This time Pats survive Manning's comeback
Category: NFL Published on Monday, 22 November 2010 09:51 Written by Janó Hits: 139
Tom Brady was brilliant for the second straight week, outdueling Peyton Manning in their annual meeting Sunday in a 31-28 New England victory over Indianapolis.Coming off a 350-yard, three-touchdown performance against Pittsburgh, Brady had only six incompletions in 25 passes and threw for two touchdowns.
Brady not only beat four-time MVP Manning, but also tied another icon for an NFL mark. He has won 25 straight regular-season starts at home, equaling Brett Favre's record when he was with Green Bay.
The win kept the Patriots (8-2) tied with the Jets atop the AFC East; the teams will meet in two weeks.
Indianapolis (6-4) staged a spirited fourth-quarter comeback, but James Sanders picked off Manning in the final minute.
Indy had beaten the Patriots in five of the last six matchups. The Colts, who won their first 14 games a year ago en route to the Super Bowl, lead the AFC North. But they're so banged up - they were without five key players Sunday - that considering them a Super Bowl contender right now might be a reach, even with Manning's magic.
He got the Colts within 31-28 with 4 minutes, 46 seconds left on an 18-yard pass to Blair White, who earlier in the fourth period caught a 5-yard TD toss. And Manning brought them within range of a stunning win before Sanders' pick.
Manning's inaccuracies early on were costly. He misfired high several times, including a throw to White that sailed directly to safety Brandon Meriweather.
A 39-yard runback set up the Patriots at the Indy 32, and four plays later Brady hooked up with Wes Welker over the middle for a 22-yard score.
Unable to apply pressure on Brady, the Colts' defense then was torn apart on a 15-play, 82-yard drive capped by Aaron Hernandez's 8-yard scoring catch. The rookie tight end stretched over the goal line for his third TD and a 14-0 lead.
It didn't last long. Manning found his touch, despite consecutive drops by Reggie Wayne and Austin Collie. Indy converted on three third downs, including one when Manning eluded the pass rush and floated a completion to Donald Brown for 25 yards. The TD came to third-string tight end Gijon Robinson from the 1.
| Week 11 |
|
| New Orleans Saints–Seattle Seahawks | 34–19 |
| San Francisco 49ers–Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0–21 |
| St. Louis Rams–Atlanta Falcons | 17–34 |
| New England Patriots–Indianapolis Colts | 31–28 |
| Philadelphia Eagles–New York Giants | 27–17 |
| Earlier | |
| Pittsburgh Steelers–Oakland Raiders | 35–3 |
| Dallas Cowboys–Detroit Lions | 35–19 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars–Cleveland Browns | 24–20 |
| Tennessee Titans–Washington Redskins | 16–19 – e. t. |
| New York Jets–Houston Texans | 30–27 |
| Carolina Panthers–Baltimore Ravens | 13–37 |
| Minnesota Vikings–Green Bay Packers | 3–31 |
| Kansas City Chiefs–Arizona Cardinals | 31–13 |
| Cincinnati Bengals–Buffalo Bills | 31–49 |
| On Monday | |
| San Diego Chargers–Denver Broncos | |
| Last Thursday |
|
| Miami Dolphins–Chicago Bears | 0–16 |
