Our 10 most memorable moments from the Patriots-Colts feud

Indy GM Chris Ballard boasted this offseason that when it came to the Patriots and Colts, the rivalry was back on. While Thursday's game might not reach the same heights as the early stages of the 21st century, his proclamation reminded the rest of the league that New England-Indy was one of the best rivalries the NFL has had over the last 20 years. Since Bill Belichick and Tom Brady took over -- in chronological order -- here are the 10 most memorable moments of one of football’s premiere blood feuds.


Sept. 30, 2001: At the ripe old age of 24, Brady made the first NFL start of his career against an Indy team that had scored 87 points in its first two games. Before the contest, Brady met Peyton Manning at midfield for the first time as a starter, and then went out and finished 13-for-23 for 168 yards in a 44-13 romp.

Nov. 30, 2003: A November classic under the dome. This time, the quarterbacks traded touchdowns, as New England held a late lead. In the final frantic minutes, Manning had his team knocking on the door for what would have almost certainly been a game-winning touchdown. But Willie McGinest made a key fourth-down stop of Edgerrin James on the goal line, helping give New England a 38-34 victory.

Jan. 18, 2004: In the AFC championship game, the Patriots defenders went hard after the Colts’ skill position players, knocking them around and being as physical as the rules allowed on the way to the 24-14 win in frozen Foxborough. Sitting in the press box at Gillette Stadium, Colts president Bill Polian was livid. That spring, as a member of the competition committee, he led the charge for more stringent rules when it came to illegal contact. Those rule changes are still being felt across the league today.

Sept. 9, 2004: Another back-and-forth game that looked like the Colts were going to be able to steal late. But a late sack from McGinest pushed Indy back from the New England 17 to the 29. That set the stage for Indy kicker Mike Vanderjagt, but after making a "money Manziel" sign at the New England sideline (he had every right to be confident, as he had made 42 straight field-goal attempts to that point), he went wide right on the 48-yarder. New England won, 27-24.

Jan. 21, 2007: The Colts finally get past New England: One of the most underrated games in the history of the rivalry, the Patriots took a 21-6 halftime lead in that year's AFC title game, and New England writers were booking flights to Miami for the Super Bowl. But a furious second-half comeback on the part of Manning and the Colts allowed them to come away with a dramatic 38-34 win.

Nov. 4, 2007: Billed as Super Bowl 41.5, the two teams were both undefeated when they met in the first week of November in Indy. Per usual, the two teams went back and forth all afternoon, but a late touchdown pass from Brady to Kevin Faulk allowed the Patriots to come away with a 24-20 win and stay perfect.

Nov. 5, 2009: The Patriots roared out to a 24-7 lead, and a field goal from Stephen Gostkowski with just over four minutes to go made it 34-21. But Manning and the Colts launched an epic comeback with a pair of late touchdowns, wrapped around Belichick’s decision to go for it on fourth and 2 late in New England territory. The Patriots failed, and Manning made them pay. Indy won, 35-34.

Nov. 16. 2014: The Jonas Gray Game. The previously anonymous running back ground out 38 carries for 199 yards and four touchdowns in the 42-20 win over the Colts. But almost as quickly as he became a star (he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated that week as a result), he fell off the radar screen. That performance accounted for most of his yardage that season, as he would get only 91 more total yards and was inactive for four of the Patriots’ remaining nine games including Super Bowl XLIX. By the follow September, he was cut. (Remarkably, he’s still only 28 years old.)

Jan. 18, 2015: Not so much for the game itself — New England crushed the Colts, 45-7, in the AFC title contest — but for what happened after that. That was the night You Know What was launched, kicking off a 544-day odyssey that included one of the more epic carnivals in NFL history.

Oct. 18. 2015: This was going to be the game where the Patriots got their revenge for the Colts’ blowing the whistle. And while New England was in command much of the night on the way to the 34-27 win over Andrew Luck and Indy, this game was known more for Rob Gronkowski. The big tight end had three catches (one for a touchdown), and, in his words, threw ex-New England special teamer Sergio Brown “out of the club” while clearing the way as a blocker.