The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 31

D13 D14 TV HIGHLIGHTS ONHL Bruins-Thrashers, 7 p.m., Versus NFL: Raiders-Seahawks, 8:30 p.m., ESPN Listings, D2 Scoreboard Weather The Boston mber 6, 2006 Globe Monday, Nove 1 Manning and his Colts prove plenty tough as they defeat the Patriots and improve to 8-0 By Mike Reiss The team was called for eight penalties, that way, giving up big plays on defense, yards) were the primary targets. On the with an arm injury and didn't renin yards) were the primary targets. On the with an arm injury and didn't return. GLOBE STAFF FOXBOROUGH Patri G5E ots players had called last night's game against the flip side, Brady was 20 of 35 for 201 yards, no touchdowns, and the four picks. His passer rating was 34.

It was a night that had a little bit of everything. Former Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri heard boos, then cheers after he missed two field goals. Troy Brown became the Patriots' all-time-leading receiver. Safety Rodney Harrison left in the first quarter By the end of the game, the Colts had established themselves as the class of the AFC, improving to 8-0, and giving themselves the inside track for home-field advantage in the playoffs. The Patriots, who never held a lead, fell to 6-2.

On a night in which they were uncharacteristically sloppy, the Patriots still had a chance to tie late in the fourth quarter, but their final drive PATRIOTS, Page DS special teams, turn the ball over five times, third-down penalties," said coach Bill Belichick. "We just didn't coach well, didn't play well. They did a better job, it's as simple as that." Colts quarterback Peyton Manning finished 20 of 36 for 326 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. Receivers Marvin Harrison (8 catches, 145 yards) and Reggie Wayne (6 catches, 90 five of which led to first downs. There were breakdowns on kickoff coverage.

And the defense was carved up in the air by a lethal Colts attack. Put that together, and it's no mystery why the Parrots dropped a 27-20 decision to the undefeated Colts last night before a disappointed sellout crowd of 68,756 at Gillette Stadium. "We're not going to win many games Colts their most challenging test of the season. It was a test they didn't come close tearing. The mistakes were plentiful.

Quarterback Tom Brady threw four interceptions. Running back Corey Dillon lost a fumble. y1'p-ur', MATTHEW J. LEEGLOBE STAFF Peyton Manning was 20 for 36 for 326 yards and two touchdowns vs. the Patriots.

On football i I I fit I 1 -i -rl RonBorges QB wasn't saddled by doubt FOXBOROUGH The monkey isn't off Peyton Manning's back quite yet, but by late last night it had at least slid down by his waist. For the second consecutive year Manning came into Gillette Stadium and lit up the Patriots' defense, causing some to wonder if perhaps he is now inside Bill Bel-ichick's head rather than vice versa. Manning completed 20 of 36 throws for 326 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception while throwing for more yards to Marvin Harrison (145 yards, 2 TDs) than Tom Brady was able to get out of his entire wide receiving corps (112). For some time now Manning and Colts coach Tony Dungy have been saddled with the charge that they were somehow mesmerized by Belichick's schemes and the Patriots' defensive execution, a case that was certainly reasonable to make considering that Manning went into last night's showdown between the undefeated Colts and the once-beaten Patriots with a 2-7 record against Belichick and a 1-6 mark against Brady. But while his playoff performances have been dismal against New England, his last four regular-season games have been well-above-average and last night's was better than that in a 27-20 Colts victory that gave ON FOOTBALL, Page D7 JIM UAViyiilObt blAFF A long night for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady came to a sullen end in the fourth quarter, when two of his four interceptions found the Colts' Cato June (59).

Situation winners are in? You just can't beat it Bob Ryan FOXBOROUGH Now we know for xi--1 t. 1 1 j. sure exacuy uuw uign uic utu uaa ueen 1 raised in the NFL, and in case you're won- dering, yes, the Colts could do it. They y. It" 1 Vn 1 11 I 'hail VirtrtTV a A Jets." And, uh, this might not be the day to raise the Manning-Brady issue.

Tom Brady was 20 for 35 and Peyton Manning was 20 for 36, but that's where last night's comparison ended. Manning's completions were good for 326 yards and two touchdowns, one of which, admittedly, was far more a virtuoso act from a brilliant wide receiver than the product of a great throw, but, really, does it matter? Manning was picked off once. RYAN, Page D6 tUUtUlUU LUC UIU1C. XUCJ WUIU UdAJlllb UHS iP1 first team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins to go undefeated in the regular season. question is, "Who's the best team in the league?" we can hold all calls.

We have a winner. Patriots coach Bill Belichick was predictably glum. "We just didn't do a good job tonight," he said. "I didn't do a good job coaching and they didn't do a good job playing You're not going to win with five turnovers There's not a lot to make of it. They did a better job than we did.

We've got to go back to work and get ready for the i In the last two weeks, they have come. thev have seen, and thev have conauered their two chief AFC competitors. Even better, they have beaten the Broncos and the Patriots on the road. If the Texas two-step for Revolution Familiar pattern leads MLS Cup against Houston. years in a row.

We know how great this ri ptti Vui pk tn a Tl CP year ag0' Revo'utin scored a team is, but we don't know how much Uieill Udt-iv tu uig ucuicc fourth.minute goa md held off longer we going to together so we cago Fire in the conference final, then lost have a sense of desperation. to Los Angeles in the MLS Cup. This time, The Revolution also had to adjust tactJ- Taylor Twellman slammed in an impres- cally after D.C. produced several chances By Frank DeU'Apa GLOBE STAFF WASHINGTON The sive half volley from 14 yards out and the to tie the score early in the game. The Rev-Revolution gave a deja Revolution frustrated a fluent, incessant olution started with James Riley in central vu performance yester- attack from United in winning the confer- defense in a 4-4-2 alignment, but midway day, protecting a one-goal lead for 86 min- ence title for the third time in five succes- through the first half returned to their utes in defeating D.C.

United, 1-0, in Ma- sive appearances. usual 3-5-2. jor League Soccer's Eastern Conference "We have been playing great and we "Obviously, after we scored a goal they NICK WASVASSOCIA1 It) PKESS championship game. But the Revolution are where we wanted to be. Revolution were going to come forward and put us are hoping to change their fortune when midfielder Shalrie Joseph said.

"We feel under pressure," Revolution coach Steve REVOLUTION, Page D3 The Eastern Conference trophy is in good hands goalkeeper Matt Reis's. they return to Frisco, Texas, for Sunday's good and we have confidence after five 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Ill 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 lllllllllll 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ONLINE TODAY boston.comsports Football.Monday nfl coverage, D4-8 Washington 22 Baltimore 26 NY Giants 14 Miami Dallas 19 Cincinnati 20 Houston 10 Chicago 31 Jacksonville 37 San Diego 32 13 Tennessee 7 Cleveland 25 Also today Strong finish Adam Scott caps solid year with win in finale. D2 Hockey live: In-game updates from Bruins-Thrashers School review: Highlights from weekend football Weak start V. basketball players Vd again. Dll Detroit 30 Buffalo 24 Kansas City 31 New Orleans 31 San Francisco 9 Denver 31 Atlanta 14 Green Bay 10 St.

Louis 17 Tampa Bay 14 Minnesota 3 Pittsburgh 20.