Steve Silverman

INDIANAPOLIS - The Pats came into Indianapolis with something to prove.

Not so much to the rest of the league — but to themselves.

That’s the way Bill Belichick’s team plays every week whether the opponent is Indianapolis, Dallas or Washington. Belichick and his players have the maturity to handle the worst of circumstances and that’s what they faced Sunday afternoon against the Colts.

When Peyton Manning got into the end zone from one yard out with 9:42 remaining in the fourth quarter, the undefeated Patriots were trailing 20-10 and 57,450 Colt fans were in full roar. Not only was New England behind, the team had been outplayed for 50 minutes and their chances for keeping their record unblemished appeared to be blowing right out of the RCA Dome.

At least that’s what would have happened with a normal team. Every other team in the league would have shrugged and waited for the next opportunity because the Colts played outstanding football for 50 minutes. But Belichick’s team lives by the mantra of playing 60 minutes — and never more so than this week. The Patriots knew they were playing the best team in the league and that nothing would come easy.

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“You don’t come into Indianapolis against this team and expect an easy game,” said Belichick, who wore his usual dour expression at the postgame press conference but was really quite giddy with the 24-20 victory. “It had to come from 60 minutes of effort. We made some mistakes today but we won the game. I am happy with that. Now we get a week off and before you know it we will be getting ready for Buffalo.”

The Patriots tried as much as they could to stay away from the big-picture angle of this game. This was clearly the biggest regular-season in recent memory and the Patriots have earned a significant advantage on the Colts when it comes to securing home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The one game at a time mentality that is pervasive in all NFL lockerrooms is gospel in New England. But the Patriots are a team of men and not robots. There was a celebratory air after the game — from Donte Stallworth’s give-and-take with anguished Colts fans as he made his way back to the locker room to Rosey Colvin’s explanation of his game-clinching fumble recovery following Jarvis Green’s sack of Manning with 2:34 to go.

“We just believe in ourselves always, all the time,” Colvin said. “You get down by 10 points and you don’t stop believing that you can get it done. The only thing you can do is fight. If you get down because everything isn’t going right all the time you can’t play the way you have to when the game is on the line.”

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The interpretation in the Colts’ locker room was in agreement with Colvin’s take. Indianapolis linebacker Gary Brackett had seven tackles and an interception, but he did not think his team finished the job. “We held in there for a little while,” Brackett said. “But in the fourth quarter we didn’t make the plays we had to. They did and they came out of here with the victory.”

The Pats have been rolling over their opponents all year, winning their previous eight games by an average of 25.5 points. They have been criticized for pouring it on, but they have also been doing their job for 60 minutes — a characteristic that was a big key for them in beating the Colts.

Where does this team go from here? They have beaten the Cowboys and Colts on the road and they get a bye week to recover from this momentous victory. Can they join the 1972 Dolphins and finish the season with a perfect record? Is this even on their minds?

Defensive tackle Vince Wilfork wouldn’t admit it but the twinkle in his eye after the game said “yes, absolutely.”

Forgive the interpretation, but Wilfork’s take on the subject wreaked of enthusiasm and confidence. “There’s still so many games to go that you can’t talk about an undefeated season,” Wilfork said. “We just go out and try to play our best game every week. Now we get a week off and then Buffalo. That’s what we have to think about. What happens at the end of the year is going to play itself out. Who knows what it will bring? We don’t have to figure that out. We just have to play.”

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And play they did, especially when all the Colts had to do was rake in the chips on the table. But when the Patriots needed big plays they made them. Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Tom Brady and Rodney Harrison all took matters into their own hands and stole the win from the defending Super Bowl champions.

There will be tests the rest of the way. A road game at Baltimore. A home game with the Steelers and a road game with the Giants in the season finale. But they will not be tested in a more severe manner than the Colts came at them Sunday.

This is a team for the ages. They may have to go undefeated and sweep their way to another championship for them to get the recognition, but they are on their way to a 4th Super Bowl title and a spot with the great dynasties of the Packers, Steelers and 49ers.

Don’t bet against them. History is what happens when talent and execution meet opportunity. Neither Belichick nor his players will ease off the throttle. They will go hard for 60 minutes this week, next week and every week.

NFL game stories Quick look at Week 4 games STEELERS 23, RAVENS 20, OT: Baltimore loses first game of season REDSKINS 26, COWBOYS 24: Dallas can't contain Portis in 1st loss BEARS 24, EAGLES 20: Goal-line stand boosts Chicago JETS 56, CARDINALS 35: Favre throws career-high 6 TDs BUCS 30, PACKERS 21: Ryan's 3 FGs lift Tampa CHARGERS 28, RAIDERS 18: San Diego tops rival 10th straight time BILLS 31, RAMS 14: Buffalo 4-0 for first time since 1992 CHIEFS 33, BRONCOS 19: Johnson rushes for 198 yards for K.C. BROWNS 20, BENGALS 12: Anderson throws TD TITANS 30, VIKINGS 17: Tennessee 4-0 for first time ever PANTHERS 24, FALCONS 9: Smith honors Lucas after TD JAGUARS 30, TEXANS 27, OT: Scobey kicks game winner SAINTS 31, 49ERS 17: McAlister scores first TD of year

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