AFC NEWS ‘N’ NOTES

INDIANAPOLIS AT NEW ENGLAND IN AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

SUNDAY, JANUARY 18

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS–AFC SOUTH (14-4) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS–AFC EAST (15-2)

SERIES

SEASON STAT LEADERS
 

NOTES

TEAMS HAVE COMBINED for 29 wins (Patriots 15, Colts 14), 2nd-most total victories by AFC Championship Game participants in NFL history.  Game is rematch of Week 13 meeting won by New England, 38-34 at Indianapolis.  Since that game, Patriots are 5-0 & Colts are 5-1.  Teams are former AFC East rivals & meet for 1st time in playoffs.

COLTS:  Had franchise postseason-record 41 points & 479 yards in Wild Card win over Denver & followed with 38 points & 434 yards in Divisional win at KC.  Are 8-1 (.889) on road this year......Won 1st AFC South division title.  Set franchise record with 447 points scored.  Head coach TONY DUNGY is 3rd coach in franchise history to reach 10+ wins in each of 1st 2 seasons (DON MC CAFFERTY, 1970-71 & TED MARCHIBRODA, 1975-76).  Dungy has taken his team to playoffs in 6 of past 8 seasons......QB Manning, who was named co-MVP by AP (STEVE MC NAIR), completed 22 of 26 (84.6 pct.) for 377 yards & 5 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 158.3 passer rating in WC, 2nd perfect passer rating game in postseason history (min. 15 att.).  In 2003 playoffs, Manning has completed 44 of 56 (78.6 pct.) for 681 yards with 8 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 156.9 rating.  Passed for NFL-best 4,267 yards & became 1st player in NFL history with 5 consecutive 4,000-yard seasons.  Had AFC-high 29 TD passes & has thrown 25+ TD passes in each of past 6 seasons, only player in NFL history to accomplish feat.  Has thrown 68 career TD passes to WR MARVIN HARRISON (10 in 2003), 3rd-most by any NFL duo......RB EDGERRIN JAMES had 3rd career 1,000-yd season (1,259) & became club’s all-time leading rusher (6,172).  Rushed for 125 yards & 2 TDs last week.  In 7 career games vs. NE, has rushed for 704 yards (100.6 per game)......Pro Bowl WR Harrison has 13 catches for 231 yards & 2 TDs in postseason.  Including playoffs, has 107 catches, his 5th consecutive season with 100+ receptions.  Has NFL-best 563 receptions (reg. season) over past 5 years (112.6 per season).  Had 1,272 receiving yards, 3rd in AFC, & became Colts all-time leader with 10,072 yds.  Had 5th consecutive 1,000-yard season.  There have only been 9 1,000-yard seasons in team history.  WR BRANDON STOKLEY has team-high 3 TDs in playoffs.  Had 87-yard TD vs. Denver, longest in team playoff history.  Has 201 yards on 8 catches (25.1 avg.) in playoffs.  Colts had 4,000-yard passer (Manning), 1,000-yard rusher (James) & 1,000-yard receiver (Harrison) for 4th time in 5 years......Pro Bowl DE DWIGHT FREENEY led team in sacks for 2nd consecutive season (11.0) & recorded 8th double-digit sack season in Colts history (Freeney has 2).  Is 1st Colt DE to be named AFC All-Star since 1977.  CB DAVID MACKLIN has 2 INTs in playoffs......Club has yet to punt in postseason.  All-Star K MIKE VANDERJAGT has converted NFL-record 44 consecutive FGs, including playoffs.  Has not missed kick in ’03 (56/56 PAT; 40/40 FG).

PATRIOTS:  Have won 13 consecutive games & are 3rd team in NFL history to win 12 in row to end regular season – 1934 Chicago Bears advanced to NFL Championship & 1972 Miami Dolphins won Super Bowl VII.  Are 4th team since 1970 with 12-game winning streak in single season & previous 3 won Super Bowl (1972 Miami, 1985 Chicago, 1998 Denver).  Posted franchise-record 14 regular-season wins & were 8-0 at Gillette Stadium, 1st perfect season at home.  Allowed 68 points at home, fewest by team in 16-game schedule.  Are 18-3 (.850) in past 20 at home, including Divisional win over Titans.  In past 7 at Gillette, have outscored opponents 125-36.  Have won past 23 when leading at halftime & past 27 when leading after 3 quarters.  Have won 11 of past 13 vs. Colts & past 6 at home......QB TOM BRADY is 26-4 (.867) in career after Nov. 1 (including playoffs).  Is 38-12 (.760) in career as starter including playoffs, best among active QBs.  Has never lost playoff game (4-0) & was named MVP of Super Bowl XXXVI.  Has not thrown INT at home in 282 attempts this season, most attempts without INT for season at home since 1970.  Brady made 1st career start vs. Colts & picked up 1st win (9/30/01)......RB ANTOWAIN SMITH led club in rushing for 3rd time in 3 seasons with NE.  Had 2 rushing TDs in last home game vs. Colts.  When Smith rushes for TD, Pats are 17-2 (.895), including last week.......WR DAVID GIVENS led team with 6 receiving TDs & had 3 in final 2 games.  WR DEION BRANCH had career-best 803 receiving yards to lead Pats.  Has catch in all 26 career games.......Club was 2nd in NFL with club-record +17 turnover differential.  Defense allowed 14.9 points per game, lowest in team history, including franchise-best 3 shutouts.  Patriots led NFL with 29 INTs, most by team since 1964 (31)……Under head coach BILL BELICHICK, Pats are 4-1 (.800) vs. Indy.  Club has 14 INTs in 9 career games vs. QB Manning.  Defense has never lost to Manning at home (4-0).  DT RICHARD SEYMOUR selected to 2nd consecutive Pro Bowl & CB TY LAW named AFC All Star for 4th time in career.  Law & CB TYRONE POOLE tied for team lead & ranked 4th in AFC with 6 INTs.  LB WILLIE MC GINEST added to Pro Bowl team.  Had game-saving tackle in Week 13 meeting on 1-yard line.  LB TEDY BRUSCHI had 3 INTs, including 2 INT-TDs.  LB MIKE VRABEL led team with career-best 9.5 sacks & tied career-high with 2 INTs.  Had 1.5 sacks vs. Colts & 1 FF.  Defense held opponents to 56.2 passer rating......Rookie KR BETHEL JOHNSON (No. 45) had AFC-best 28.2 KR avg. as team led AFC with 32.8 KO start.  In Week 13, Johnson had 92-yard KR-TD as 1st half expired.  Had 41-yard TD catch in Divisional.