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| Colts quarterback Bert Jones threw for 340 yards and three touchdown passes in leading the Baltimore Colts to their third straight AFC East division championship. |
When most fans think of the rivalry between the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts,
they think of the numerous duels between quarterbacks Tom Brady and Peyton Manning and the now
infamous “Deflategate” saga.
But believe it or not, this rivalry goes back all the way to the year 1970 when the then Baltimore Colts
and then Boston Patriots were put together in the AFC Eastern Division after the AFL-NFL merger.
However, the series between the two teams was not all that memorable as the neither team could attain
the success of the Miami Dolphins of the early 1970s and mid 1980s or the Buffalo Bills of the early 1990s.
But on the last Sunday of the 1977 season, the two teams did play a significant game and is as memorable
as some of the games from the recent series.
The Colts were the two-time defending AFC East Champions and were led by head coach Ted Marchibroda
and quarterback Bert Jones.
Baltimore seemed poised for another AFC East title and a trip to the playoffs after going 9-1 in their first 10
games, but a three-game losing streak had them on the brink of missing out on the playoffs as the Miami Dolphins
as well as the Patriots.
The New England Patriots had been to the playoffs the year before as a wild card team but were eliminated
by the eventual Super Bowl champion Oakland Raiders after a controversial roughing the passer penalty gave
the Raiders new life and a chance to score the winning touchdown.
The Patriots were under the helm of head coach Chuck Fairbanks and quarterback Steve Grogan and after going
5-4 in their first nine games of the season, the Patriots had won their last four games to put them at 9-4 and
in a three-way-tie with the Colts and the Dolphins for the AFC East title.
With only one wild card spot available and already taken by the Raiders, the only way, the Colts, Dolphins, or
Patriots could get into the playoffs was to win the AFC East.The day before the Patriots and the Colts were to met in Baltimore,
the Dolphins defeated the Buffalo Bills 31-14, eliminating the Patriots and meaning the Colts had to beat
New England in order to win the division since they held the tiebreaker over the Dolphins by beating Miami in the games
Baltimore had with them.
they think of the numerous duels between quarterbacks Tom Brady and Peyton Manning and the now
infamous “Deflategate” saga.
But believe it or not, this rivalry goes back all the way to the year 1970 when the then Baltimore Colts
and then Boston Patriots were put together in the AFC Eastern Division after the AFL-NFL merger.
However, the series between the two teams was not all that memorable as the neither team could attain
the success of the Miami Dolphins of the early 1970s and mid 1980s or the Buffalo Bills of the early 1990s.
But on the last Sunday of the 1977 season, the two teams did play a significant game and is as memorable
as some of the games from the recent series.
The Colts were the two-time defending AFC East Champions and were led by head coach Ted Marchibroda
and quarterback Bert Jones.
Baltimore seemed poised for another AFC East title and a trip to the playoffs after going 9-1 in their first 10
games, but a three-game losing streak had them on the brink of missing out on the playoffs as the Miami Dolphins
as well as the Patriots.
The New England Patriots had been to the playoffs the year before as a wild card team but were eliminated
by the eventual Super Bowl champion Oakland Raiders after a controversial roughing the passer penalty gave
the Raiders new life and a chance to score the winning touchdown.
The Patriots were under the helm of head coach Chuck Fairbanks and quarterback Steve Grogan and after going
5-4 in their first nine games of the season, the Patriots had won their last four games to put them at 9-4 and
in a three-way-tie with the Colts and the Dolphins for the AFC East title.
With only one wild card spot available and already taken by the Raiders, the only way, the Colts, Dolphins, or
Patriots could get into the playoffs was to win the AFC East.The day before the Patriots and the Colts were to met in Baltimore,
the Dolphins defeated the Buffalo Bills 31-14, eliminating the Patriots and meaning the Colts had to beat
New England in order to win the division since they held the tiebreaker over the Dolphins by beating Miami in the games
Baltimore had with them.
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| Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan accounted for 166 yards of total offense(129 passing, 37 rushing) and two touchdowns(1 passing, 1 rushing). |
After both teams punted on their opening possessions, the Colts were able to drive from their own 25-yard-line
to the Patriots’ 21-yard-line to set up a 38-yard field goal attempt by Toni Linhart.
But Linhart’s kick sailed wide left and New England took over at the 21, then drove to the Colts’ 47-yard-line
where it appeared the drive stalled when Grogan threw an incomplete pass on a 3rd down, only to have Baltimore
defensive tackle Mike Barnes be called for roughing the passer, giving the Patriots an automatic 1st down
and keeping the drive alive.
Six plays later, Grogan found tight end Russ Francis for a 5-yard touchdown that put the Patriots on the
scoreboard with a 7-0 lead, 47 seconds into the second quarter.
After another exchange of punts, the Colts went 61 yards in 11 plays, which included a 31-yard pass play
from Jones to tight end Raymond Chester, to set up another field goal attempt for Linhart, this time from 28
yards out.
Linhart’s kick was good to make it a 7-3 game with five and a half minutes before halftime.
Following a 30-yard kickoff return by Doug Beaudoin, the Patriots would go 69 yards on 12 plays, 10 of them
running plays, for their second touchdown of the game.
Cunningham did most of the damage as he carried the ball six times for 40 yards, but it was Grogan who get
the touchdown as he snuck it in from the one-yard-line, to increase the Patriots’ lead to 14-3 with 28 seconds
left in the first half.
The Colts drove into Patriots territory in the final seconds but run out of time before they could attempt
another field goal, which kept the deficit at 11 points, 14-3 at halftime.
The Patriots looked to keep the momentum going as they received the opening kickoff of the 2nd half.
They did that and more as Raymond Clayborn ran the kick back 101 yards for his 3rd return touchdown of the
season, and to increase the New England lead to 21-3(sound familiar Colt and Patriot fans) just 22 seconds
into the second half.
to the Patriots’ 21-yard-line to set up a 38-yard field goal attempt by Toni Linhart.
But Linhart’s kick sailed wide left and New England took over at the 21, then drove to the Colts’ 47-yard-line
where it appeared the drive stalled when Grogan threw an incomplete pass on a 3rd down, only to have Baltimore
defensive tackle Mike Barnes be called for roughing the passer, giving the Patriots an automatic 1st down
and keeping the drive alive.
Six plays later, Grogan found tight end Russ Francis for a 5-yard touchdown that put the Patriots on the
scoreboard with a 7-0 lead, 47 seconds into the second quarter.
After another exchange of punts, the Colts went 61 yards in 11 plays, which included a 31-yard pass play
from Jones to tight end Raymond Chester, to set up another field goal attempt for Linhart, this time from 28
yards out.
Linhart’s kick was good to make it a 7-3 game with five and a half minutes before halftime.
Following a 30-yard kickoff return by Doug Beaudoin, the Patriots would go 69 yards on 12 plays, 10 of them
running plays, for their second touchdown of the game.
Cunningham did most of the damage as he carried the ball six times for 40 yards, but it was Grogan who get
the touchdown as he snuck it in from the one-yard-line, to increase the Patriots’ lead to 14-3 with 28 seconds
left in the first half.
The Colts drove into Patriots territory in the final seconds but run out of time before they could attempt
another field goal, which kept the deficit at 11 points, 14-3 at halftime.
The Patriots looked to keep the momentum going as they received the opening kickoff of the 2nd half.
They did that and more as Raymond Clayborn ran the kick back 101 yards for his 3rd return touchdown of the
season, and to increase the New England lead to 21-3(sound familiar Colt and Patriot fans) just 22 seconds
into the second half.
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| Patriots running back Sam Cunningham carried the ball 16 times for 66 yards and caught 4 passes for 41 yards. |
Now down 18 points, the Colts needed a touchdown quickly on their chances of a 3rd straight AFC East title
would go down in smoke.
They got that touchdown as Jones connected with Glenn Doughty for a 14-yard touchdown on a 5-play,
60-yard drive that took only 2 minutes and 2 seconds, that cut the deficit to 21-10.
After another exchange of punts, the Patriots got the ball at their own 48-yard-line and drove 40 yards in nine
plays to set up a 30-yard field goal by John Smith to make it a two-touchdown game at 24-10 with 4:19 left in
the third quarter.
The Colts’ next drive seemed doomed from the start as Jones was sacked on the first play of the drive,
then threw an incomplete pass, setting up a 3rd-and-18 from the Baltimore 22-yard-line.
That is when the Patriots decided to use a safety blitz, only to have Jones make them pay for it, as he found
a wide open Chester at the Patriots’ 30-yard-line, who made the catch and ran in untouched for a shocking
78-yard touchdown that had Baltimore on the brink of making it a one-score game.
However, Linhart’s extra point was blocked by Patriots safety Tim Fox to keep it 24-16 with 3:34 left in the
third quarter and with no two-point conversion on the table, the Colts would have to get at least two scores to win the game, .
instead of scoring a touchdown, then kicking the extra point and taking their chances in overtime.It appeared that the Colts would get that extra score after a short Patriots punt gave the Colts the ball at theNew England’ 37-yard-line, setting up a potential 45-yard field goal by Linhart after three plays gained nineyards. But Linhart’s kick was short and wide to the left, keeping it a 24-16 game in favor of the Patriots.As the fourth quarter began, the Patriots were trying to add to their lead as they faced a 3rd-and-8 at their own 44-yard-line.That is when cornerback Norm Thompson intercepted a pass intended for Russ Francis at the Baltimore 34 andmade a 20-yard return, giving the Colts the ball at the New England 46-yard-line.Five plays later, Jones threw his third touchdown pass of the game, this one to Freddie Scott from 12 yards outand after Linhart’s extra point the Colts were within one point, 24-23 with 11:27 to play in the game.Needing a stop to give their offense the ball back, the Colts’ defense rose up and forced a three-and-out onlyto have punter Mike Patrick’s kick go 64 yards to be downed at the Colts’ one-yard-line with 8:50 remaining.
would go down in smoke.
They got that touchdown as Jones connected with Glenn Doughty for a 14-yard touchdown on a 5-play,
60-yard drive that took only 2 minutes and 2 seconds, that cut the deficit to 21-10.
After another exchange of punts, the Patriots got the ball at their own 48-yard-line and drove 40 yards in nine
plays to set up a 30-yard field goal by John Smith to make it a two-touchdown game at 24-10 with 4:19 left in
the third quarter.
The Colts’ next drive seemed doomed from the start as Jones was sacked on the first play of the drive,
then threw an incomplete pass, setting up a 3rd-and-18 from the Baltimore 22-yard-line.
That is when the Patriots decided to use a safety blitz, only to have Jones make them pay for it, as he found
a wide open Chester at the Patriots’ 30-yard-line, who made the catch and ran in untouched for a shocking
78-yard touchdown that had Baltimore on the brink of making it a one-score game.
However, Linhart’s extra point was blocked by Patriots safety Tim Fox to keep it 24-16 with 3:34 left in the
third quarter and with no two-point conversion on the table, the Colts would have to get at least two scores to win the game, .
instead of scoring a touchdown, then kicking the extra point and taking their chances in overtime.It appeared that the Colts would get that extra score after a short Patriots punt gave the Colts the ball at theNew England’ 37-yard-line, setting up a potential 45-yard field goal by Linhart after three plays gained nineyards. But Linhart’s kick was short and wide to the left, keeping it a 24-16 game in favor of the Patriots.As the fourth quarter began, the Patriots were trying to add to their lead as they faced a 3rd-and-8 at their own 44-yard-line.That is when cornerback Norm Thompson intercepted a pass intended for Russ Francis at the Baltimore 34 andmade a 20-yard return, giving the Colts the ball at the New England 46-yard-line.Five plays later, Jones threw his third touchdown pass of the game, this one to Freddie Scott from 12 yards outand after Linhart’s extra point the Colts were within one point, 24-23 with 11:27 to play in the game.Needing a stop to give their offense the ball back, the Colts’ defense rose up and forced a three-and-out onlyto have punter Mike Patrick’s kick go 64 yards to be downed at the Colts’ one-yard-line with 8:50 remaining.
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| Colts running back Lydell Mitchell carried the ball 23 times for 83 yards and caught five passes for 51 yards. |
Once again, it seemed the Colts were headed for certain doom until Jones connected with Doughty
for a 57-yard completion to put Baltimore in New England territory at the Patriots’ 39-yard-line.
The Patriots defense tried their best to stop the Colts as they forced three 3rd down situations, but gave up a
1st down each time, twice on penalties and the other on a 18-yard pass from Jones to Mitchell.
Suddenly, the Colts had a 1st-and-goal at the Patriots’ six-yard-line in prime position to take their first lead
of the game.That is when the most controversial call of the game happened.
Before the snap, Jones audibled from a passing play to a run, so he dropped back to hand the ball off,
but no Colt running back was there, and he was hit by linebacker Steve Zabel, jarring the ball loose which
was recovered by fellow linebacker Sam Hunt.
As Hunt started to run down the field for an apparent game-icing touchdown, whistles starting to blow.
It turned out that referee Fred Silva had blown the whistle before the ball came out, keeping the ball with
the Colts at the six-yard-line.
Then after a three-yard run by Mitchell, Jones handed the ball to McCauley who rambled in from three yards
out for the go-ahead touchdown and after Linhart’s extra point, the Colts had their first lead of the game at
30-24 with 2:44 to play.
Trying to avoid another runback by Clayburn, the Colts kicked it short, giving the Patriots, great field
position at their own 45-yard-line after a 16-yard return by Rod Shoate.
New England gained 14 yards on three plays until Thompson intercepted Grogan again, and his subsequent
19-yard return gave the Colts the ball at their own 42-yard-line with 1:50 to go.
However, the game was not over as the Patriots still had all three timeouts in their pocket, so the Colts
needed a 1st down to ice the game.
After two runs by Mitchell gained only three yards and two timeouts spent by the Patriots, the Colts were
faced with a 3rd-and-7 with 1:39 to go.
That is when Baltimore caught a break when linebacker Pete Barnes was called for offsides, moving the
Colts five yards closer to a potential game-winning 1st down with a 3rd-and-2.
And when fullback Roosevelt Leaks ran up the middle for 39 yards, the game was over and the Colts were
AFC East Champions for the third straight year with a 30-24 win.
The Colts hoped to use the magic from this comeback victory into the playoffs but they were eliminated
six days later by the Oakland Raiders 37-31 in double overtime in a game that featured the famous
“Ghost to the Post” play.
After their loss to the Raiders, the Colts would not return to the playoffs for a decade and by then had moved
to Indianapolis.
Meanwhile, the Patriots would go on to win the AFC East the next year, but went on to win the division only
four more times before realignment in 2002 split up the Colts and the Patriots into separate divisions.
The Patriots remained in the AFC East with the Dolphins, Bills, and Jets while the Colts moved to the
AFC South with the Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Houston Texans.
However, since 2003, the two teams have met each other in the regular season every year except one(2013)
and faced each other five times in the playoffs, with the Patriots winning four of them.
for a 57-yard completion to put Baltimore in New England territory at the Patriots’ 39-yard-line.
The Patriots defense tried their best to stop the Colts as they forced three 3rd down situations, but gave up a
1st down each time, twice on penalties and the other on a 18-yard pass from Jones to Mitchell.
Suddenly, the Colts had a 1st-and-goal at the Patriots’ six-yard-line in prime position to take their first lead
of the game.That is when the most controversial call of the game happened.
Before the snap, Jones audibled from a passing play to a run, so he dropped back to hand the ball off,
but no Colt running back was there, and he was hit by linebacker Steve Zabel, jarring the ball loose which
was recovered by fellow linebacker Sam Hunt.
As Hunt started to run down the field for an apparent game-icing touchdown, whistles starting to blow.
It turned out that referee Fred Silva had blown the whistle before the ball came out, keeping the ball with
the Colts at the six-yard-line.
Then after a three-yard run by Mitchell, Jones handed the ball to McCauley who rambled in from three yards
out for the go-ahead touchdown and after Linhart’s extra point, the Colts had their first lead of the game at
30-24 with 2:44 to play.
Trying to avoid another runback by Clayburn, the Colts kicked it short, giving the Patriots, great field
position at their own 45-yard-line after a 16-yard return by Rod Shoate.
New England gained 14 yards on three plays until Thompson intercepted Grogan again, and his subsequent
19-yard return gave the Colts the ball at their own 42-yard-line with 1:50 to go.
However, the game was not over as the Patriots still had all three timeouts in their pocket, so the Colts
needed a 1st down to ice the game.
After two runs by Mitchell gained only three yards and two timeouts spent by the Patriots, the Colts were
faced with a 3rd-and-7 with 1:39 to go.
That is when Baltimore caught a break when linebacker Pete Barnes was called for offsides, moving the
Colts five yards closer to a potential game-winning 1st down with a 3rd-and-2.
And when fullback Roosevelt Leaks ran up the middle for 39 yards, the game was over and the Colts were
AFC East Champions for the third straight year with a 30-24 win.
The Colts hoped to use the magic from this comeback victory into the playoffs but they were eliminated
six days later by the Oakland Raiders 37-31 in double overtime in a game that featured the famous
“Ghost to the Post” play.
After their loss to the Raiders, the Colts would not return to the playoffs for a decade and by then had moved
to Indianapolis.
Meanwhile, the Patriots would go on to win the AFC East the next year, but went on to win the division only
four more times before realignment in 2002 split up the Colts and the Patriots into separate divisions.
The Patriots remained in the AFC East with the Dolphins, Bills, and Jets while the Colts moved to the
AFC South with the Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Houston Texans.
However, since 2003, the two teams have met each other in the regular season every year except one(2013)
and faced each other five times in the playoffs, with the Patriots winning four of them.
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