Patriots are in for a fight
FOXBOROUGH -- The Patriots' 17-14 divisional-round win over the Titans Saturday night was exactly what coach Bill Belichick said it would be: his team's toughest game of the season. He left out that it would only be the toughest game to that point. The rematch of their regular-season battle wasn't decided until 1 minute 45 seconds remained in the bout. But the Titans will seem like sparring partners compared to New England's next opponent.
The Indianapolis Colts, 38-31 winners at Kansas City yesterday in the other AFC divisional game, Sunday will bring to town the league's other co-MVP, Peyton Manning, and an impressive offense. The Colts haven't punted in either of their playoff games.
New England beat Tennessee, 38-30, in their first meeting Oct. 5. The Nov. 30 game against former AFC East rival Indianapolis was decided by a yard (and won by the Patriots, 38-34). See where this is going?
The Patriots and Colts are the last ones standing in the AFC. Ding, ding.
"The next team that we play is going to be another very good team that has gone through a rigorous set of demands to get to this point, and the fact that they've done that and have been successful will make this the two best teams in the AFC this year," Belichick, having stayed up with his staff through yesterday morning preparing for the Chiefs and Colts, said before the AFC Championship game matchup was set. "I think this game will be tougher, bigger, and, obviously, there's more riding on it than even the last game. At this time of year, every time you win, the next game gets bigger."
The biggest play of the regular season for the Patriots arguably was Willie McGinest's tackle of the Colts' Edgerrin James at the 1-yard line on the final play of the Nov. 30 game. If the Colts punch it in, the Patriots are packing carry-ons. Indianapolis had rallied from a 31-10 third-quarter deficit with three touchdowns in six minutes to tie the score, and three plays before McGinest's stop had a first and goal at the 2.
"I don't see how it could be any closer than what it was," Belichick said yesterday. "It wouldn't surprise me if that's what happens the next time."
What happened the first time the Patriots played the Titans this year happened again Saturday: Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair proved worthy of sharing the MVP award with Manning. McNair passed for 391 yards and completed three of the five passes of 40 or more yards given up the Patriots this season the first "fight." He was brilliant again Saturday, connecting on 18 of 26 for 210 yards and a touchdown.
Watching the game, 210 yards seemed like 420. Eleven of the Titans' 16 first downs came by passing, they converted seven of 13 third downs, and, for one of the few times all season, the Patriots' secondary appeared vulnerable. McNair engineered an 11-play drive, two drives of nine plays, one of seven, and two of six -- yet the Patriots still held the Titans to 14 points.
"One of the worst parts of the game for us, again, was our third-down defense," Belichick said. "They were pretty close to 50 percent, that's about what they were in the first game. . . . They're a good offensive team. I didn't have any illusions that we were going to hold them to 20 yards of total offense. Had we played better on third down, then they wouldn't have gained as many yards.
"[Tennessee] is a good passing team, a good quarterback. I think, in the secondary, we played a lot better than we played in the first game. You go against a good passing team and you hold them to 200 [net] yards -- I would like to have seen it be a lot less than that, don't get me wrong -- but at the same time, you're talking about a good quarterback, good tight ends, good backs, and good receivers. And a pretty good offensive line. They made some plays on us. We made a few on them."
The Colts will see a lot of both types of plays this week. Tennessee's passing offense finished the regular season ranked fifth. Indianapolis's was first. The Colts were the second-highest scoring team in the league and have scored nearly 80 points in their two playoff games. Their 34 points Nov. 30 were a season high for a Patriots opponent. The Titans, in spreading the field against the Patriots' defense, may have exposed a few more soft spots in their defense. The Colts certainly will come in looking to land a few blows.
"I see [on film] how [the Titans] are trying to attack us," Belichick said. "They gave us some problems. There are some things that we either had to adjust during the game, or if it comes up again I hope we can do a better job of it. At the same time, I think we gave them some problems, and that was the nature of the game. Sure, they attacked us. They had a good game plan. They hit some of our stress points just like we tried to hit some of theirs."
More hitting. Sunday. Gillette Stadium. 3 p.m.
