2003 New England Patriots Season - Regular Season Results - Week 13: at Indianapolis Colts

Week 13: At Indianapolis Colts

This was the Patriots' first meeting with the Colts since a 2002 divisional realignment put the Colts into the new AFC South after 32 seasons with the Pats in the AFC East. The two teams stood at 9–2, the latest in a season two teams with nine wins had met. The Patriots raced to a 17–3 second-quarter lead behind scores by Mike Cloud and Dedric Ward. Following a Peyton Manning touchdown to Marcus Pollard with 12 seconds left in the first half, Bethel Johnson ran back the ensuing kick 92 yards for a touchdown. But the Patriots 31–10 runaway following another Cloud touchdown became an epic shootout as two Brady interceptions gave the Colts touchdown drives, and they tied the game at 31 at 4:39 of the fourth. Another monster Johnson kick return set up a Brady to Deion Branch touchdown, but the score stood at 38–34 Patriots in the final minute with the Colts at the Patriots goalline. A heroic goalline stand led by Willie McGinest and Ted Washington stopped the Colts from scoring and the win left several Patriots visibly shaken; Rodney Harrison noted afterward, "I've never seen anything like this."