During Week 13 of the 2024 season, the Indianapolis Colts will hit the road and take on the New England Patriots. Colts vs Patriots was a major deal years ago, but nowadays it’s nothing special. Will the teams’ heated rivalry be revived within the next few years?
Back in the day, there was the legendary battle between New England’s Tom Brady and Indy’s Peyton Manning. Brady, of course, is considered by most as the greatest quarterback in NFL history. Manning is perhaps a top-three QB of all time.
In the team’s latest meeting (Week 10 last season), the Colts went with Gardner Minshew while the Patriots started Mac Jones. That’s not exactly a superstar matchup.
However, both teams currently have a quarterback who possesses enormous potential. Indianapolis has Anthony Richardson and the Pats are going with rookie Drake Maye. The two young signal-callers could help jumpstart the rivalry.
Indianapolis Colts Could Revive Heated Rivalry With the New England Patriots
Looking Back at the Good Ole Days
Rivalries are one of the best things about sports. It’s fascinating to watch a game between two teams that hate each other. Great examples include college basketball’s Duke vs. North Carolina and college football’s Ohio State vs. Michigan. Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox rivalry is also “must-see” TV.
From roughly 2001-2015, Colts vs Patriots was something NFL fans didn’t want to miss. The memorable rivalry was centered around Manning and Brady for the most part. But Andrew Luck was in the picture as well once Manning signed with the Denver Broncos in 2012.
Indianapolis and New England faced each other in the playoffs several times. The Patriots beat the Colts in the 2003 AFC Championship Game and the 2004 divisional game. However, the Colts finally broke through, knocking off Brady and Co. in the 2006 AFC Championship Game. They went on to win it all that year, their only Super Bowl victory since relocating to Indianapolis.
Brady and the Pats defeated Luck’s Colts 45-7 in the 2014 AFC Championship Game. However, New England was accused of under-inflating footballs used in that contest, which would be dubbed as “Deflategate.” Despite the controversy, the Patriots went on to beat the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl that season.
Future Anthony Richardson vs Drake Maye Rivalry?
Bill Belichick was around for the entire 2000s and 2010s Colts vs Patriots rivalry. He’s gone now as new head coach Jerod Mayo is the Patriots’ guy. Shane Steichen, who’s entering his second season, is the Colts’ head coach these days.
Both teams have different coaches and they also have new quarterbacks. Last year, the Colts drafted Anthony Richardson with the fourth overall pick. His rookie season was ruined, though, as he played only four games due to injury.
Fortunately, Richardson is now healthy and ready to go. He’ll look to get the franchise back to where it was during the Manning and Luck eras.
Meanwhile, New England took Drake Maye with the third overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. He replaces Mac Jones, who regressed after a standout rookie year in 2021.
Richardson and Maye may both develop into elite quarterbacks. If that’s the case, they could help make the Colts vs Patriots a fun-to-watch rivalry once again.
Main Photo: [Jenna Watson/IndyStar] – USA Today Sports
