Colts defensive back Melvin Bullitt stops Patriots running back Kevin Faulk on fourth down.

Wow! My mind is still in a complete whirlwind after watching this game, which not only lived up to all of the pregame hype, but exceeded it. Not only was this the best game of the season, but this was the best regular-season game in recent memory. But with this unbelievable outcome still reverberating in my skull, let’s just cut to the chase and, without further adieu, here are the three things that caught my eye (small disclaimer: they all occurred in the final three minutes. If you didn’t watch this game, shame on you):

1. Belichick turns into Andy Reid. Did the hooded one put on a fake mustache and gain 200 pounds? Because I thought the only coach who made these types of game management blunders had unruly kids. But reminiscent of the cheesesteak eating coach, Bill Belichick made an unthinkable mistake on fourth-and-2 and instead of putting the Colts in a position of driving the length of the field, he decided to go for it deep in his own territory with the game on the line. I don’t know if he didn’t trust his defense or thought his offense was unstoppable, but whatever his mindset, it was wrong. Everyone in the country watching this game thought they had to punt it away there but he defied conventional wisdom and tried the unthinkable. If it worked, he’s a madcap genius and if it failed he’s a lunatic. But I guess he has enough skins on the wall that he could do it with minimal backlash. But my friend texted me afterwards and asked me the question of how does he look his defense in the eye after that? I have no idea. The level of trust there could be irrevocably broken and I don’t know how the Patriots recover from this heartbreaking loss.

2. Colts "D" stepped up when needed. The Colts defense was manhandled for much of this game. They couldn’t find ways to cover Randy Moss and Wes Welker, who abused them on the underneath routes. Even more inexplicable, they let Kevin Faulk dominate them on the ground. But when the chips were down and the game looked like it was over, after many had gone to bed with the result all but final, they stepped up their game and stopped the Patriots on the two most critical drives of the game. With their backs against the wall and every columnist in the Indianapolis area ready to crucify them, they forced the Patriots to kick a field goal on their second-to-last drive and then stuffed the Pats on their ill-fated fourth-down attempt, barely keeping Faulk from reaching the first-down marker. Their bend-but-don’t-break philosophy has never been epitomized like it was tonight. When they absolutely had to they came through and allowed Peyton Manning to work his magic. With one monstrous stop, they turned their regrettable night into a magical one.

3. The Colts are the best team in the league. I know the Saints are the chic pick as the top team in the league, but they struggled to beat the Rams today. Anyone who watched this game cannot argue the fact that the Colts are the best the NFL has to offer. They simply find ways to win games. Manning threw two inexcusable interceptions after his defense got them the ball back, yet he still found a way, like the great ones do, to win the game with the ball in his hands. Their defense was sieve-like all night, yet stepped up when they needed it the most. I don’t know if God is a Colts fan, but it sure seemed like it tonight. With this win, it looks like the Colts are all but assured of home-field advantage in the playoffs. The only question remains, after a win like this, is if they can go undefeated. I’d like to see the power rankers put the Colts behind the Saints after this one. Wow, I’m still trying to catch my breath.
--- BRANDON KOPCEUCH.