Colts fans wish the league had adopted the "points of emphasis" prior to the AFC title game last January. New England won 24-14 in snowy Foxboro, Mass., in large part by getting physical -- some would say too physical -- with Colts receivers.
Throughout the game, Patriots defenders disrupted routes and timing by reaching, grabbing, jostling. Some of the contact came well beyond the 5-yard zone.
As the Colts attempted to mount a late comeback -- down 21-14, at their own 20-yard line, less than 2 minutes remaining -- quarterback Peyton Manning sent third- and fourth-down passes in the direction of tight end Marcus Pollard. Neither found its mark. Each time Pollard was trying to disengage downfield from linebacker Roman Phifer.
"It was every play," Pollard said.
Dungy said league officials, after reviewing videotape of the game, admitted penalties should have been called on the Patriots on all four plays of the drive in question.
Overall, the Colts snapped 72 offensive plays, including 47 Manning passes. The officiating crew detected three penalties on the Patriots, all pre-snap violations.
If the officials had called penalties when they occurred, "that game would have taken two days," Pollard said.
WARNING: IT's Rantin' time!
