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Game #9 takes us back to November 7, 2005, in a Monday Night showdown between the Colts and the two-time defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots.  Manning was 0-7 all time in Foxboro, and had lost the previous two seasons in the playoffs in not-so-spectacular fashion.  People were questioning whether Manning would ever win at New England.  Boston Globe writer Dan  Shaughnessy put it so eloquently:

It is now clear: The Colts cannot beat the Patriots. Manning cannot beat Tom Brady. Tony Dungy cannot beat Belichick. The playoff win gave the Patriots six straight over Indy. Brady is 6-0 lifetime against the Colts and the vaunted Manning never has won a game in Norfolk County. The reigning (two-time) league MVP completed 27 of 42 passes for 238 yards, but couldn't get his team in the end zone. His final, futile heave of the day was intercepted by Rodney Harrison with four seconds left. It was a fine exclamation for a perfect win by New England's almost-perfect team.

Manning not only marched the 7-0 Colts into Foxboro and won the game, but he had one of the best games of his career in doing so, putting a sock in all those idiot writers' mouths.

I can remember being very nervous before this game.  It was hard to get the notion through my head that the Colts could beat the Patriots in Foxboro.  I remember pacing back and forth throughout the entire game, even when up by 3 TDs in the fourth quarter.  I wanted the time to read 0:00 before celebrating.  And I celebrated, thanks to #18.

Manning and the Colts took the opening kickoff, marched right down the field, thanks to a 48 yard pass to Harrison, and threw a 1 yard TD pass to Harrison for the early lead.  The Patriots countered with a TD drive of there own, eating up 6:38 on the clock.  This, however, was the only drive they would have over 4:00 in the game.  The Colts took the ball, and held it for a 17 play, 9 minute drive, capped off by an Edgerrin TD run.  The Colts were 3-4 on 3rd Down, and they converted a 4th and 1 at the NE 46, a very unconventional move by Coach Dungy.  I have a feeling Manning had something to do with that.

Manning made his only mistake trying to force a pass into Dallas Clark, and it was intercepted by Mike Vrabel midway through the second quarter.  The defense (read: Bob Sanders) helped Manning and the offense out by forcing a fumble with 2:07 to go in the half.  Manning marched the Colts right down the field, going 5-7 for 68 yards, and a 10 yard TD pass to Reggie Wayne with 14 seconds left in the half to give the Colts a 21-7 lead at halftime.  Manning's halftime stats:

The key to the first half was keeping the Patriots offense off of the field, and Manning and the offense did a fantastic job of doing that.  The Colts controlled the game, and were moving the ball at will.

The second half was more of the same, as the Colts scored on their first 4 possessions, including a 30 yard TD pass to Harrison, who made Asante Samuel look really bad.  The Colts ended up with a 300 yard passer, a 100 yard rusher, and 2 100 yard receivers, and 453 total yards of offense.  Manning's final stats:

Manning had himself a great game against his nemesis, and is #9 in his all-time greatest games.

Here are the video highlights from the game.  It's fun watching Brady get so frustrated.

Here is the NFL.com GameBook for the game.

In Game #8, Manning goes for "perfection"...

I will never understand Peter King. I mean really! I just don't get it. Peter will surprise me with excellent nuggets like this:

I've got to see Philip Rivers perform at a high level consistently to think this is a Super Bowl winner, particularly in a conference as tough as the top-heavy AFC.

And this:

I want to like Vince Young, and his improvement from 52 to 62 percent in accuracy from his rookie year to his second season helps a little. But this is the year he's got to start being consistent if the Titans are going to make the playoffs again and again. He threw nine touchdowns and 17 interceptions last year.

But then, he'll go a say something stupid, like rank the Patriots ahead of the Colts going into 2008.

Peter cites the Patriots doing nothing as a sign they will be fine in 2008. This is funny compared to last year, when the Colts did nothing and the Patriots went on a shopping spree, prompting people like Peter King to say had gotten better than Indy. Now, with New England bleeding players and doing little to stop it, while the Colts retain theirs and beef up weaknesses... the Patriots are still better? Huh?

Is it so much to ask for a little consistency with one's logic?

Even New England's draft did not address their offensive line (which was overpowered in the Super Bowl), their defense (which is still old, and allowed Eli Manning to burn them in the 4th quarter), or their running game (which is always hurt). Add to this the fact that New England lost virtually their entire secondary (including Pro Bowler Asante Samuel) to free agency. Meanwhile, Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau are still old and slow, and Mike Vrabel is getting there. Jerod Mayo will help, but a rookie playing in this defensive system is too much to ask for.

Needless to say, New England's defense was not very good in the playoffs last year, in particular the Super Bowl. This puts extra pressure on the offense, which is a pass happy unit that struggles running the ball. Not a good formula for success.

Meanwhile, the Colts are getting Dwight Freeney and Marvin Harrison back. They beefed up their o-line, drafted Mike Hart, and found another speed rusher in Marcus Howard. Their entire starting defense is returning, a top 5 unit that is both young and fast.

So, how is New England considered better?

Speaking of rookie DE Marcus Howard, Tony Dungy really likes his speed.

  Michael Hobson is the biggest fan of the Indianapolis Colts. i believe I saw him at Training Camp last year. Michael goes all out.

If you want to learn more about rookie free agent acquisition Samuel Giguere, click here. However, you might need to brush up on your French. This is the second year in a row the Colts have imported a free agent from Canada. Hopefully, unlike last year's import, Giguere can catch the friggin' football.