Brady outduels Manning as Patriots top Colts

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - A little guy who came out of nowhere overshadowed the NFL's biggest stars.

Sure, Tom Brady outdueled Peyton Manning in their annual meeting, a 31-28 New England victory over Indianapolis Sunday.

Yet it was Danny Woodhead, a 5-8 running back from Division II Chadron State, who got most of the attention - if you could find him. The Colts couldn't.

Woodhead, picked up when the Jets cut him in September, scored on a 36-yard burst, showing power, speed and agility.

Seconds after his brilliant third-quarter run, Woodhead made a sensational tackle on the ensuing kick return, drawing as many cheers as he did while scooting into the end zone.

"I do everything to make the play, whether I'm a runner, a receiver or on a kickoff," Woodhead said. His job is being versatile, something his teammates appreciate.

"He can kind of hide behind the guys, but on the special teams that just shows you what type of football player he is," said Deion Branch, who caught seven passes for 70 yards. "He scores a touchdown, comes back in and makes a play on special teams and we needed it at the time."

New England also needed Brady's pinpoint passing. He was brilliant for the second straight week, coming off a 350-yard, three-touchdown performance against Pittsburgh. Brady had only six incompletions in 25 passes and threw for two TDs as the Patriots built a 17-point lead and held on.

Perfectionist that he is, Brady felt the Patriots let it get too close before James Sanders' interception of Manning at the New England 6 with 31 seconds remaining clinched the win. "Any time you play these guys, you've got to play to the end," Brady said.

Manning blamed himself for the throw that didn't come close to reaching Pierre Garcon before Sanders grabbed it.

"I feel sick about it," he said. "About not extending the game, not executing to give [placekicker Adam] Vinatieri a chance for a field goal. It was a bad throw."

Manning finished 38 of 52 for 396 yards, four TDs and three interceptions.

The win kept the Patriots (8-2) tied with the Jets atop the AFC East. Indianapolis (6-4 and tied with Jacksonville for the AFC South lead) had beaten the Patriots in five of the last six matchups.