AFC NOTES

FOXBORO – The Patriots faced the Colts with CBs Ty Law and Tyrone Poole on IR, and undrafted rookie Randall Gay, street free agent Earthwind Moreland, WR Troy Brown and Asante Samuel on the field.

They faced the fifth highest-scoring offense under the microscope of the Ty Law Rule – a crackdown on illegal contact brought on after he’d picked Peyton Manning off three times in last season’s AFC Championship win here – a game that reviews revealed the Pats committed six uncalled penalties late in that game.

Apparently none of that mattered to the Patriots, or helped the Colts. The makeshift secondary was assisted by adequate pressure from the front four, received help in coverage from the linebackers and played nothing short of stellar themselves to hold Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne to a combined eight catches for 79 yards.

“Everybody doubted us, said we couldn’t do it, couldn’t hold the guys (down). We went out and played our ball, physical and aggressive and did a good job,” said Samuel, who played with a bad shoulder but laid the hit of the game on WR Brandon Stokley.

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One mirthful topic afterward was – predictably – Mike Vanderjagt, in the wake of his “ripe for the picking” comments.

When asked if the defense had pitched a perfect game, Pats DE Willie McGinest said “No. We let Vanderjagt kick a field goal. Mr. Know-It-All. It’s going to be amusing to see what he has to say for 10 more months on why they didn’t win. We just dusted that clown off our shoulder.”

The Pats are 8-0 all-time in the snow in Foxboro, and 21-2 since 1993 when kickoff temperatures are 35 or below. Yesterday was 25. Meanwhile, the Colts were 9-1 indoors but just 4-4 outdoors this year.