Yes, and I loved every minute of it. The looked uncomfortable in WARM-UPS. I figured we'd know early which way this game was going to go. Either the Pats could stop Manning or not. If they couldn't, then he would roll. If they could, I knew the Colts would get frustrated and quickly lose confidence. When they went 3-and-out on their first possession, I knew it would be a long day for them.
I kept pointing out here on FR that no team since the 93 Cowboys had been given such little respect as a defending SB Champ in a home playoff game. Dallas was the other team not favored by 7+ points in such a situation, as they were only 3-point favorites against the 49ers in the NFC Champ Game. I pointed out that the Cowboys won that game with ease by 17 points. And lookie here, the Pats win by 17.
I don't think there's any stopping NE now. Pittsburgh beat the Pats in the regular season, but NE was without Dillon, and you don't beat Belichik 2 times in a row. It just doesn't happen. No way the Pats are going to lose now to a rookie QB. I also like the Falcons to beat the Eagles in the NFC title game, which sets up a Pats-Falcons SB. If anyone can design a defense to shut down Vick, it's Belichick. Plus the game will be outdoors on grass where Vick's speed will be somewhat negated.
The building of the Patriot dynasty continues. If they win this year it will be 3 SBs in 4 years. The only teams to equal that success over a number of years are the Cowboys in the early-mid 90s when they won 3 of 4, the Steelers in the late 70s-1980 when they won 4 of 6, and the Packers who did well in the NFL before the merger, then won the first 2 SBs. New England will be in elite company.
It's going to be tought but I think if the Pats don't make any major mistakes like they did last time they'll win. The key is going to be getting ahead of the Steelers and forcing Big Ben to beat them.
If they couldn't stop Manning, they'd have opened up the offense and blown them out that way. The Colts were going to lose either way. Even at worst, the Patriots defense was going to slow down the Colts.