There I Stood on the Cursed Snow: The 2007 AFC Title Game, Five Years Later

Five years ago, today, the circumstances surrounding the AFC Championship Game were much different. While the New England Patriots were one of the main characters, their opposition was not the Ravens.

The Indianapolis Colts were good, they finished 12-4 in 2006, and had knocked Kansas City and Baltimore out of the playoffs for the unlikely honor to host the fourth-seed Patriots in the now non-existent RCA Dome. Half of the Super Bowl was already decided, Chicago was on their way to Miami, the outcome of the 2007 AFC Championship Game, however, was in doubt....

...and there I stood, on the cursed snow. The Colts never won in the snow. It seemed every time the winter winds covered Foxborough in white Indy always left defeated. And sure enough, the snow had followed the Patriots from New England to Indianapolis.

What effect would it have?

Yes, the game was in a Dome, but could the spell the snow cast permeate the Dome's shield or did it only have an effect when actually standing in it? I did not know.

Outside it was cold—cold enough that you should wear a coat. I, however, knew the day was special. I had been through a lot with these Colts, the back to back years of 3-13 seasons were still fresh in my memory. I dreamt of attending a game of this magnitude.

The Super Bowl was on the line. My Dad’s friend, Mr. Jay, got us two seats next to him. They were good and seven rows up on the Patriots side of the field. My Brandon Stokley jersey would be worn uncovered and proud on my walk in. After all, it would be a crisp 70 degrees inside the RCA Dome and I could take a little cold.

Inside the Dome, the place was buzzing. There were some Patriots fans, which were mostly shunned, but the excitement and the anticipation of a possible Super Bowl birth was palpable.

21 minutes into the game the mood had changed drastically. Peyton Manning had just dropped back and delivered a 39-yard Interception to Asante Samuel and he took it to the house. The score board showed 21-3, Patriots.

The jubilation had turned into gloom.

Was it really happening again? Another big game, another failure and this time was worse—it was on our home field. Sure, Adam Vinatieri kicked his second field goal, but that was little consolation as halftime fell upon the game. It truly seemed hopeless. Mr. Jay looked over at my Dad, smiled and said, “Well Don, you should have brought your wife. We actually won when she was here.”

“Thanks Mr. Jay,” I replied.

But, sometime during the halftime show, the mood began to shift. The crowd was re-energized and the game was ready for its second act. The Colts responded by an opening 14-play drive, capped by a Manning 1-yard run. 21-13 is doable.

By the time Dan Klecko, a defensive tackle, caught a 1-yard touchdown from Manning and Marvin Harrison hauled in the two-point conversion, the game was tied. Hope had returned to Indianapolis-faithful. What followed next, would test that hope.

Jabar Gaffney catches a touchdown pass, 28-21 Patriots. Jeff Saturday falls on a fumble in the end zone—crazy note from this game, both team’s had a Offensive Lineman recover a fumble for a touchdown—and the game was tied at 28-all. Stephen Gostkowski kicks a field goal, then Vinatieri does too and Gostkowski makes another. New England 34, Indianapolis 31 with 3:49 left.

After two punts, 2:17 stood on the clock and 80 yards separated the Colts from the Super Bowl. The crowd murmured that we shouldn’t score too early, but score Indy needed. With 2:01 left, Manning found Reggie Wayne over the middle. Wayne was hit and the ball levitated out of Wayne’s hands.

Time stopped.

The crowd was on the verge of a collective heart-attack. And the ball, the ball gently descended back into the waiting arms of Wayne. Two minute warning, the crowd tried to catch their breath.  

The ball was on the New England 11 and two Addai runs got it to the New England three. The Patriots called a timeout, the crowd began to discuss that it would be fitting for Manning to find Harrison to send the Colts to the Super Bowl.

That did not happen. What did was Addai dashing through a massive hole past the goal line. 38-34, Colts. It was Indy’s first lead. The crowd went berserk, it was the loudest I had ever heard the RCA Dome and it was about to get louder. Tom Brady was about to get the ball.

 Brady began his drive with 65,000 screaming full-throat at him, imploring him to fail. He refused. Against a wall of sound he found Benjamin Watson and then Heath Evans. He stood in the shotgun, in Colts’ territory. He took the snap, dropped back, looked for Troy Brown…

...it's surprising that the roof stayed on the place, because Brady's pass landed in the hands of Marlin Jackson. By the time Jackson slid on his back, the Dome was in pure pandemonium. I leaped and embraced Mr. Jay, then my Dad and then everyone in sight.

The Colts were Super Bowl bound.

Frank Sinatra sang once, that he had the world on a string, while sitting on the rainbow. That was how I felt after the game. As my Dad and I left the RCA Dome that night, five years ago, I tried to call my friends, but the cell towers were maxed out. I didn’t mind, we walked on. Along our way we passed the framework that would become the colossus, known as Lucas Oil Stadium.

It was an impressive sight, the future home of the Colts reaching into the Indianapolis night. I didn’t know then that it would be hosting the Super Bowl five years later. The thought did not cross my mind. The only thought I had was that I didn't want the night to end and to continue walking, crushing the cursed snow under my feet.