The Colts’ Amazing Comeback
November 16th, 2009
It is 2:05 in the morning and I’m having trouble going to sleep. We just finished our NBC broadcast of the Colts-Patriots game and it was a classic. The Colts came back from 13 points behind in the last five minutes to win 35-34.
As a broadcaster I have to be impartial and just report on the game, but as an ex-Colt I am very proud of the team the way they hung in and fought for 60 minutes.
Colts coach Jim Caldwell had a key decision to make after scoring with two and a half minutes to play, to cut the Patriots’ lead to six points. Should they gamble on an onside kick, or kick off deep and trust the defense to stop Tom Brady and the Patriots offense? He decided to kick deep and the defense did stop the Patriots on third down. New England coach Bill Belichick had a decision to make on 4th and 2–to punt to the Colts or go for it at his own 28 yard line? He decided to go for it, not wanting to give Peyton Manning a chance with the ball at the end of the game. New England’s 4th down pass came up a little short and the Colts now had a short field to drive for the winning touchdown. Caldwell played the percentages and Belichick didn’t, and that was really the story.
Before the game, I took my normal morning walk and it was a beautiful day in New York. I walked from my hotel in mid-town Manhattan up into Harlem and came back through Central Park. It was awesome and I got to see some great history in Harlem. 
I walked up W. Central Park Blvd which becomes Frederick Douglas Blvd. in Harlem. At 122nd St. there is a statue of Harriett Tubman, one of the famous “conductors” on the Underground Railroad, who led escaped slaves north to freedom in the 1800′s.
Then, three blocks further north at 125th St. is the Apollo Theater, which was the hub of African American entertainment in the 1900′s. It was special getting to see these spots first hand. Walking there and then back through the park, and seeing so many people enjoying a beautiful Sunday, was God’s way of speaking to me. It let me see that no matter how big the game that night seemed, there is much more to life than football.
November 16th, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Tony, great job on Football Night in America i look fiorward to it every Sunday. I also look forward to receiving my All Pro Dad and reading about more of your insights it is very inspirational! Thansk again.
November 16th, 2009 at 7:10 PM
You are right coach, after a game like that last night, I really have to bring myself back around to the important things in life. Which will mean having to watch Nascar with my boy tonight as the deal we made so I could watch the game last night (I know zip about Nascar, good thing SI has a huge article on Jimmy Johnson so I can at least sound like I do). I guess sports is not the goal but a another conduit to fun family time.
Craig
November 16th, 2009 at 10:25 PM
I just love Coach Dungy. What a class act. I’m a Cowboys fan, but have always admired him. His work promoting parental relationships with children on this web site is outstanding.
Thanks for all that you do, Coach.
November 16th, 2009 at 11:29 PM
I thought of you at the game Sunday night as Manning drove the Colts to not one, not two, but 3 TD drives in the 4th quarter to bring them back. Combine that with a defense that wouldn’t quit either and it turned out to be another classic Colts-Pats match-up. And I couldn’t help but think, as the final gun sounded, take that Rodney Harrison, Peyton is my guy and he always will be. Go Colts !!!
November 17th, 2009 at 11:53 AM
The game certainly lived up to the hype. It was one of the best of the season. But I really appreciated your comment that there is much more to life than football.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Tony,
It’s great to hear you on Football Night in America. I noticed this past week that you tried your hardest to be impartial when asked the question of what Tom Brady is better at than Peyton Manning. I like how you tried to side-step the question, but then when you were put on the spot a second time by Dan, you simply said “Nothing that I know of”. You know Peyton personally, and while I wish I could meet him (I’m the consumate Peyton Manning fan – probably biggest around), I can only go off what I see. He seems like a class act both on and off the field – despite the people that make fun of his “frustrated” looks on the field.
You’re a great coach, person, and role model. Thank you for professing your faith in Jesus Christ publically. He’s the only way.
Josh
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