Third Quarter Highs And Lows
FOXBORO (CBS) -- The Highs:
After a long drive by the Colts, the Pats defense forced a punt. Good bend-don't-break defense.
The Pats got the ball back and went to business. A 9-play drive that capped with a 36-yard run for a touchdown by Danny Woodhead.
He has been just a great acquisition for the Patriots.
Then on the kickoff to the Colts, it was Woodhead who made the tackle. Again great acquisition.
The Colts got the ball and Peyton Manning was intercepted by Devin McCourty. He got one.
The Pats end the quarter with the ball and trying to put a capper on this game.
The Lows:
The Pats start the second half and they are slow. Brady got sacked and they could not get over their own 40.
SECOND QUARTER HIGHS AND LOWS
The Highs:
The Pats finish what they started. A couple of plays and the Pats are in the end zone. 15 plays and 7 plus minutes off the clock. Aaron Hernandez gets the 8 yard grab.
After the Colts scored, the Patriots came down the field and put points on the board.
Big play passes to Gronkowski and Branch. Green Ellis ran it in. The Pats offense has scored every time they touched the ball.
The Lows:
First possession of the second quarter for the Colts and they are moving the ball on the Pats defense.
The Pats had a couple of chances to sack Manning but missed and on one play he hit Donald Brown on a 25 yard passing play. The Colts scored a couple of plays later.
The Pats defense could have gotten off the field and stopped this one.
Defense got abused at the end of the quarter. The Colts had a 12-play drive.
Bad tackling by Kyle Arrington resulted in a 28 yard pass play by Wayne. Then Arrington again got beat on a corner play for a touchdown.
Not a good sequence for Kyle Arrington.
21 to 14 Patriots at the half.
FIRST QUARTER HIGHS AND LOWS
The Highs:
Right out of the gate the Pats defense was put to the test and they did a great job. The Pats held strong on the run and on a third and long, Brandon Meriweather got a huge pick.
The Pats got the ball and made it count -- Tom Brady to Wes Welker on a 22 yard strike.
Pats get the early lead.
On the Colts second possession, nothing doing. The Pats defense held up again and forced a punt.
They are getting close each time to getting interceptions. Jerod Mayo was close and so was Devin McCourty.
The Patriots offense finished the quarter strong. They are marching down the field on a long drive and they seem to all be in sync.
The Lows:
I would be nit picking here.
The Pats have played a pretty perfect first quarter on both side of the ball. Offense and defense are playing well and there have been no mistakes on the special teams.
7-nothing Pats after one
QUICK THOUGHTS FOR SUNDAY'S PATRIOTS GAME
The Patriots have nine turnovers and that ties them for the second fewest in the NFL. You also have to take into account that one of them came on a Hail Mary at the end of regulation against the Ravens. The turnover stat is a big one in determining games and the Pats are right where they need to be.
This is going to be another game that Patriots starting right guard Stephen Neal (shoulder) has to sit. That means, for a second straight game, Dan Connolly will be at that spot. Connolly is a good choice for the team's 12th Player Award, given to the player who exceeds expectations. Connolly has been getting the job done ever since the Pats made the move to put him in the line up.
If you are not watching the early NFL games, here's something for you. Richard Seymour just got thrown out of a game. He threw a punch at Ben Roeslithberger and knock him out. Ben is back up and playing. Richard will face a fine and maybe a suspension...
PATRIOTS INACTIVES FOR SUNDAY'S GAME
Here are the Patriot players inactive for today's game against the Colts.
Taylor Price WR
Fred Taylor RB
Jonathan Wilhite CB
Jarrad Page S
Rich Ohrnberger OL
Stephen Neal G
Mark LeVoir T
Myron Pryor DL
I thought Jarrad Page and Fred Taylor were going to get back out there but that's not the case. The rest of the guys was of little surprise.
