Anthony Dabbundo (The Ringer) and host Thomas Emerick revisit The 4th-and-2 Game — another great chapter in the annual midseason measuring stick for two perennial contenders and the GOAT QB convo. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady continue wrestling over that GOAT belt here. It’s November 2009, Patriots at Colts.
Links:
Some of the episode threads:
- Colts vs. Patriots, Week 10, 2009: the last time Indy would beat New England for a decade
- Peyton vs. Brady, midseason tradition — the annual measuring stick for two perennial powers
- Anthony Dabbundo of The Ringer joins as a lifelong Colts fan to relive the madness
- NBC brands it “Rivalry of the Decade” — and it lives up to the billing
- Colts enter 8-0, Patriots 6-2, Manning on an MVP run with comeback magic to spare
- Hall of Fame QBs favor Peyton over Brady, 13-2 — Montana splits the halves
- First drive: Belichick mixes coverage, forces Manning three-and-out — old-school dominance returns early
- Patriots build 24-7 lead behind Brady bombs and Randy Moss speed that defies physics
- Colts offense sputters early — Pat McAfee punts five times in the first half
- Reggie Wayne roasts green Pats corner late in half, cuts it to 24-14
- Patriots defense doesn’t wow on paper, but overperforms early and holds Indy scoreless in 3rd
- Antoine Bethea and Leigh Bodden trade picks to start the second half — defenses make plays
- Wes Welker 69-yard punt return flips field, Moss scores again to push Pats ahead
- Colts trail by 17 in the 4th — but this is peak clutch Peyton
- Manning to Garçon, Addai touchdown — Colts storm back to 34-28 with 2 mins left
- Belichick goes for it on 4th-and-2 from his own 28 — Kevin Faulk catches it just short
- Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth stunned — instant classic and great rewatch
- Reggie Wayne slant near the goal line caps Colts comeback win, 35-34
- One of the most controversial coaching decisions in NFL history, and ahead of its time
HOST
RotoViz contributor Thomas Emerick
Guest
The Ringer's Anthony Dabbundo
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