.
00:49:12Then he jumps back inside.
00:49:14Nice little block by stabline 86.
00:49:18Harbaugh remains a competitor.
00:49:21First down at the 17.
00:49:29Harbaugh in the end zone.
00:49:33Intercepted by Saab.
00:49:34Was it?
00:49:35Yes.
00:49:36Touchback.
00:49:36Interception.
00:49:37Dwayne Saab.
00:49:38Dilger began to break off his pattern early.
00:49:42He saw Harbaugh scrambling.
00:49:44So he headed on downfield for the end zone.
00:49:46And Harbaugh made a bad decision.
00:49:48Threw it up for grabs.
00:49:49And Saab, the linebacker, picked it off.
00:49:52Tom, your point is perfect.
00:49:53A bad decision.
00:49:54It's a decision out of desperation.
00:49:57Got to get something going for our team.
00:49:59Saab does an excellent job of staying right with the ball.
00:50:03Reynolds with the celebration.
00:50:06And for Saab, his first interception of 1996.
00:50:09And that's just Jim Harbaugh trying to do more than he should.
00:50:20Saab makes the interception.
00:50:22And so the Patriots take over.
00:50:24At their own 20-yard line, protecting a 17-point lead.
00:50:28Let's go right to the air to Troy Brown.
00:50:30Hit hard.
00:50:32Driven back.
00:50:33He got four yards.
00:50:38And here's the hurry-up offense from New England.
00:50:42And a timeout taken by Indianapolis.
00:50:45Which reminds you, the Domino's Pizza NFL and NBC halftime report
00:50:49will be coming up at intermission.
00:50:501.27 left until halftime.
00:50:53All the usual scores and highlights from Gumbel, Ditka, Gibbs, and Collinsworth.
00:50:59Plus a discussion on running up the score.
00:51:02Big discussion between Dallas and Green Bay about running up the score
00:51:08after that Monday night game and Boniol's record-tying field goal.
00:51:14And our guys will take on the subject at halftime.
00:51:17Bledsoe getting some final words from Parcells.
00:51:21Tom, we just noticed on the sideline is Marvin Harrison for the Colts.
00:51:26And on that interception, watch Harrison right here.
00:51:30Can't really pick up what happens, but he starts limping right there.
00:51:33Either pulls a hamstring, sprains an ankle.
00:51:37Grabbing for it is his ankle.
00:51:38And the Colts don't need that.
00:51:43Bledsoe on target again.
00:51:45Sean Jefferson.
00:51:47Just enough for the first down.
00:51:49Well, Parcells not happy with this 17-0 lead.
00:51:53Continuing to force the issue here.
00:51:56And that catch was Jefferson's 200th career reception.
00:52:01The six-year player from Central Florida.
00:52:04Came over as an unrestricted free agent from San Diego.
00:52:08Spent five years with the Chargers.
00:52:18Bledsoe threw it away short of Terry Glenn.
00:52:24And Richard Dead, who was putting the pressure on Bledsoe, has a little scuffle.
00:52:28Yeah.
00:52:30I mean, Bledsoe showing some steam there.
00:52:34You know, get your hands off him.
00:52:35I don't care who you are, where you've been, or who you think you are.
00:52:39Don't touch me.
00:52:41Now, watch the end of the play.
00:52:42He can't really follow through.
00:52:44There's Dent on the twist.
00:52:46And Dent, I'm going to twist him around a little bit.
00:52:48Drew doesn't like it.
00:52:49Get away from me.
00:52:50I've got big guys who can take care of you.
00:52:53Well, they have so far.
00:52:5417-0.
00:53:01Looks like he wanted to set up a screen.
00:53:03And the Colts got too much penetration, so he just sails it out of bounds.
00:53:07Megan was the intended receiver over there.
00:53:09And that one didn't work, Bill.
00:53:11Yeah, but that was a good choice by Bledsoe.
00:53:15Don't make a mistake here.
00:53:16You're leading 17-0, 1-14 to go into half.
00:53:19Just pitch it out there.
00:53:20Let it go.
00:53:21Does bring up third and ten.
00:53:23Pass deflected off Bledsoe's hand intended for Glenn.
00:53:46It was Richard Dent, a little stirred up after that little altercation,
00:53:50who got a hand on the pass, bringing up fourth down.
00:53:53And the Colts will get the ball back.
00:53:55And Marvin Harrison, their rookie wide receiver,
00:53:58second leading receiver on the season,
00:54:00has had his ankle re-tape and will return for Indianapolis.
00:54:04Good news for this final drive.
00:54:06Tom Tupa will punt as you see Harrison ready to come on.
00:54:08There's Tupa, whose first punt was not particularly good.
00:54:14Brian Stabline awaiting the boot from the 29.
00:54:21Cuts it to the outside.
00:54:23Brian Stabline with a track down the sideline and knocked out of bounds in New England territory at the 41 by Terry Ray.
00:54:3032-yard return of a 41-yard punt.
00:54:35So Harbaugh has some territory to work with here with 57 seconds remaining.
00:54:41And, Tom, we've seen the Colts several times this season.
00:54:43The one thing that really jumps out at you about this football team is this bunch does not give up.
00:54:50I mean, down 17-0, totally dominated in the first half.
00:54:55These guys keep plugging out there.
00:54:57That's to be admired as injured as this football team is.
00:55:00Four wide receiver formation.
00:55:04Shotgun, Dawkins, Stabline, Harrison, and Bailey are the wide outs.
00:55:09Harbaugh shovel pass to Marshall Falk.
00:55:12Great play made by Teddy Bruschi, the rookie from Arizona.
00:55:15He captured Falk right around the ankles, or they might have had something going.
00:55:19Had some blockers in front of him.
00:55:20Yeah, Bruschi plays in that nickel package as a defensive lineman.
00:55:25Great job done by the kid there.
00:55:31Harbaugh, quick strike to Dawkins.
00:55:33Can't spin away.
00:55:34Good open field tackle by Otis, my man, Smith.
00:55:38Third time Harbaugh has faced Otis, my man, Smith.
00:55:42Once with the Jets, and now twice with the Patriots.
00:55:46Timeout ending.
00:55:5128 seconds left in the second quarter, 17-0 New England.
00:55:55Colts have just used their final timeout.
00:56:00Harbaugh has it third and three from the 34 of New England.
00:56:13Wide open receiver Lamont Warren out of the backfield.
00:56:16Steps out of bounds with a first down at the 24-yard line.
00:56:20Scooter Magruder made sure he went out, but it was a 10-yard gain,
00:56:24and Indianapolis continues to drive with 22 seconds.
00:56:27Tom, probably the only choice at hand that Harbaugh had
00:56:30were seven defensive backs in a ball game for the Patriots.
00:56:34Patriots kind of trying to use the clock as their ally.
00:56:3822 seconds left.
00:56:39Let them catch it underneath.
00:56:40Harry Blanchard may get a chance here before halftime now.
00:56:45Already in field goal range, and Blanchard has been excellent this season.
00:56:4927 of 29.
00:56:50He, like Gardock, he is a Pro Bowl candidate.
00:56:53For the end zone, Harbaugh shoots it, and it is incomplete.
00:57:03Knocked down.
00:57:04Intended for Aaron Bailey.
00:57:05Willie Clay was there, number 32, to deflect the ball for the Patriots.
00:57:10Again, seven defensive backs.
00:57:13See, Ricky Reynolds, 21, with Aaron Bailey, and Willie Clay, perfect timing on that jump.
00:57:21And, you know, the other thing I like about Clay, he's a veteran, came over from Detroit,
00:57:24didn't try to catch it, just get the thing so nobody else can catch it.
00:57:28He leads the Patriots in interceptions with four and has 15 in his five-year career.
00:57:41Harbaugh hit as he let it go, and a ball sailed over the head of six-foot-four Sean Dawkins.
00:57:47It was Chris Slade that had a hold of Harbaugh as he let the ball go.
00:57:52And he gets around Matthews, 67, bottom of the screen.
00:57:55That's a good rip move by Slade.
00:57:58Yeah, that'll definitely keep you throwing off of that front foot, won't it?
00:58:03Chris Slade, who didn't start the game today as he normally does,
00:58:07as Dwayne Saab got the start, made the play there on Harbaugh,
00:58:11honoring him and preventing the tall pass.
00:58:14Twelve seconds left, it's third down.
00:58:16Harbaugh lets it go and just threw it away, saving time for the field goal.
00:58:31He did have Dawkins in the end zone, but wanted to make sure,
00:58:36and so Blanchard will come on with seven seconds left.
00:58:38Inside the 40, Blanchard is 16 for 16, and has missed only two all season.
00:58:46As you see, a 93% success rate for Kerry Blanchard.
00:58:52And this kid has had no respect.
00:58:54Last year, this time, he was sitting at home in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
00:58:57Nobody liked him, but he's on his way to the Pro Bowl
00:58:59if he continues the way he's kicking now.
00:59:00Well, 42 yards to get the Colts on the board, and he's got it.
00:59:08Kerry Blanchard continues to roll along, preventing the first-half shutout.
00:59:13Two seconds left as the Colts finally get something done.
00:59:18Not much, but something.
00:59:20Yeah, both kickers for the Colts have had great seasons,
00:59:23Gardaki and Blanchard.
00:59:24I'm not sure that's good or bad.
00:59:26Yeah.
00:59:26You know.
00:59:27It's a sad commentary, isn't it?
00:59:28I mean, that's his 28th field goal of the year,
00:59:3312th consecutive, a new franchise record.
00:59:36That's how much trouble the Colts have had on offense.
00:59:39They've had to realize so much on Blanchard.
00:59:42Well, Bobby, no, you analyst types are fond of saying
00:59:44that'll give them a little lift, a little momentum going in at halftime.
00:59:48I don't know.
00:59:48Three points, down 17-3.
00:59:50Is that the case here?
00:59:52No.
00:59:53I think Lindy understands, too, that for the rest of this game, forget the run.
00:59:57I've got to throw it on every single down here as the second half starts.
01:00:01So when you're out of balance and when you've only got some bullets in your gun,
01:00:07it is very tough to compete.
01:00:10Gardaki will kick off,
01:00:12which will be a barring penalty, the final play of the first half.
01:00:16Cross the court, I think he will keep going for the Colts.
01:00:19Meggett and Brown, the deep men for New England.
01:00:25Dave Meggett.
01:00:31Stopped close to the 40 to bring the first half to a close.
01:00:34The first half dominated by the New England Patriots.
01:00:37They built a 17-0 lead.
01:00:39Colts with a field goal just before halftime.
01:00:42Now stay tuned for Greg Gumbel, the Domino's Pizza Halftime Report.
01:00:47New England over Indianapolis.
01:00:49Total domination by the Patriots, really.
01:00:53Bill Parcells sending a message not only to his players but to his coaching staff.
01:00:56I think they got the message.
01:00:57Tom, I think the best way to characterize this first half is this is the way the NFC East
01:01:02used to play football when Parcells was coaching the Giants.
01:01:05That's exactly the approach that he took.
01:01:08The stats bear that out.
01:01:10They totally dominated the first quarter.
01:01:13I mean, look at that.
01:01:15233 to 100.
01:01:16Rushing yards.
01:01:1725 to 99.
01:01:19And all those rushing yards for New England.
01:01:21By Curtis Martin.
01:01:23I mean, he wanted to start aggressively.
01:01:25He wanted to start quick.
01:01:26He turned it over to the offensive line of the New England Patriots.
01:01:29And they did the job.
01:01:30Total domination on our Coors Light halftime stat.
01:01:33So, get off to a good start.
01:01:34He did and stopped the run.
01:01:35He did that.
01:01:35Indianapolis unable to get anything at all on the ground.
01:01:38Only with passing on every down did they manage to get three points before halftime.
01:01:42Yeah.
01:01:42And then add to that that the only time that they could really throw the ball with any
01:01:46good luck is when the Patriots were up 17-0.
01:01:49They were going with six and seven defensive backs.
01:01:51So, the Colts understand even though this is a make or break game for them for the playoffs,
01:01:56they are totally outmanned at this point.
01:01:58So, two teams fighting for a wild card spot.
01:02:01It's been all New England so far.
01:02:03And as halftime continues here at Foxborough, let's send you back to Greg Gumbel in New York.
01:02:07That third quarter, Chris Collinsworth saying Bill Parcells was hot.
01:02:13We've talked about that.
01:02:14And he got coaching staff's attention.
01:02:17He got players' attention.
01:02:18He got fans' and media's attention.
01:02:20And all has gone according to plan through the first half of this game against Indianapolis.
01:02:25And what it really is a must-win game for both teams.
01:02:27And the Patriots will kick off to get the second half underway.
01:02:34Adam Vinatieri.
01:02:39And a kick taken by Aaron Bailey.
01:02:44Bailey to about the 34-yard line.
01:02:46Well, Bob, you said that that first half resembled some old New York Giant games.
01:02:52NFC East football when the Giants were Super Bowl kings.
01:02:55And why not?
01:02:56It's kind of like a coaching reunion from those days.
01:02:58Yeah, that's one of the things that I really like about Bill Parcells.
01:03:01Look at the guys.
01:03:02He's reassembled from the Giants' coaching staff.
01:03:04Those guys missing, Coughlin is the head coach and general manager at Jacksonville.
01:03:09Earhart, the offensive coordinator for the Jets.
01:03:11Ray Hanley out of football.
01:03:13But Parcells has not only got players who think the way he thinks,
01:03:17but coaches who he knows think the way he thinks.
01:03:21Colts with a first down.
01:03:23Their only effective drive of the first half came in the closings, minutes, seconds really,
01:03:28when they passed on almost every down.
01:03:30So here's a delayed handoff to Marshall Falk to open the second half,
01:03:34and it's a pretty good gain here.
01:03:36Mark Wheeler finally chases him down after a gain of 11.
01:03:39You can see the domination that we tried to explain to you.
01:03:43The first quarter and a half, nine plays for the Colts, three punts,
01:03:49and then finally a decent drive, the interception in the end zone,
01:03:53and then the field goal.
01:03:54So 17-0, the Colts not totally out of it,
01:03:58but now there is real pressure on this offense to respond on every drive, Tom.
01:04:05Well, an 11-yard gain on the first play of the second half,
01:04:09so perhaps things have looked up.
01:04:11It looks like a free play here to England offside,
01:04:13so Harbaugh tries to take advantage,
01:04:15and the catch is made by Dawkins downfield
01:04:18with Ricky Reynolds draped over his back.
01:04:21Boy, that was a great throw by Harbaugh.
01:04:24Mike Jones was coming at Harbaugh.
01:04:29Let's see.
01:04:30It would be 19 if it stands.
01:04:32It is offside against New England.
01:04:33The play will count.
01:04:35Offside, number 96.
01:04:36Penal is declined.
01:04:38First down.
01:04:42Harbaugh, kind of a little roll here.
01:04:45When he sets himself, he's in the middle of the field.
01:04:48Boy, he fires this one down here.
01:04:51Dawkins goes up and gets it.
01:04:53There's good coverage by Ricky Reynolds,
01:04:55but that'll light a little ember.
01:04:57Not a fire under the Colts.
01:04:59An ember.
01:05:00Well, anything is welcome at this point.
01:05:0311 yards on first play of the third quarter.
01:05:0719 on the second.
01:05:09Blitz.
01:05:10Harbaugh's pass is caught.
01:05:14Harrison finally twisted down by Ricky Reynolds,
01:05:16but Harbaugh holding his left knee.
01:05:18And looks to be in great pain.
01:05:29Well, New England broke his nose the last time these two teams met.
01:05:33Let's see who got the pressure on him.
01:05:35Willie Clay blocked over.
01:05:37Marshall Falk falls into the left leg.
01:05:39The Patriots coming with the blitz.
01:05:44Watch 32.
01:05:45Just flashed by over Marshall Falk.
01:05:48That's something the Colts do not like to do,
01:05:50is put Marshall Falk in pass protection.
01:05:56Harbaugh, we know how tough he is.
01:05:58He's taken a battering and a beating all season.
01:06:01But this one
01:06:02obviously is causing him a great deal of pain.
01:06:09Paul Justin is the backup quarterback.
01:06:11We'll return in a moment.
01:06:15Beautiful New England.
01:06:17A week, less than a week before Thanksgiving.
01:06:19Jim Harbaugh had his knee injured, his left knee.
01:06:22He was helped off the field.
01:06:25Now examining it on the sideline.
01:06:27Paul Justin comes in at quarterback.
01:06:28Hand off.
01:06:31Marshall Falk picking his way for a nice gain.
01:06:33Falk did a good job.
01:06:35Picks up an Indianapolis first down.
01:06:37Now the blocker just flew over the top of Marshall Falk.
01:06:40But watch what happens.
01:06:42Watch his foot slide.
01:06:44Right there.
01:06:44You see when Harbaugh's foot begins to slide?
01:06:47Actually, very lucky he's playing on grass.
01:06:50Whatever the injury is,
01:06:51it would have probably been a lot more serious
01:06:53had he been on turf.
01:06:54Because on turf, the player's foot always seems to stick.
01:07:00On grass, he got a break there.
01:07:02I hope he's not seriously hurt.
01:07:04He's left the game having hit 11 of 18 for 119 yards.
01:07:07And a late one coming in from the referee behind the play
01:07:19as Mike Jones makes the tackle.
01:07:22And a hold spotted against the Colts.
01:07:25So the Colts open the second half, moving the football.
01:07:30And then Jim Harbaugh goes down.
01:07:31You just wonder what else can happen to this team.
01:07:33Holding, 64 offense, 10-yard penalty, repeat first down.
01:07:39Doug Wydell, guilty of the hold.
01:07:41Yeah, I'm almost afraid to answer the question,
01:07:43what else can happen to this team?
01:07:45Seriously.
01:07:47I mean, we saw them against the Jets early in the season
01:07:49where they had eight starting players go out in one football game.
01:07:53Just unaccounted for.
01:07:59Not like these guys aren't in shape.
01:08:01And none of them are just dingy little injuries.
01:08:03I mean, some of these guys are seriously hurt.
01:08:06Marsha Falk now to the wide side of the formation right.
01:08:11Top of the screen.
01:08:13First and long.
01:08:14Justin, play-action fake.
01:08:18His pass nearly intercepted.
01:08:22Monty Brown dived and should have really picked it off.
01:08:25Marvin Harrison, the intended receiver, but Brown nearly had one.
01:08:30Now, when Harrison runs the slant,
01:08:32which is a play that has worked quite a bit today,
01:08:35he does a great job.
01:08:38That's why he's wearing that 90 number, you know?
01:08:41The hands are not really part of his game, huh?
01:08:44Should have had it, but if he should have had that one,
01:08:47they'd have given him an 83, not a 93.
01:08:50Justin came into the game having hit 64% of his passes,
01:08:54339 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions.
01:09:03Got away from the sack.
01:09:04Penalty marker.
01:09:05The pass to Dawkins is complete
01:09:07to about the 17-yard line
01:09:09where Todd Collins makes the tackle.
01:09:11How in the world did he get away from Mike Jones and the others,
01:09:15perhaps,
01:09:16with a hold
01:09:18because the penalty will be against Indianapolis.
01:09:21Tom, do you recognize the name of Eddie Fainer?
01:09:24No.
01:09:25The most famous fast-pitch softball pitcher.
01:09:28The king in his court.
01:09:30Holding.
01:09:31Offense number 67.
01:09:33Ten-yard penalty.
01:09:34Repeat second down.
01:09:35Jason Matthews on the hold
01:09:37and with Harbaugh out,
01:09:39thanks to two penalties for holding,
01:09:41the Colts are in.
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