PatsPropaganda

Jan. 16, 2005

The Colts entered snowy Gillette Stadium with the fifth-highest scoring offense in NFL history but left with a familiar result: a humbling loss. Despite a new rules emphasis on illegal contact – largely the result of Indy’s complaints that its receivers were manhandled in last year’s AFC title game – this divisional playoff was dominated by the Patriots. In the second quarter, Bruschi ripped the ball away from running back Dominic Rhodes on a screen pass as the two tumbled to the ground, resulting in the first of his two fumble recoveries. His second one came when Rodney Harrison drilled wideout Reggie Wayne after a 12-yard reception. Bruschi pounced on the loose ball with 6:58 remaining and New England preserved a 20-3 win. “What rules do they want to change now?” Bruschi asked after the game. “I’m tired of hearing them complain. All I know is we took it away from them today.”

(Bruschi does not limit his heroics to the fourth quarter in games against Indy. Along with his second-quarter strip of Rhodes in this playoff game, Bruschi made a game-changing first-quarter play in Week One of the 2004 season. As the Colts marched for a certain score on their first drive of the game, Bruschi ripped a Manning pass out of the air at his own 1-yard line. New England would go on to win, 27-24.)