NFL

Bruschi's timing perfect for Patriots

By JOANNE KORTH
Published January 17, 2005

[Getty Images: Rick DeMulling] Peyton Manning reacts after throwing an interception Sunday in the loss to the Patriots. NFL PLAYOFFS: The final four Next Sunday NFC Championship Falcons at Eagles, 3 p.m., Fox-13 AFC Championship Patriots at Steelers, 6:30 p.m. CBS-10 Eagles 27, Vikings 14 Supporting Eagles pass opening test Moss has right idea, but Vikes' fake flops Two scores settle things for Mitchell Patriots 20, Colts 3 Making their point Bruschi's timing perfect for Patriots John Romano: Manning's legacy takes yet another wrong turn

FOXBORO, Mass. - New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi recovered two fumbles in Sunday's victory against the Colts. One was a spectacular play, the other a gift.

With 3:18 left in the first half, Bruschi stripped running back Dominic Rhodes after a completion, wrestling the ball out of Rhodes' hands as the two fell to the ground. The play halted a Colts drive at the Patriots 29-yard line.

"Talk about takeaways? That was a takeaway, right there," Bruschi said.

In the second half, Bruschi was in the right place at the right time after safety Rodney Harrison knocked the ball out of receiver Reggie Wayne 's hands at the Indy 35 with just under seven minutes left in the game.

"That was a present gift-wrapped for me," Bruschi said.

The Patriots, leading by 17, ran four minutes off the clock before being forced to punt.

HOME, COLD HOME: The wintry conditions played right into the hands of the Patriots, who are hot when it's cold. New England is 8-0 in snow games in Foxboro and 21-2 since 1993 when the kickoff temperature is 35 degrees or colder.

It was 25 at kickoff Sunday.

IF YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING NICE ... : Indy kicker Mike Vanderjagt , who sparked the rivalry last week by saying New England was "ripe for the picking," was among the first players to vacate the locker room. Given the chance to fire back, the Patriots took the high road.

"Around here we respect our opponents," New England quarterback Tom Brady said. "After this game we could talk all we want, but it looks so bad. It's not classy. This organization is about being classy."

BRADY SACKED: Brady was not sacked during New England's three postseason games a year ago. The Colts snapped that streak on the final play of the first quarter when Montae Reagor dropped Brady for a 7-yard loss.

Brady was sacked three times in the game, including once by end Dwight Freeney , who led the NFL with 16.

TAKING THEIR TIME: The Patriots' first scoring drive, which resulted in a 24-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri , was their longest of the season at 16 plays. The drive, which covered 78 plays, ate 9:07 of the clock.

EXTRA POINTS: New England played without injured Pro Bowl defensive lineman Richard Seymour . ... Corey Dillon 's 42-yard run in the second quarter was the third-longest in Patriots playoff history. ... Former Bucs kicker Martin Gramatica , signed by Indy to handle kickoff duties, was inactive. Vanderjagt kicked off for the Colts. ... The Patriots are 7-1 in home playoff games and have not lost one since Dec.31, 1978.

[Last modified January 17, 2005, 01:06:09]