New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts: 2000 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2000 NFL season on 2000-10-22, the Indianapolis Colts took care of business against the New England Patriots, pulling away with a 30–23 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Bledsoe (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with +11.79 total EPA.

On the individual side, P. Manning (Indianapolis Colts) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +18.12 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+19.4% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Indianapolis Colts changed the game: (6:42) P.Manning pass to M.Harrison for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 P. Manning · Indianapolis Colts · Passing · +18.12 total EPA · 24 snaps · +0.75 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Bledsoe · New England Patriots · Passing · +11.79 total EPA · 38 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Harrison · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +10.42 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.49 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Brown · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.40 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Redmond · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.62 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.52 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Bledsoe · New England Patriots · Rushing · +2.18 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.73 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Pollard · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +1.85 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.93 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Pathon · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +1.72 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.86 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• New England Patriots — unlisted player (Q1 51:17)
• Indianapolis Colts — unlisted player (Q1 47:48)
• Indianapolis Colts — unlisted player (Q3 21:42)
• New England Patriots — unlisted player (Q3 17:30)
• Indianapolis Colts — unlisted player (Q4 6:20)
• Indianapolis Colts — unlisted player (Q4 2:12)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — unlisted player (Q2 41:12)
• New England Patriots — unlisted player (Q2 30:06)
• New England Patriots — unlisted player (Q3 21:54)
• Indianapolis Colts — unlisted player (Q4 0:22)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. New England Patriots found the end zone from the IND 19 (Q1 51:17) — (6:17) D.Bledsoe pass to J.Redmond for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the IND 2 (Q1 51:17) — A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-L.Paxton, Holder-L.Johnson.; Indianapolis Colts found the end zone from the NE 51 (Q1 47:48) — (2:48) P.Manning pass to M.Harrison for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Indianapolis Colts added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q1 47:38) — M.Vanderjagt extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Snow, Holder-H.Smith..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 6–0. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the IND 9 (Q2 41:12) — (11:12) A.Vinatieri 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-L.Paxton, Holder-L.Johnson.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the IND 8 (Q2 30:06) — (:06) A.Vinatieri 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-L.Paxton, Holder-L.Johnson..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 10–7. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the IND 11 (Q3 21:54) — (6:54) A.Vinatieri 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-L.Paxton, Holder-L.Johnson.; Indianapolis Colts found the end zone from the NE 78 (Q3 21:42) — (6:42) P.Manning pass to M.Harrison for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Indianapolis Colts added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q3 21:33) — M.Vanderjagt extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Snow, Holder-H.Smith.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the IND 1 (Q3 17:30) — (2:30) D.Bledsoe up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by IND and Upheld. (Timeout #2 at 02:27.); New England Patriots added 1 points from the IND 2 (Q3 17:27) — A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-L.Paxton, Holder-L.Johnson..

The fourth quarter: Indianapolis Colts won the period 16–0. Indianapolis Colts found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q4 6:20) — (6:20) P.Manning pass to E.James for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Indianapolis Colts added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q4 6:16) — M.Vanderjagt extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Snow, Holder-H.Smith.; Indianapolis Colts found the end zone from the NE 3 (Q4 2:12) — (2:12) E.James up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Indianapolis Colts connected on a field goal from the NE 18 (Q4 0:22) — (:22) M.Vanderjagt 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-J.Snow, Holder-H.Smith..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Indianapolis Colts (Q3 21:42) — (6:42) P.Manning pass to M.Harrison for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +19.4% · EPA +5.86]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q1 47:48) — (2:48) P.Manning pass to M.Harrison for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.4% · EPA +5.03]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q4 2:35) — (2:35) E.James left guard to NE 3 for 26 yards (L.Milloy). [WPA +15.3% · EPA +2.69]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q3 27:28) — (12:28) E.James right end to NE 17 for 15 yards (L.Milloy). FUMBLES (L.Milloy), RECOVERED by NE-H.Thomas at NE 16. H.Thomas to NE 16 for no gain (E.James). [WPA -12.2% · EPA -3.93]
• New England Patriots (Q4 1:51) — (1:51) D.Bledsoe pass incomplete to S.Davis. [WPA -11.4% · EPA -2.41]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Indianapolis Colts (Q3 21:42) — (6:42) P.Manning pass to M.Harrison for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +19.4% · EPA +5.86]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q1 47:48) — (2:48) P.Manning pass to M.Harrison for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.4% · EPA +5.03]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q3 27:28) — (12:28) E.James right end to NE 17 for 15 yards (L.Milloy). FUMBLES (L.Milloy), RECOVERED by NE-H.Thomas at NE 16. H.Thomas to NE 16 for no gain (E.James). [WPA -12.2% · EPA -3.93]
• New England Patriots (Q3 17:30) — (2:30) D.Bledsoe up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by IND and Upheld. (Timeout #2 at 02:27.) [WPA +10.9% · EPA +3.15]

Quarterback report card

D.Bledsoe led all passers in efficiency for New England Patriots, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Bledsoe (New England Patriots) · 38 dropbacks · 60.5% completion · +0.31 EPA/play · +11.79 total EPA
• P.Manning (Indianapolis Colts) · 24 dropbacks · 66.7% completion · +0.75 EPA/play · +18.12 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Indianapolis Colts held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.30 vs +0.14), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Indianapolis Colts: 9 drives, +18.82 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 9 drives, +14.96 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Indianapolis Colts leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• P. Manning (Indianapolis Colts) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q1 51:17 · IND 19 · Score 6-0
   (6:17) D.Bledsoe pass to J.Redmond for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 51:17 · IND 2 · Score 7-0
   A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-L.Paxton, Holder-L.Johnson.
3. Indianapolis Colts TD (+6) — Q1 47:48 · NE 51 · Score 7-6
   (2:48) P.Manning pass to M.Harrison for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Indianapolis Colts XP (+1) — Q1 47:38 · NE 2 · Score 7-7
   M.Vanderjagt extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Snow, Holder-H.Smith.
5. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 41:12 · IND 9 · Score 10-7
   (11:12) A.Vinatieri 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-L.Paxton, Holder-L.Johnson.
6. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 30:06 · IND 8 · Score 13-7
   (:06) A.Vinatieri 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-L.Paxton, Holder-L.Johnson.
7. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q3 21:54 · IND 11 · Score 16-7
   (6:54) A.Vinatieri 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-L.Paxton, Holder-L.Johnson.
8. Indianapolis Colts TD (+6) — Q3 21:42 · NE 78 · Score 16-13
   (6:42) P.Manning pass to M.Harrison for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Indianapolis Colts XP (+1) — Q3 21:33 · NE 2 · Score 16-14
   M.Vanderjagt extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Snow, Holder-H.Smith.
10. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 17:30 · IND 1 · Score 22-14
    (2:30) D.Bledsoe up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by IND and Upheld. (Timeout #2 at 02:27.)
11. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 17:27 · IND 2 · Score 23-14
    A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-L.Paxton, Holder-L.Johnson.
12. Indianapolis Colts TD (+6) — Q4 6:20 · NE 1 · Score 23-20
    (6:20) P.Manning pass to E.James for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Indianapolis Colts XP (+1) — Q4 6:16 · NE 2 · Score 23-21
    M.Vanderjagt extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Snow, Holder-H.Smith.
14. Indianapolis Colts TD (+6) — Q4 2:12 · NE 3 · Score 23-27
    (2:12) E.James up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Indianapolis Colts FG (+3) — Q4 0:22 · NE 18 · Score 23-30
    (:22) M.Vanderjagt 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-J.Snow, Holder-H.Smith.