TROY BROWN: PATRIOTS ALL-TIME LEADING RECEIVER
With his 5-yard reception in the second quarter – the 535th reception of his career – Troy Brown became the Patriots' all-time leading receiver, passing Stanley Morgan's mark of 534 receptions. Morgan had held the record since November 11, 1984, when he passed then-leader Gino Cappelletti with his 293rd career reception. Brown had tied Morgan's record on an acrobatic 6-yard reception in the first quarter.
A few additional notes on Troy Brown
- In addition to now holding the Patriots' career receptions record, he also holds the Patriots single-season receptions record with 101 catches in 2001 and he holds the Patriots' single-game receptions record with 16 catches against Kansas City on Sept. 22, 2002.
- He is the Patriots' all-time leading punt returner and all-time leader in combined return yards.
- He is playing in his 183rd regular-season game for the Patriots tonight, a mark that is tied with John Hannah for the fifth-most in Patriots history.
GREAT SCOTT
Chad Scott recorded his second interception in as many games, picking off Peyton Manning at the Patriots' 14-yard line on a pass intended for Dallas Clark. Scott, who also had an interception last week against Minnesota, has now recorded 21 interceptions in his 10-year NFL career. His two interceptions rank second on the Patriots this season, behind only team-leader Asante Samuel's three interceptions.
DILLON SCORES
Corey Dillon scored two touchdowns in the first half, raising his team-leading touchdown total to six. Dillon got the Patriots on the board with a 1-yard scoring run to tie the game at seven early in the second quarter. He scored again in the second quarter on a 4-yard run that tied the game at 14. The touchdowns give Dillon 32 regular-season scores in a New England uniform, with his 32 total touchdowns coming in just 35 total games. New England entered tonight's game with a 29-5 record in the 34 regular-season games in which Dillon has appeared.
FOURTH DOWN CONVERSION
In a key fourth-and-three situation on the final play of the first quarter with the Patriots at the Colts' 18-yard line and trailing 7-0, they elected to go for the first down and Tom Brady connected with Kevin Faulk to give the Patriots a first-and-goal at the Colts' 5-yard line. Two plays later, the Patriots tied the game at seven on a 1-yard touchdown run by Corey Dillon. At halftime, the Patriots had converted eight-of-11 fourth-down tries this season.
TOUCHDOWN-FREE STREAK BROKEN
Indianapolis' first-quarter touchdown ended a streak of 10 straight quarters in which the Patriots defense had not allowed a touchdown. Prior to that touchdown, the last tine New England's defense had allowed its opponent to reach the end zone was in the second quarter of their game against Miami on Oct. 8.
MAYS' DAY
Rookie linebacker Corey Mays made his NFL debut tonight, participating on the Patriots' kickoff team. Mays was a member of the Patriots' practice squad for the first seven games of the season before being signed to the active roster in time for tonight's game. Mays recorded his first career special teams tackle with a big hit on Indianapolis kick returner Terrence Wilkins in the second quarter.
RARE FUMBLE FOR DILLON
Corey Dillon's third-quarter fumble was his first lost fumble of the season and just his sixth lost fumble of his Patriots career. Immediately following the fumble, Dillon had lost six fumbles on 689 touches (649 carries and 40 receptions) for the Patriots (0.9 percent of the time). Dillon lost just one fumble last season on 231 touches (0.4 percent), and lost four fumbles on 360 touches in 2004 (1.1 percent).
SPECIAL PLAY
Artrell Hawkins game up with a big special teams play in the third quarter, forcing Indianapolis kickoff returner Terrence Wilkins to fumble and then recovering the ball. The play came on the kickoff following Stephen Gostkowski's 49-yard field goal that cut the Colts' lead to 24-17.
QUICK HITS
- Junior Seau dropped Peyton Manning for a 9-yard sack on second-and-goal in the second quarter. The sack was the first for Seau in a Patriots uniform and raised his career sack total to 53.0 career sacks.
- Rodney Harrison reached in to bat down Peyton Manning's first pass of the game, which was intended for tight end Dallas Clark.
HOT WHEN IT'S COLD
- The temperature at kickoff tonight was 31 degrees. The Patriots have enjoyed tremendous recent success in cold weather and even with tonight's loss are now 21-3 since 1993 when the kickoff temperature is 34 degrees or less.
- New England has now won 16 of its last 18 games when the kickoff temperature has been 34 degrees or colder.
- Since 1993, the Patriots are now 21-3 when the temperature is 34 degrees or colder, and 15-1 when it's 30 degrees or colder.
- Tom Brady is now 21-2 as a starter when the temperature is less than 40 degrees. His only loss prior to tonight came in the 2005 regular-season finale against Miami, when Brady started and played in only the first quarter, leaving the game in a 7-7 tie.
PATRIOTS IN THE COMMUNITY
Earlier today, the Kraft Family Athletic Facility at Harry Downes Field was dedicated in a ceremony in Brookline. Through a grant from the Kraft Family and the NFL Grassroots Program, a brand-new artificial turf field was installed for the benefit of high school and youth football, lacrosse and soccer teams in the Town of Brookline. Over 150 youth football players from Brookline and Jamaica Plain inaugurated the field. Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, President Jonathan Kraft and Brookline town officials were on hand for today's dedication.
