Indianapolis, Dec 02: The New England Patriots defeated the Indianapolis Colts 38-34 in Indiana.
The New England Patriots squandered a 21-point third-quarter lead, then went ahead again before surviving a late scare in defeating the Indianapolis Colts 38-34 for their eighth straight win in an NFL game played in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA on Sunday (November 30). The Patriots began the match by opening up a 10-0 lead after the first quarter through a 43-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri and a 4-yard touchdown run by Mike Cloud at 12:28. Dedric Ward stretched the lead to 17 points at 3:06 into the second quarter when he received a 31-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady. The Colts responded with a 40-yard field goal from Mike Vanderjagt and an 8-yard touchdown pass from Peyton Manning to Marcus Pollard 12 seconds before half-time, but the Patriots made the half-time score 24-10 when Bethel Johnson ran in a 92-yard touchdown return.


Cloud's 1-yard touchdown run at 7:24 into the third period gave the Patriots a 31-10 lead and on the way to a seemingly comfortable victory, but the Colts came back with three touchdowns to draw level at 31-31.


Reggie Wayne received a 13-yard touchdown pass from Manning at 13:40, Marvin Harrison took a 26-yard pass from Manning 14 seconds before the end of the third quarter and Manning's 6-yard pass to Troy Walters 4:39 into the final quarter levelled the scores.


Patriots passer Tom Brady then hooked up with Deion Branch from 13 yards for the game-winning touchdown with 8:36 to play.


The Colts' Mike Vanderjagt made it 38-34 with a 29-yard field goal -- his second of the day and 32nd straight -- with 3:27 to play, but that was all for Indianapolis.


The Colts still nearly pulled off the victory, but were stalled on fourth-and-goal from the Patriot one-yard line on the next-to-last play of the game, Edgerrin James being dragged down by New England end Willie McGinest.


National Football League standings after Sunday's games (tabulate under won, lost, tied, points for, points against):


AMERICAN CONFERENCE EAST DIVISION W L T PF PA NEW ENGLAND 10 2 0 257 209 MIAMI 8 4 0 241 191 BUFFALO 5 7 0 197 194 NY JETS 4 7 0 210 221


WEST DIVISION W L T PF PA KANSAS CITY 11 1 0 361 222 DENVER 7 5 0 279 206 OAKLAND 3 9 0 222 278 SAN DIEGO 2 10 0 233 342


NORTH DIVISION W L T PF PA BALTIMORE 7 5 0 300 238 CINCINNATI 7 5 0 268 266 CLEVELAND 4 8 0 192 224 PITTSBURGH 4 8 0 223 277


SOUTH DIVISION W L T PF PA TENNESSEE 9 2 0 303 208 INDIANAPOLIS 9 3 0 343 254 HOUSTON 5 7 0 211 290 JACKSONVILLE 3 9 0 202 264


NATIONAL CONFERENCE EAST DIVISION W L T PF PA PHILADELPHIA 9 3 0 245 212 DALLAS 8 4 0 226 208 NY GIANTS 4 8 0 202 266 WASHINGTON 4 8 0 236 280


WEST DIVISION W L T PF PA ST LOUIS 9 3 0 347 246 SEATTLE 8 4 0 323 239 SAN FRANCISCO 5 7 0 248 230 ARIZONA 3 9 0 166 337


NORTH DIVISION W L T PF PA MINNESOTA 7 5 0 310 295 GREEN BAY 6 6 0 298 255 CHICAGO 5 7 0 219 247 DETROIT 4 8 0 202 280


SOUTH DIVISION W L T PF PA CAROLINA 8 4 0 234 229 NEW ORLEANS 6 6 0 256 278 TAMPA BAY 5 7 0 230 191 ATLANTA 2 10 0 221 328


MONDAY DECEMBER 1 SCHEDULE: TENNESSEE AT NY JETS


Bureau Report