Bill Belichick addresses the media after the Patriots' 31-28 victory over the Colts.
It's a great feeling to win that game today. It was a great job by the players. James [Sanders] really...that was a tremendous interception there he had at the end. As it always does with the Colts, it came right down to the wire. They're an outstanding football team. They really do a good job. You've got to give them a lot of credit, but our guys made a few more plays than they did today. We're really happy to get the win. We've got a quick turnaround here [to play Detroit Thursday], so we can't stay on this very long, but we'll enjoy it here for a couple hours.
Tom Brady offers his thoughts immediately following the win.
It was great. It would have been a lot sweeter if we had done something there in the fourth quarter to help our defense. When we play these guys, we know it's going to come down to the end, as always. We started fast. I wish we would have executed a little better there in the second half. But any time you play these guys, you've got to play to the end and that's what it came down to.
James Sanders reveals what he was thinking as the Colts closed the gap.
"For a minute I was thinking, 'Deja Vu'. As a defense, we knew that if we didn't make a play, we were going to lose the game. [Peyton Manning] wasn't just going to give it to us, so we had to go out there and take the win. We made a play at the end and we came out on top."
"[The interception] was huge. It was a total team effort though. Gary [Guyton] had a jam on the tight end that gave me a chance to sit back and read Peyton [Manning]. I had an opportunity to make a play and made it."
TEAM TALK
- Game Notes: Patriots vs. Colts. Team and player milestones reached, records set and trends continued.
- Erik Scalavino analyzes the win and James Sanders' last-second interception that sealed New England's 31-28 victory over Indianapolis.
- Post Game Quotes: Patriots and Colts.
- Post Game Pressers: Bill Belichick (6.38 min. video), Tom Brady (3.32 min. video) and Danny Woodhead (4.21 min. video) Plus transcripts.
- Colts' Post Game Pressers: Jim Caldwell and Peyton Manning transcripts.
- Patriots Today - Pats hold off Colts. (4.39 min. video)
- Locker Room Uncut - Reaction after a narrow win over Indy. (3.33 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Shalise Manza Young reports the Patriots had a chance to re-write history yesterday and James Sanders made the big play to seal the win.
- Ian Rapoport finds the difference between this year and 2009 was that the defense was able to close the game and stop Peyton Manning.
- Karen Guregian writes there's something to be said for the way the Patriots found a way to ultimately get the job done with clutch plays.
- Kirk Minihane notes what a difference a year makes for the Patriots defense.
- Tom E. Curran reports on the Patriots avoiding a relapse and finding redemption.
- Monique Walker talks about the defense coming up big, saving it's best for last.
- Ian Rapoport points out Jermaine Cunningham's role in the final interception of the game, by getting pressure on Peyton Manning.
- Monique Walker reports the Colts became the latest team to realize how tough it can be to wrap up Danny Woodhead. Nice pic of Bill Belichick playing lacross after the game.
- Mike Reiss offers his first impressions following the win over the Colts and looks at what it means.
- Christopher Price lists his ten things we learned Sunday about the never disappointing Patriots-Colts.
- Kirk Minihane presents some snap judgments following the Patriots win over the Colts.
- Tom E. Curran posts some interesting notes following yesterday's win.
- Greg A. Bedard thinks we should be focusing on the majestic performance by Brady and the New England Patriots offense for the first 31/2 quarters.
- Michael Felger would have blamed the offense if the Pats had lost yesterday.
- Ron Borges sees yesterday's Pats-Colts epic matchup as the reason we watch football.
- Dan Shaughnessy asserts there is no better game anywhere than Patriots-Colts.
- Mary Paoletti feels this classic didn't live up to either QB's standards.
- David Lefort reports Peyton Manning was steaming over his final throw. "... it's really sickening."
- Joe Zarbano notes Reggie Wayne says it feels like the Colts are chasing the Patriots.
- Amalie Benjamin reports on Manning's valiant effort coming up a bit short in the end.
- Steven Krasner reports Tom Brady tied Brett Favre's record of 25 straight home wins.
- Mike Reiss notes Bill Belichick celebrated the win by playing lacrosse.
- Mike Reiss hears James Sanders recapping his big interception to close the game.
- Christopher L. Gasper and Greg A. Bedard discuss the key story lines from yet another thrilling Patriots-Colts showdown. (2.09 min. video)
- Mike Reiss looks at the snaps played by offensive skill position players, noting Aaron Hernandez was the 3rd TE once again.
- Mike Reiss wonders why the Patriots struggle in the 4th quarter and aren't closing out games with authority.
- ESPN Stats and Information digs deeper on the Patriots 4th-quarter defense.
- Dan Duggan sees the play of the game as James Sanders' interception of Peyton Manning with 37 seconds remaining.
- Mike Reiss reports DL Mike Wright left the game in the fourth quarter with a neck injury. Yeesh.
- Ian Rapoport Patriots Notebook: James Sanders' heads-up pick means lights-out for the Colts; Patriots' physical running game helped the Pats control the clock; Both teams thrived on converting third downs; Sunday was the first time Adam Vinatieri returned to Gillette; Injury update.
- Mike Reiss offers his 3 up and 3 down for the Patriots.
- Karen Guregian offers the Best and Worst of Sunday's game.
- Tom E. Curran and crew offer the Best and Worst of Patriots-Colts.
NATIONAL NEWS
- NFL Game Center: Indianapolis colts at New England Patriots. Recap, analysis, stats and those nifty highlight videos.
- Tim Graham (EPSN) Rapid reaction: Patriots 31, Colts 28.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) DanJarvus Green-Woodhead propels Pats.
- Don Banks (SI) Just another Patriots-Colts classic.
- Judy Battista (NY Times) Young Patriots defense gives new twist to classic rivalry.
- Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Giving thanks to Brady, Manning for another classic clash.
- Jason Cole (Yahoo! Sports) Pats' D rewards Belichick this time around.
- Dave Goldberg (NFL FanHouse) This time around, Patriots defense stops Peyton Manning.
- Paul Kuharsky (ESPN) Fourth loss arrives early for Manning, Colts.
- Dan Shaughnessy (SI) Plenty on Manning's shoulders.
- John Clayton (ESPN) Week 11: Elite teams starting to gain separation.
- ESPN Stats and Information provide some Next-level stats on Patriots-Colts.
- Countdown Daily (ESPN) Jim Basquil and Eric Allen break down the Patriots' victory over the Colts. (2 min. video)
- Tim Graham and Paul Kuharsky (ESPN) Dueling perspectives on Pats-Colts. (2.08 min. video)
- Don Banks (SI) Week 11 Snap judgments.
- Peter King (SI) MMQB: Packers make case for NFL's best; 2011 will be odd year in coaching.
VIEW FROM INDY
- Staff (Indy Star) Peyton Manning throws 3 INTs, 4 TDs in 31-28 loss to Patriots.
- John Oehser (Colts.com) Colts rally in fourth quarter before losing to New England Patriots.
- Mike Chappell (Indy Star) For rivals, same script, new ending. Colts regroup in 2nd half, but this time come up 1 play short.
- Phil Richards (Indy Star) Thrown away. Rally by injury-wracked Colts falls painfully short.
- Mike Chappell (Indy Star) Defense stiffens, not soon enough.
- Phil Richards (Indy Star) Small players provide big help. Pats get key efforts from Woodhead, Branch, Welker.
- Bob Kravitz (Indy Star) Online voters favor Colts' Manning; I say Patriots' Brady.
- Jake Thompson (Colts.com) Colts-Patriots notebook: "We were going for the win."