The 36-year-old kicker showed his old team Sunday night that age
hasn’t sapped his distance, accuracy or proclivity for making big field goals.
He hit a 52-yarder late in the game to give Indianapolis a desperately needed
18-15 victory over New England—and Vinatieri a measure of revenge.
“I’ve got all the respect and admiration for that team,” said Vinatieri, who
left New England as a free agent after the 2005 season. “I’ve still got a lot of
good friends over there. I guess that’s why it’s that much sweeter when you have
an opportunity to play well and help your current team beat your former team.
I’m pretty happy about that.”
The kick was Vinatieri’s longest since a 57-yarder at Chicago on Nov. 10, 2002,
and it should have come as no surprise to the Patriots, who used Vinatieri’s
right foot to win two Super Bowl titles...more
Vidcap: Highlights of the Indianapolis Colts 18-15 victory over the New England Patriots.
Scoring Summary
NE - IND
1st Quarter
2:18
IND
TD
Peyton Manning passed to Anthony Gonzalez to the right
for 12 yard gain (Adam Vinatieri made PAT)
0 - 7
2nd Quarter
10:20
NE
FG
Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 29-yard field goal
3 - 7
1:27
NE
FG
Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 35-yard field goal
6 - 7
3rd Quarter
7:12
NE
TD
BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushed up the middle for 6 yard
gain (2pt attempt failed, Kevin Faulk run to the right)
12 - 7
3:12
IND
TD
Peyton Manning passed to Anthony Gonzalez to the right
for 9 yard gain (2pt attempt converted, Peyton Manning pass to Reggie
Wayne)
12 - 15
4th Quarter
11:33
NE
FG
Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 25-yard field goal
15 - 15
8:05
IND
FG
Adam Vinatieri kicked a 52-yard field goal
15 - 18
Team Statistics
NE
IND
First Downs
22
19
Passing
12
16
Rushing
10
2
Penalty
0
1
Third Down Efficiency
9-13
6-10
Fourth Down Efficiency
0-1
0-0
TOTAL NET YARDS
342
301
Total Plays
67
50
Average Gain Per Play
5.1
6.0
NET YARDS RUSHING
140
47
Rushes
32
21
Average Per Rush
4.4
2.2
NET YARDS PASSING
202
254
Completions-Attempts
26-35
21-29
Yards Per Pass Play
5.8
8.8
Times Sacked
0
0
Yards Lost to Sacks
0
0
Had Intercepted
1
0
PUNTS
1
3
Average Punt
64.0
54.3
PENALTIES
2
1
Penalty Yards
20
0
FUMBLES
1
0
Fumbles Lost
1
0
TIME OF POSSESSION
34:24
25:36
Pregame Previews, Storylines,
and News
New Page 1
Preview:
When the New England
Patriots and Indianapolis Colts
face each other, AFC supremacy
is usually on the line. That's
not the case this year, as each
team has had to cope with a
multitude of injuries and
neither has dominated its
competition. The Patriots enter
Sunday night's contest at Lucas
Oil Stadium in the better shape
of the two, looking to win their
third straight game while the
Colts try to avoid a third
consecutive defeat. Although
these onetime AFC East rivals
have not played in the same
division since the NFL realigned
before the 2002 season, they
have forged arguably the
league's top rivalry of this
decade...more
Pick: Brady’s absence and the Colts’ surprising 3-4 start put a different
spin on the premier AFC rivalry of the decade. Instead of the typical battle for
home field in the playoffs, it’s now a struggle for these teams just to get into
the playoffs.
The 5-2 Patriots are hot after consecutive home victories over Denver and St.
Louis, but they struggle when an opponent can consistently exploit their aging
linebackers and mishmash secondary. That is a recipe for Peyton and company to
follow for victory. However its just not their year. Patriots 27 - Colts 26
10.4
15.6