Belichick 20/20: Patriots hold record-setting Colts offense to 3 points in 2004 AFC divisional round
By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
For the Week 3 installment of Belichick 20/20, we bring you another playoff classic between the Patriots and the Colts. This time, we recall a snowy 2004 AFC Divisional Game in which Bill Belichick & Co. held Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning’s Colts to only thee points.
Manning was coming off a record-setting season, when he threw for 49 touchdowns and at the time passed Dan Marino for the most TD passes in a single season. The Patriots kept Manning out of the end zone in this game and won easily, 20-3. It marked the first game all season where Manning did not throw a touchdown pass.
Linebacker Tedy Bruschi of the New England Patriots sacks Colts quarterback Peyton Manning during the AFC Division playoff game at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts on January 16, 2005. The Patriots beat the Colts 20-3 to advance to the AFC Championship against the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Belichick and the legendary ’04 Patriots defense commanded the entire game, forcing three fumbles and recovering two of them, and only allowing the Colts offense to hold the ball for 22 minutes.
Arguably the greatest team of the entire Belichick-Brady dynasty, the Pats rolled to their Super Bowl championship from there. First they shellacked the Steelers 41-27 on the road in the AFC Championship Game, then they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 to capture Super Bowl XXXIX. But their iconic run started with one of the most impressive defensive performances ever seen in the playoffs.
Listen above for highlights and classic calls from the game by the late Gil Santos.
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.
