Dillon experiences a whole new feeling

Dillon felt differently following last night's 27-24 win over the Colts. He carried 15 times for 86 yards, and broke open a 38-yard run behind an Adrian Klemm block to highlight a pretty good night for the newest Patriot.

"I can't even describe it. This is what I've been looking for in my career," Dillon said. "Playing with a bunch of guys who play as a team and know how to win. It feels really good right now. The coaching staff did a great job tonight putting us in situations where we can win football games and that was a main reason I came here. We figured out a way to get it done and tonight was one of those situations where we were able to pull it out because we were in position to do it."

He often heard chants of "Corey! Corey!" after a good run, which seemed to mean a lot to him.

"I guess people thought I was old and couldn't play anymore or something," he said. "I'm new here and for the crowd to receive me like that was very nice and exciting for me."

Dillon said on his long run: "I just made a couple of guys miss. I tried to get up the field as quickly as possible. I got some great blocks along the way. I thought Patrick Pass had a great lead block."

Willing, but unable
Ty Law said he lobbied hard to stay in the game in the fourth quarter, but his leg injury was definitely getting the best of him. Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Law's leg tightened up and the two were seen talking on the sideline, Law quite animated about wanting to get back in. "I missed being out on the field," Law said. "Today I couldn't get through it. I was lobbying with Coach Belichick, but he won this one. The young guys we had out there really stepped up and we played 60 minutes of football and that's why we won the game." Law said he would be ready to play next Sunday in Arizona, believing the 10 days off between games should benefit him . . . When the Patriots trailed, 10-3, after Dominic Rhodes's 3-yard run with 8:06 remaining in the first half, it marked the first time the Patriots were behind in a regular-season game since they trailed Houston, 20-13, Nov. 23, 2003. After Tom Brady hit Daniel Graham to tie it starting a span of 327 minutes 53 seconds of regular-season time in which the Patriots were either tied or held a lead. The Patriots did not trail their opponents over a span of nearly 5 1/2 games . . . Adam Vinatieri hit two field goals in the first half with his right thigh wrapped. Vinatieri did not appear on the Patriots' injury report.

Faulk still out
Kevin Faulk's mother, Vivian, died Tuesday morning, according to a report in The Advertiser of Lafayette, La.

Faulk has been in Lafayette all week. He missed the team's final exhibition game against Jacksonville and was also out of last night's opener. He is expected back next week . . . One mild surprise on the Patriots' inactive list for last night's game was Troy Brown, who was listed as questionable all week with a knee injury. Brown injured his knee fielding a punt in the third exhibition game against Carolina. The other inactives were Jim Miller, who was tabbed the third quarterback behind Rohan Davey, rookie wide receiver P.K. Sam, offensive lineman Gene Mruczkowski, tackle Brandon Gorin, and defensive tackle Ethan Kelley. With Brown and Sam out, the Patriots used four wide receivers. The Patriots released Bob Hallen Wednesday, reducing the roster to 52, but elected to hold off filling the spot . . . Prior to the game, Colts spokesman Craig Kelley said he could not confirm a report out of Indianapolis that coach Tony Dungy's wife, Lauren, had been hospitalized at St. Vincent's Hospital in Indianapolis with a collapsed lung. A pregame sideline report on ABC stated that Dungy had deemed the story erroneous, but after the game Dungy said his wife "is fine. She is doing a lot better than we are right now." Asked to comment on his wife's condition, Dungy said, "No, I really can't, she's getting great care. It wasn't that big of a deal."

Great minds
Randall Gay, an undrafted free agent cornerback from LSU, was one of the long shots who made the Patriots' roster. Gay has taken to the team's defensive system without a hitch. He says the similarities between Tigers coach Nick Saban and Patriots coach Bill Belichick made it easier for him to adjust. "As far as knowledge of the game and technique and knowing what they're doing, they're much alike," Gay said. "You can tell they worked together at the same time [when Belichick was head coach in Cleveland]. I could tell that the first day here they were so much alike, right down to the words they use."