Pats were doing middle dumps to Maroney before that, and they went away from it because the LBers were holding tighter in the box, rather than moving back or flaring off in coverage. Short stuff wasn't available. The Pats were taking what the Colts were giving them and being effective off of it. Had the Colts not "changed" the way they were defending, the slants and dumps would not have been there. They weren't doing quick passing to alleviate the pass rush, Brady was being given more time and the coverage was backing off the receivers to deny the deep stuff. The short passes and middle screens were used because they were now there. The Colts went into a form of prevent and that allowed New England to exploit it.
But I can see how that appears to you that the almighty Patriot juggernaut made adjustments and Belichick's genious prevailed. :roll:
I'm sorry you cannot see that the Colts beat themselves yesterday. Their miscues in execution (unforced drops, etc.) and choices that ended up preventing them from closing out their lead with a victory caused that loss. I give credit that New England did execute when it mattered. Prior to the 4th they looked average with some great plays by individuals to give them that rating. I saw a Colts team adjust their play to try to hold a lead. I saw a New England team take advantage of that. The Pats play calling did not force the change, it took advantage of it. They were completing deep balls against double coverage. If they were forcing the change it would have been deep completions in man to man, or down the middle of the cover 2 that drew the lbers back. Welker had some nice returns. The strip sealed the game for the Pats. Yes, your recivers performed up to their contract levels. But I stand by the fact that the Colts played 3 quarters of football good enough to beat the Pats and failed to stick to their strategy to close the show.
I guess the real statement to your last one would be:
"If the entire universe claimed that your team never should have won 3 super bowls and that you are evil, disgusting cheaters, you would get off rubbing another win in and strutting around pompous, narcissistic and egotistical as ever."
Belichick doesn't have a humble bone in his body.
Still hope someone slaps the reality back into the Patriot swollen head.