Patriots-Colts rivalry, 2001-2003: The Belichick hammer and the Manning nail

Our generation's Montana and Marino

Since 2001, the Patriots and Colts have had one of the best rivalries in sports.

They’ve been the best two teams in the NFL since 2003, they’re always in the mix for the Super Bowl, and together they’ve played in five of the last seven Super Bowls – the Patriots winning three and the Colts one.

Over the next few days, leading up to their big game on Sunday night, we’ll be taking a look at what has become the most interesting and intense rivalry in the NFL.

Sep. 30, 2001: Patriots 44, Colts 13
The Colts had everything going for them coming into this game. They were 2-0, playing well, and had the “next great quarterback” in Peyton Manning seemingly coming into his own.

They were ready to take the next step.

The Patriots, on the other hand, appeared to be a mess. They were 0-2 and had just lost their starting quarterback (Drew Bledsoe) the week before.

The guy they replaced him with was a sixth-round pick out of Michigan – a kid who split time in his senior year in college and was almost passed over for Tim Rattay in the previous year’s draft.

Tom Brady was the story, but Antowain Smith was the MAN. He rushed for 94 yards on 22 carries, scored two touchdowns, and caught three passes for 58 yards.

Peyton Manning’s early career struggles against the Patriots continued as he threw three interceptions. Otis Smith returned one of those interceptions for a touchdown, putting the Patriots up 17-0.

They were never challenged after that.

This game turned both seasons around. The Colts never seemed to recover, and the Patriots (aside from a blip the next week against the Dolphins) never looked back on their way to their first Super Bowl.

Oct. 21, 2001: Patriots 38, Colts 17
The Colts were still reeling from their loss to the Patriots three weeks earlier. In between, they had only played one game (against the Raiders) and lost. They came into their October 21 game against the upstart Patriots looking to save their season.

What they ended up getting was Tom Brady’s coming-out party and the greatest game of David Patten’s life.

Tom Brady threw four touchdown passes, two of them to David Patten.

Patten started the scoring with a 29-yard touchdown run. After a Mike Vanderjagt field goal, Brady hit Patten with a 91-yard touchdown pass. A 91-yard touchdown pass is usually the most impressive passing play in any given game, but not this game.

The most impressive passing play came on the Patriots’ next scoring drive, when David Patten hit Troy Brown for a 60-yard touchdown strike.

Patten capped off his career day with a 6-yard touchdown reception.

This game was a beatdown of epic proportions. The Colts never recovered from their September 30 loss to the Patriots. This loss just added more insult to an insulting Colts’ season.

Nov. 30, 2003: Patriots 38, Colts 34
November 30, 2003 marked the beginning of the real rivalry between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts.

Both teams were 9-2 coming into the game. They featured the two best quarterbacks in the NFL. They were co-favorites to come out of the AFC.

The Patriots jumped out to a 17-0 lead, getting a huge contribution from former Boston College running back Mike Cloud. Peyton Manning wouldn’t go down easy this time, leading his team on two second-quarter scoring drives to bring the Colts within a touchdown.

However, after Peyton Manning hit Marcus Pollard for an 8-yard touchdown to make the score 17-10, Bethel Johnson returned the ensuing kickoff 92 yards for a momentum-stealing touchdown.

A second Mike Cloud touchdown made the score 31-10, and it appeared the Patriots were going to cruise to an easy victory. But Peyton Manning and the Colts came roaring back. Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, and Troy Walters all caught second-half touchdowns. The Troy Walters touchdown tied the score at 31.

Brady answered with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Deion Branch. A Mike Vanderjagt field goal brought the Colts to within four points. That’s when the drama started.

The Colts drove deep into Patriots territory, seemingly on their way to a game-winning touchdown. The Patriots were out of timeouts, but got a much needed break when Willie McGinest went down with an injury.

The Colts were livid, believing he was faking the injury to give the defense a much needed rest. Their theory was reinforced when, on fourth and goal from the 1-yard line, Willie McGinest made the game-clinching tackle of Edgerrin James.

It was the Patriots eighth straight victory, and their third straight victory over Peyton Manning and the Colts. The win was critical for the Patriots, as it meant the next matchup, which would take place in the playoffs, would be played in New England.

Jan. 18, 2004: Patriots 24, Colts 14
The Colts had completely destroyed the Chiefs and Broncos in the first two rounds of the playoffs. The games were so ridiculously lopsided that the Colts’ punter didn’t step on the field in either game.

The Colts were primed and ready for the New England Patriots. They were the best team in football, they were playing well, and nobody thought they could be stopped.

Nobody except the Patriots’ defense. Specifically, Ty Law.

Ty Law intercepted Peyton Manning three times. Manning had a miserable day. The Patriots secondary beat up the Colts receivers so badly, this game was the primary reason why the NFL began emphasizing illegal contact penalties.

Patriot legend Adam Vinatieri kicked a playoff record five field goals. The Patriots offense wasn’t dominant, but they didn’t have to be. The defense was the story. The Colts could do nothing against the Patriots dominating defense.

The enduring image of that game was Peyton Manning, extremely frustrated, throwing his arms in the air begging for a pass interference call after a fourth-quarter incomplete pass to Marcus Pollard.

The Patriots would go on to win the Super Bowl. This wouldn’t be the last time the Patriots ended the Colts’ season on their way to winning a Super Bowl.

Coming Friday: Part 2, the nail gets revenge against the hammer.

Sean Crowe is the New England Patriots Examiner. You can email him at scrowe@gmail.com. Check out some of his other work on his Bleacher Report page.