Indianapolis Colts Struggle but Overcome, Head to Miami

Set for a 6:30 kick-off, the New England Patriots traveled to RCA Dome to meet the Indianapolis Colts in a showdown for the AFC championship title. They've met several times these past few seasons, facing each other in the playoffs in three games. The Patriots have won 5 of the last 7 Super Bowls, whereas the Colts have not been to the big game since 1970.

The Patriots received the ball first, but both teams failed to do much on their first drives. The next drive for the Patriots proved more successful and New England managed to put 7 points on the scoreboard by recovering a fumbled ball in the endzone.

On the second drive for the Colts, they had to settle with a field goal, bringing the score to 7 - 3. Vinatieri has never missed a field goal attempt in RCA Dome.

Dillon got a touchdown on New England's third possession to bring the score to 14 - 3 Patriots.

On the Colts' next drive, Asante Samuel intercepted a Peyton Manning pass intended for Marvin Harrison and returned it for a touchdown. It was now 21 - 3.

The Colts continued to struggle, and needed to punt it away on 4^th and 22 from just outside their own 2. It was New England's turn to punt next, as they faced 4^th and 26 after two back-to-back offensive penalties. Indianapolis took over on their own 12 yard line and managed to get close enough for Vinatieri to kick a 26 yard field goal to close out the first half, making the score 21 - 6.

Indianapolis received the ball to start off the second half. On a second and goal from the 5, they manage to get within 1, but still just shy. The next play shows a quarterback sneak by Manning and finally gives the Colts their first touchdown since they met with the Kansas City Chiefs a few weeks ago. The touchdown brought the score to 21 - 13 and made it a one possession ball game.

The Patriots were unable to answer and punted the ball away on a fourth and two. When the Colts got it back, there was a New England penalty in the end zone, placing the ball on the one yard line. The Colts made it a touchdown, then made the two-point conversion to tie it up at 21.

Ellis Hobbs returned the succeeding kickoff for 80 yards, and Gaffney caught a pass in the back of the end zone for a touchdown.

On the next drive, the Colts fumbled the ball on the one yard line, and their center Saturday recovered it for the second touchdown of the day by a lineman.

From there, the two teams went back and forth, with New England scoring a field goal, and Indianapolis answering with one of their own. The Patriots again scored a field goal, which, for the time being, went unanswered by the Colts.

After two New England penalties, the Colts had the football on the 11 yard line with 1:53 left to play. They turned the opportunity into a touchdown and for the first time in the game, the Colts had the lead.

With 16 seconds left to play, Brady threw an interception to seal a Patriots defeat. Manning came onto the field and took a knee, with the scoreboard showing 38 - 34 in favor of the Colts. They will travel to Miami on February 4 to play the Chicago Bears in SuperBowl XLI.