New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts: 2001 Week 6 Recap

Game story

In Week 6 of the 2001 NFL season on 2001-10-21, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Indianapolis Colts, pulling away with a 38–17 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

P. Manning (Indianapolis Colts) paced the passing game, with +2.10 total EPA.

On the individual side, T. Brady (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +17.42 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+18.0% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Indianapolis Colts changed the game: (2:46) 18-P.Manning pass to 88-M.Harrison pushed ob at NE 2 for 68 yards (34-T.Jones).

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 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +17.42 total EPA · 21 snaps · +0.83 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Brown · New England Patriots · Receiving · +10.45 total EPA · 10 snaps · +1.04 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Harrison · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +9.69 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.88 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Patten · New England Patriots · Receiving · +9.10 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.82 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Patten · New England Patriots · Passing · +5.37 total EPA · 1 snaps · +5.37 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Patten · New England Patriots · Rushing · +3.22 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.22 EPA/play
7. 7 K. Dilger · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +2.34 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
8. 8 E. James · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +2.15 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.36 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 — D. Patten (Q1 55:43)
• New England Patriots — D. Patten (T. Brady pass) (Q2 38:56)
• New England Patriots — T. Brown (D. Patten pass) (Q2 37:21)
• New England Patriots — J. Wiggins (T. Brady pass) (Q2 31:22)
• Indianapolis Colts — M. Harrison (P. Manning pass) (Q3 23:24)
• New England Patriots — D. Patten (T. Brady pass) (Q4 14:08)

Field goals

• Indianapolis Colts — M. Vanderjagt (Q1 50:49)
• Indianapolis Colts — M. Vanderjagt (Q2 30:15)
• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (Q3 19:39)
• Indianapolis Colts — M. Vanderjagt (Q3 16:34)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–3. New England Patriots found the end zone from the IND 29 (Q1 55:43) — (10:43) 86-D.Patten right end for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the IND 2 (Q1 55:35) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.; Indianapolis Colts connected on a field goal from the NE 25 (Q1 50:49) — (5:49) 13-M.Vanderjagt 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-J.Snow, Holder-17-H.Smith..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 21–3. New England Patriots found the end zone from the IND 91 (Q2 38:56) — (8:56) 12-T.Brady pass to 86-D.Patten for 91 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the IND 2 (Q2 38:56) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the IND 60 (Q2 37:21) — (7:21) 86-D.Patten pass to 80-T.Brown for 60 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the IND 2 (Q2 37:11) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the IND 2 (Q2 31:22) — (1:22) 12-T.Brady pass to 85-J.Wiggins for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the IND 2 (Q2 31:17) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.; Indianapolis Colts connected on a field goal from the NE 24 (Q2 30:15) — (:15) 13-M.Vanderjagt 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-J.Snow, Holder-17-H.Smith..

The third quarter: Indianapolis Colts won the period 11–3. Indianapolis Colts found the end zone from the NE 2 (Q3 23:24) — (8:24) 18-P.Manning pass to 88-M.Harrison for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Indianapolis Colts registered a safety from the NE 2 (Q3 23:20) — (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 18-P.Manning pass to 85-K.Dilger is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the IND 26 (Q3 19:39) — (4:39) 4-A.Vinatieri 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.; Indianapolis Colts connected on a field goal from the NE 6 (Q3 16:34) — (1:34) 13-M.Vanderjagt 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-J.Snow, Holder-17-H.Smith..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the IND 6 (Q4 14:08) — (14:08) 12-T.Brady pass to 86-D.Patten for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the IND 2 (Q4 14:02) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter..

Turning points

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

• Indianapolis Colts (Q1 47:46) — (2:46) 18-P.Manning pass to 88-M.Harrison pushed ob at NE 2 for 68 yards (34-T.Jones). [WPA +18.0% · EPA +4.55]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q1 56:49) — (11:49) 13-M.Vanderjagt 46 yard field goal is BLOCKED (96-B.Mitchell), Center-48-J.Snow, Holder-17-H.Smith, RECOVERED by NE-25-L.Myers at NE 36. 25-L.Myers to IND 29 for 35 yards (17-H.Smith). [WPA -17.9% · EPA -5.19]
• New England Patriots (Q2 38:56) — (8:56) 12-T.Brady pass to 86-D.Patten for 91 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.5% · EPA +7.27]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q1 45:38) — (:38) 13-M.Vanderjagt 25 yard field goal is BLOCKED (34-T.Jones), Center-48-J.Snow, Holder-17-H.Smith, RECOVERED by NE-30-J.Cherry at NE 6. 30-J.Cherry to NE 6 for no gain (76-S.McKinney). [WPA -9.8% · EPA -2.16]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q1 46:21) — (1:21) 18-P.Manning sacked at NE 7 for -6 yards (50-M.Vrabel). [WPA -7.9% · EPA -2.71]

Impact plays

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

• New England Patriots (Q2 38:56) — (8:56) 12-T.Brady pass to 86-D.Patten for 91 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.5% · EPA +7.27]
• New England Patriots (Q2 37:21) — (7:21) 86-D.Patten pass to 80-T.Brown for 60 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +1.6% · EPA +5.37]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q1 56:49) — (11:49) 13-M.Vanderjagt 46 yard field goal is BLOCKED (96-B.Mitchell), Center-48-J.Snow, Holder-17-H.Smith, RECOVERED by NE-25-L.Myers at NE 36. 25-L.Myers to IND 29 for 35 yards (17-H.Smith). [WPA -17.9% · EPA -5.19]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q2 33:53) — (3:53) 32-E.James right end to IND 30 for -3 yards (52-T.Johnson). FUMBLES (52-T.Johnson), touched at IND 28, RECOVERED by NE-54-T.Bruschi at IND 24. 54-T.Bruschi to IND 24 for no gain (32-E.James). C [WPA -6.9% · EPA -4.98]

Quarterback report card

P.Manning led all passers in efficiency for Indianapolis Colts, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• P.Manning (Indianapolis Colts) · 39 dropbacks · 56.4% completion · +0.05 EPA/play · +2.10 total EPA
• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 21 dropbacks · 76.2% completion · +0.83 EPA/play · +17.42 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, New England Patriots generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.34 vs -0.02), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Indianapolis Colts: 11 drives, -2.15 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 11 drives, +24.03 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New England Patriots leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• T. Brady (New England Patriots) 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 55:43 · IND 29 · Score 6-0
   (10:43) 86-D.Patten right end for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 55:35 · IND 2 · Score 7-0
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
3. Indianapolis Colts FG (+3) — Q1 50:49 · NE 25 · Score 7-3
   (5:49) 13-M.Vanderjagt 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-J.Snow, Holder-17-H.Smith.
4. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 38:56 · IND 91 · Score 13-3
   (8:56) 12-T.Brady pass to 86-D.Patten for 91 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 38:56 · IND 2 · Score 14-3
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
6. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 37:21 · IND 60 · Score 20-3
   (7:21) 86-D.Patten pass to 80-T.Brown for 60 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 37:11 · IND 2 · Score 21-3
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
8. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 31:22 · IND 2 · Score 27-3
   (1:22) 12-T.Brady pass to 85-J.Wiggins for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 31:17 · IND 2 · Score 28-3
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
10. Indianapolis Colts FG (+3) — Q2 30:15 · NE 24 · Score 28-6
    (:15) 13-M.Vanderjagt 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-J.Snow, Holder-17-H.Smith.
11. Indianapolis Colts TD (+6) — Q3 23:24 · NE 2 · Score 28-12
    (8:24) 18-P.Manning pass to 88-M.Harrison for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Indianapolis Colts Safety (+2) — Q3 23:20 · NE 2 · Score 28-14
    (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 18-P.Manning pass to 85-K.Dilger is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
13. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q3 19:39 · IND 26 · Score 31-14
    (4:39) 4-A.Vinatieri 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
14. Indianapolis Colts FG (+3) — Q3 16:34 · NE 6 · Score 31-17
    (1:34) 13-M.Vanderjagt 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-J.Snow, Holder-17-H.Smith.
15. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 14:08 · IND 6 · Score 37-17
    (14:08) 12-T.Brady pass to 86-D.Patten for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 14:02 · IND 2 · Score 38-17
    4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.