2004: Neither Team Punts as Colts Defeat Chiefs in Divisional Playoff Game

The Kansas City Chiefs were back in the playoffs and hosting a postseason game for the first time in six years as they faced the Indianapolis Colts on January 11, 2004 in an AFC Divisional Playoff game. In their third season under Head Coach Dick Vermeil, the Chiefs won their first nine games on the way to a 13-3 record and first place in the AFC West. QB Trent Green passed for 4039 yards and 24 TDs and RB Priest Holmes scored a then-record 27 touchdowns while rushing for 1420 yards and gaining 2110 yards from scrimmage. TE Tony Gonzalez was, like Holmes, a consensus first-team All-Pro who caught 71 passes for 916 yards and 10 TDs, although the wide receivers were capable but unexceptional. WR Dante Hall received All-NFL recognition for his outstanding kick returning, in one stretch returning kicks for touchdowns in four straight games. The defense was an area of concern, however, ranking just 29^th overall in the league and twice yielding 45 points in late-season losses.

The Colts were in the playoffs for the second straight year with Head Coach Tony Dungy at the helm and the fourth time in five seasons. The key to success was sixth-year QB Peyton Manning (pictured above), a consensus MVP and first-team All-Pro after passing for 4267 yards and 29 TDs with only 10 interceptions. WR Marvin Harrison gained a Pro Bowl selection and both Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokley were productive. RB Edgerrin James missed three games with a back injury but still rushed for 1259 yards and caught 51 passes. The defense was less impressive but respectable. Indianapolis topped the AFC South with a 12-4 tally and handily won their Wild Card playoff game the week before by a 41-10 score over Denver without punting once.

There were 79,159 fans in attendance at Arrowhead Stadium. The Colts took the opening kickoff and advanced 70 yards in 10 plays. Peyton Manning completed a pass to Marvin Harrison for 13 yards in a third-and-nine situation and Edgerrin James (pictured below) had a 15-yard run along the way. A Manning throw to WR Brandon Stokley was completed for a 29-yard touchdown and Mike Vanderjagt added the extra point.

Kansas City responded with a drive that included seven carries by Priest Holmes for 52 yards and Trent Green threw to Tony Gonzalez for 16 yards. But after getting first-and-goal at the Indianapolis six, the Chiefs were unable to reach the end zone and Morten Andersen kicked a 22-yard field goal to make it a 7-3 score.

The Colts came back with a six-play, 76-yard series. Manning passed twice to Harrison for gains of 13 and 38 yards and James ran around end for 13 yards in between, as well as 11 yards for a TD. Vanderjagt’s point after put the visitors in front by 14-3.

A 46-yard kickoff return by Dante Hall was nullified by a holding penalty, but in a series that extended into the second quarter, the Chiefs advanced 77 yards in 12 plays. Green completed five passes, including tosses to WR Eddie Kennison for 25 yards and WR Marc Boerigter for 21 to reach Indianapolis territory. Green ran for nine yards on a third-and-five play and a throw to WR Johnnie Morton picked up 14 yards to the seven. Hall caught a pass from Green for a nine-yard touchdown and, with Andersen’s extra point, the score was narrowed to 14-10.

Still, the Chiefs couldn’t stop the Colts, who drove 71 yards in nine plays. James had an 18-yard run and Manning completed four passes, including to WR Reggie Wayne for 17 yards, TE Marcus Pollard for 21, and RB Tom Lopienski for a two-yard TD. It was the only time that the rookie Lopienski touched the ball in his two-year NFL career and Vanderjagt’s PAT put the Colts up by 11 points at 21-10 with 4:34 remaining in the first half.

Starting from their 31 following the kickoff, the Chiefs gained 22 yards right away on a pass from Green to Gonzalez and two more throws to the tight end picked up eight and nine yards, although a longer completion was nullified by offensive pass interference. The possession stalled at the Indianapolis 13 and Kansas City came up empty when the normally-reliable Andersen missed on a 31-yard field goal attempt. The score remained unchanged at halftime.

The Chiefs had the ball first in the third quarter, but Holmes fumbled at the end of a 48-yard run and CB David Macklin recovered for the Colts at the Indianapolis 22. With James and RB Dominic Rhodes running effectively and Manning completing passes of 11 yards to Stokley and nine to Wayne, the visitors moved into KC territory and, after LB Shawn Barber stopped James for a loss of five yards on third down, Vanderjagt kicked a 45-yard field goal to increase the Indianapolis margin to 24-10.

The Chiefs, benefiting from a 27-yard kickoff return by Hall that had them starting from their 45, drove 55 yards in eight plays, six of them runs by Holmes (pictured at right), the first of which picked up 24 yards and the last reached the end zone from a yard out for a touchdown. Andersen’s conversion made it a seven-point game.

The Colts went largely to the air on their next series as Manning completed five passes, three of them to Wayne, including the last that was for a 19-yard TD. Vanderjagt kicked the extra point, but it was a seven-point game once more shortly thereafter when Hall returned the ensuing kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. Andersen added the PAT and the score was 31-24.

The game entered the fourth quarter and the Colts remained unstoppable on offense. Manning converted a third-and-three situation with a pass to Wayne for 17 yards and followed up with a throw to Harrison for a gain of 27 to the KC 30. Manning completed three more passes to get the ball inside the ten, and James finished the drive off with a one-yard carry for a TD. Vanderjagt again converted to put the visitors up by 38-24.

A long series by the Chiefs followed. Starting from their 24, Kansas City picked up a first down thanks to defensive holding on a third-and-six play and converted a fourth-and-six situation with a pass from Green to Kennison for 19 yards. Green had four more completions as the Chiefs chipped away. Facing fourth-and-five at the Indianapolis seven, Green again connected with Kennison for six yards to get a first-and-goal at the one, and from there Holmes went up the middle for a touchdown. Andersen’s extra point once more made it a one-touchdown contest.

The clock was down to 4:16 remaining in regulation as the Colts again took over on offense. Manning threw to James for 16 yards and a first down, and James ran for another first down to keep the ball away from the Chiefs as the time ticked away. Rhodes was stopped for one yard on a fourth-and-three play, but the ball was at the Kansas City 27 and there were just eight seconds left to play. Green completed one last inconsequential pass and Indianapolis came away the winner by a final score of 38-31.

For the first time in NFL playoff history neither team punted and, equally unprecedented, the Colts managed to play two consecutive postseason games without punting. The teams combined for 842 total yards, with the Colts gaining 434 to Kansas City’s 408 and also leading in first downs (27 to 24) and time of possession (32:13 to 27:47). The Chiefs gained 196 yards of their total on the ground, while Indianapolis had 292 net passing yards. There was only one sack, which was by the Chiefs, and one turnover, also by Kansas City. 

Peyton Manning completed 22 of 30 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns, with none intercepted. Edgerrin James ran for 125 yards and two TDs on 26 carries. Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne each had 6 catches, for 98 and 83 yards, respectively, and Wayne scored once.

For the Chiefs, Trent Green was successful on 18 of 30 throws for 212 yards and a TD with no interceptions. Priest Holmes had 176 rushing yards on 24 attempts that included two touchdowns and also pulled in five passes for 32 more yards. Tony Gonzalez gained 55 yards on his four pass receptions and Eddie Kennison contributed 50 yards on three catches. Dante Hall (pictured at right), in addition to two receptions for 19 yards and a TD, had 208 yards on seven kickoff returns that also included a touchdown.

“I am hot right now, we’re hot as an offense,” said Peyton Manning.

The Indianapolis offense was cooled off in the AFC Championship game the following week in a 24-14 loss to New England. The Chiefs fell back to 7-9 in 2004 and, while they rebounded to 10-6 in Dick Vermeil’s last year before retiring, did not reach the postseason again until 2006.

2005: Manning TDs Spur AFC to Win in Pro Bowl

There was a sellout crowd of 50,225 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu for the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl on February 13, 2005, marking the 26^th consecutive season that the contest had been staged in Hawaii. The coaches of the teams were Pittsburgh’s Bill Cowher for the AFC and, for the NFC, Jim Mora Jr. of the Falcons.

The AFC scored first on a 62-yard pass play from QB Peyton Manning (pictured above) to Indianapolis teammate WR Marvin Harrison. New England’s Adam Vinatieri added the extra point. LB Joey Porter of the Steelers then intercepted a pass by Eagles QB Donovan McNabb and Manning led the AFC on another scoring drive, going 69 yards in five plays and finishing with a throw to wide-open Pittsburgh WR Hines Ward for a 41-yard TD. With Vinatieri’s conversion, the score was 14-0 heading into the second quarter.

The NFC put together a long scoring series of 10 plays that covered 84 yards and concluded with RB Brian Westbrook of the Eagles running for a 12-yard touchdown. David Akers, also of Philadelphia, added the extra point. However, when the NFC attempted an onside kick, Ward leaped to grab the ball and then ran 39 yards for a TD (pictured below) – the second on a kickoff return in Pro Bowl history (Detroit’s Jack Christiansen ran won 103 yards in 1956 at the time of the old East vs. West format). Vinatieri kicked the point after and the AFC was again in front by 14 points at 21-7.

Buffalo LB Takeo Spikes intercepted a pass by QB Daunte Culpepper of the Vikings and, adding in a lateral to Porter, the AFC had the ball once again in NFC territory. They added more points, driving 38 yards in eight plays. Manning tossed his third TD pass of the game, connecting with TE Antonio Gates of the Chargers from 12 yards out.

The NFC finally got on the board again before the end of the half, driving 65 yards in 10 plays. Akers kicked a 25-yard field goal with 1:45 left on the clock and the AFC took a 28-10 lead into halftime.

The AFC defense was exceptionally aggressive during the first half, which led to grumblings by NFC players and coaches that they were blitzing – something not allowed in the Pro Bowl.

Heading into the third quarter, Atlanta QB Michael Vick rallied the NFC on three straight scoring drives. In his first possession behind center, Vick completed four of six throws, including a 27-yard touchdown pass to WR Torry Holt of the Rams. It finished off an eight-play, 73-yard series and, with Akers adding the PAT, made the score 28-17.

The next NFC series, following an interception by Philadelphia CB Lito Sheppard of a pass by QB Tom Brady of the champion Patriots, went 69 yards in nine plays. It concluded with the elusive Vick running three yards and diving into the end zone for a TD, despite his helmet being knocked off by Baltimore SS Ed Reed.

The AFC came back to add points early in the fourth quarter as Vinatieri kicked a 36-yard field goal to finish a 13-play, 54-yard possession. However, the NFC responded by driving 68 yards in 12 plays and, midway through the fourth quarter, Akers kicked a 21-yard field goal to narrow the tally to 31-27.

That was as far as the NFC got, however. On the next series, the AFC drove 71 yards in six plays to add to their lead. QB Drew Brees of the Chargers passed on a flea-flicker play to his San Diego teammate Gates for a 33-yard gain to set up a four-yard TD carry by yet another Charger, RB LaDainian Tomlinson.

There was still plenty of time, but the AFC defense stopped the next NFC series in five plays and then finished things off when Buffalo CB Nate Clements picked off a Vick throw with two minutes remaining to play. The AFC came away with a 38-27 win.

The NFC had more total yards (492 to 343) and first downs (26 to 15) but also committed three turnovers, to two by the AFC, as well as the TD on the botched onside kick.

Peyton Manning was the game’s MVP after completing 6 passes in 10 attempts for 130 yards, with three for touchdowns. Tom Brady made good on just four of nine tosses for 48 yards and gave up an interception, while Drew Brees completed both of his passes for 58 yards. RB Rudi Johnson of the Bengals was the AFC’s top rusher with 33 yards on six carries. Hines Ward had three catches for 63 yards and a TD, as well as the kickoff return for a score, and San Diego TE Antonio Gates also had three receptions, for 51 yards and a touchdown. Thanks to the long scoring catch, Marvin Harrison accumulated 66 yards on his two pass receptions.

For the NFC, Michael Vick completed 14 of 24 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown with one interception. Also rushing for 10 yards on three carries, he became the first quarterback to both throw and run for a touchdown in a Pro Bowl contest (although a running back, Marcus Allen, had done it in 1986). Daunte Culpepper was successful on 9 of 15 throws for 124 yards, with one intercepted, but Donovan McNabb was a disappointing one-of-eight for 24 yards and also had one pass picked off. RB Tiki Barber of the Giants ran the ball 9 times for 70 yards and Torry Holt pulled in 5 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown.

 “I’m not going to say I wasn’t holding my breath over there once Vick started to roll around, but our defense did a great job of stopping him,” said Manning, who was making his fifth Pro Bowl appearance. “It was good we got the game this year after we let the lead slip away last year.” He was referring to the wild 55-52 contest of the preceding year that was pulled out by the NFC.

The win was the fourth in five games for the AFC and broke a tie to give them an 18 to 17 edge over the NFC since the Pro Bowl had adopted the AFC vs. NFC format following the 1970 season.

2001: Patten Runs, Catches, and Passes for TDs as Patriots Rip Colts

The New England Patriots brought a 2-3 record into their October 21, 2001 game at Indianapolis. The biggest story of their season thus far had been the injury to starting QB Drew Bledsoe that propelled unknown backup Tom Brady into the starting lineup. In the second year under Head Coach Bill Belichick the club was still viewed as a work in progress.

The Colts had been to the postseason the previous two years under Head Coach Jim Mora but had been badly beaten by the Patriots two weeks earlier and then, after their bye week, had lost to Oakland to fall to 2-2. Fourth-year QB Peyton Manning was already considered to be one of the NFL’s best, as was RB Edgerrin James in his third year. But the defense was becoming a source of concern.

There was a crowd of 56,022 at the RCA Dome. The Colts had first possession and drove to the New England 28, with the big play being a pass from Manning to TE Ken Dilger that gained 25 yards, but Mike Vanderjagt’s 46-yard field goal attempt was blocked and returned 35 yards by New England CB Leonard Myers to give the Patriots excellent starting field position at the Indianapolis 29. They made the most of it in short order as WR David Patten took the ball on an end-around play and raced around right end for the 29-yard touchdown.

The Colts again drove into New England territory on their next possession as Edgerrin James ran effectively and caught a pass from Manning. Vanderjagt booted a 42-yard field goal to get the home team on the board.

The Patriots punted to end their next series and Indianapolis appeared set to score again when Manning threw to WR Marvin Harrison for a 68-yard gain to the New England two. However, the Colts weren’t able to punch into the end zone and, following a sack of Manning by LB Mike Vrabel for a six-yard loss on third down, Vanderjagt again had a field goal attempt blocked, this time by safety Tebucky Jones on a 25-yard try, and the score remained 7-3 after a quarter of play.

The teams traded punts to start the second quarter, but after the Patriots took possession on their own nine yard line following a 34-yard kick by Hunter Smith, it was Patten again making a big play as he pulled in a pass from Brady at the 48 and went the distance for a 91-yard touchdown. With another successful extra point by Adam Vinatieri, it was 14-3 in favor of New England.

Following a short series by the Colts, it was Patten striking again on the Patriots’ next play from scrimmage, this time throwing an option pass to WR Troy Brown for a 60-yard touchdown. David Patten had accounted for a touchdown in three different ways – by rushing, receiving, and passing – and in each instance it was on the first play of a New England possession. He had almost singlehandedly staked the Patriots to a 21-3 lead that would prove insurmountable for the Colts.

Things got worse for Indianapolis when James fumbled on the next series and LB Tedy Bruschi recovered for the Patriots at the Colts’ 24. Six plays later Brady passed to TE Jermaine Wiggins for a two-yard TD. While the Colts managed to score once more on a 42-yard Vanderjagt field goal before the period was over, New England went into halftime leading by a 28-6 margin, even though the offense’s time of possession was just eight minutes. The frustrated home crowd booed the Colts heavily as they headed for the locker room.

The second half was anticlimactic. The Colts drove to a two-yard Manning-to-Harrison touchdown pass followed by a successful two-point conversion that made it 28-14. The Patriots responded with a 43-yard field goal by Vinatieri. Indianapolis again reached scoring territory but, after having a first down at the New England 12, was unable to penetrate the end zone and settled for a 24-yard Vanderjagt field goal. Early in the fourth quarter, Brady tossed another TD pass to Patten, this time from six yards out, and that was it. Another drive by the Colts ended with Manning fumbling the ball away while being sacked by DE Bobby Hamilton after reaching the New England 16, and the Patriots were able to eat up almost all of the remaining time with an 18-play possession. New England came away with a big 38-17 win.

The Colts led in total yards (484 to 385) and first downs (28 to 19) but were beaten by big plays and blocked kicks (prior to the two blocked field goals in the first quarter, Mike Vanderjagt had had only two of his previous 100 attempts blocked). They had difficulty scoring when they got inside the red zone and turned the ball over twice while New England suffered no turnovers. The Patriots sacked Peyton Manning four times while the Colts never got to Tom Brady.

David Patten was the biggest star for the Patriots as he became the first player since Walter Payton of the Bears in 1979 to account for a touchdown by rushing, receiving, and passing in the same NFL game. His overall statistics were four catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns, one rushing attempt for 29 yards and a TD, and one pass completion for a 60-yard score.

Tom Brady had a fine performance, completing 16 of 20 passes for 202 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Troy Brown caught 8 passes for 120 yards and TD. RB Antowain Smith led the rushing attack with 71 yards on 21 carries.

Several noteworthy offensive performances for the Colts went to waste. Peyton Manning was successful on 22 of 34 throws for 335 yards and a TD with none intercepted. Edgerrin James gained 143 yards on 30 rushing attempts. Marvin Harrison had 8 catches for 157 yards and a touchdown.

“It started out bad with the blocked field goal and it didn’t get a whole lot better,” summed up Jim Mora for the Colts.

It did get better for the Colts with wins over the next two weeks, but they were followed with seven losses in the last nine games. Indianapolis sank to 6-10 and a fourth place finish in their last AFC East season, which also was the end for Jim Mora’s coaching reign.

New England, on the other hand, lost its next game but then won eight of nine to win the AFC East with an 11-5 record. The improbable climb continued to a Super Bowl upset of the St. Louis Rams.

Rising quickly out of obscurity, Tom Brady had a Pro Bowl year, completing 63.9 percent of his passes for 2843 yards with 18 touchdowns against 12 interceptions.

David Patten caught 51 passes for 749 yards (14.7 avg.) and four touchdowns. He ran the ball five times for 67 yards with the TD against the Colts his only one of the year (and, for that matter, his career) and had one other passing attempt, which was intercepted. Formerly with the Giants and Browns, the undersized (5’10”, 190) but fast fifth-year wide receiver went on to play a total of four seasons in New England where he was a member of three championship squads. 

2003: Colts Rally From 21 Points Down in 4th Quarter to Beat Bucs in OT

The defending NFL champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers had started out the 2003 season at 2-1 and were coming off of the bye week as they faced the Indianapolis Colts in a Monday Night Football matchup on October 6. Under Head Coach Jon Gruden, the Bucs had finally made it to the Super Bowl after reaching the postseason in four of the previous five seasons, falling short each time.

The head coach who had built the Buccaneers into a contender after years of futility was Tony Dungy, fired after the 2001 season for his playoff failures and now returning to Tampa for the first time as coach of the Colts. Indianapolis had reached the postseason with a 10-6 record in 2002 and was undefeated after four games in ’03. However, they would be without the services of star RB Edgerrin James for a second week due to a back injury.

Dungy received a polite reception from the 65,647 fans at Raymond James Stadium. For most of the game, it appeared that the former coach’s homecoming would not be a pleasant one.

Tampa Bay scored on its second possession when QB Brad Johnson connected with WR Keenan McCardell on a 74-yard touchdown pass play. Then, later in the first quarter, the Bucs got a huge break. After a badly thrown pass by Johnson was intercepted by safety Mike Doss, Doss returned it 16 yards but fumbled; McCardell picked up the loose ball and ran 57 yards for a TD and 14-0 lead.

It was 21-0 in favor of Tampa Bay at halftime as WR Reggie Barlow scored on a three-yard pass from Johnson. The Buccaneer defense had been the team’s strength, and with the Colts offense stifled and the Bucs up by three touchdowns, there was plenty of reason for the home fans to feel optimistic.

Early in the third quarter, the Colts finally got on the board as QB Peyton Manning (pictured above) hit WR Marvin Harrison on a touchdown pass play that covered 37 yards. However, the Buccaneers methodically drove 85 yards in 12 plays that culminated in a 15-yard Johnson-to-McCardell touchdown pass and Tampa Bay again had a three touchdown lead at 28-7 after three quarters.

Indianapolis scored again early in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run by RB Ricky Williams to cap an eight-play possession. The Bucs were then forced to punt, but it seemed as though any hopes for a comeback by the Colts were snuffed out when CB Rhonde Barber intercepted a pass by Manning and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown. With 5:09 remaining on the clock, the 35-14 lead appeared impregnable.

However, WR Brad Pyatt returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards to set up a three-yard touchdown run by RB James Mungro. Now with the time remaining down to 3:37, DB Idrees Bashir recovered an onside kick and, six plays later on a fourth-and-six play, Manning tossed a 28-yard TD pass to Harrison.

The Tampa Bay margin had now been cut to 35-28 with 2:29 to play and the Colts again attempted an onside kick. This one was recovered by RB Aaron Stecker of the Buccaneers, but the Colts defense forced the Bucs to punt and took over on their 15 yard line with 1:41 now left on the clock.

A Manning completion had yardage tacked on after the quarterback was roughed by Tampa Bay DT Warren Sapp. From the Indianapolis 42, Manning connected with Harrison on a 52-yard pass play down to the Buccaneer six yard line. Shortly thereafter Williams scored on a one-yard run and, with 35 seconds remaining in regulation, the score was tied at 35-35.

The Buccaneers tried to score in the time remaining, but Martin Gramatica’s 62-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the fourth quarter failed when it was tipped at the line of scrimmage.

The Bucs had the first possession in overtime but had to punt. Taking over on their own 13, the Colts moved downfield with Manning connecting on third down passes of eight yards to Harrison, 16 yards to WR Reggie Wayne, and 9 yards to WR Troy Walters. With less than four minutes remaining in OT, it appeared that the Buccaneers had avoided defeat when Mike Vanderjagt’s 39-yard field goal attempt missed wide to the right. However, Tampa Bay DE Simeon Rice was penalized for leaping onto a teammate to attempt to block the kick and, with a second chance from 29 yards, Vanderjagt was successful and the Colts had capped their astounding comeback with a 38-35 win.

No team in NFL history had ever come from three touchdowns behind so late in the game to come out on top.

Peyton Manning completed 34 of 47 passes for 386 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Marvin Harrison caught 11 passes for 176 yards and two TDs. The Colts, without Edgerrin James, only ran for 74 yards and Ricky Williams was the leading ground gainer with 56 yards on 13 carries with two scores.


For Tampa Bay, Brad Johnson was successful on 26 of 39 passes for 318 yards with three touchdowns and one picked off. While TE Ken Dilger caught 6 passes for 63 yards, Keenan McCardell (pictured at left) was the most productive receiver with 106 yards on four receptions and two touchdowns. RB Michael Pittman gained 106 yards rushing on 16 carries.

Afterward, Coach Gruden said “A lot of those plays, I tip my hat to Manning. He made some miraculous throws, and they made some incredible catches.”

Indianapolis was knocked from the ranks of the undefeated the next week by Carolina but still went on to win the AFC South with a 12-4 record. The Colts made it to the AFC Championship game before losing to the New England Patriots. The Buccaneers, however, moved in a different direction. While they recovered to win at Washington in their next game, they ended up going 4-7 therafter for a disappointing 7-9 tally that placed them third in the NFC South and well out of playoff contention.

Peyton Manning led the NFL in pass completions (379), yards (4267), and completion percentage (67.0) and ranked second in passing (99.0 rating), pass attempts (566), and TD passes (29). He was selected to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time and was a consensus first-team All Pro selection for the first time in his illustrious career and also received MVP honors (Associated Press, NEA, Bert Bell Trophy).

Marvin Harrison (pictured below), at age 31 and after four consecutive 100-catch seasons, dropped off to 94 receptions for 1272 yards with 10 touchdowns – still respectable numbers for sure. He was named to the Pro Bowl for the fifth consecutive year, of an eventual eight straight.

Keenan McCardell remained a bright spot for Tampa Bay, putting together a Pro Bowl season at age 33 with 84 catches for 1174 yards (14.0 avg.) with eight TDs.