7-on-7: Bill Belichick gambles (crazily), loses. Colts control AFC

For approximately 56 minutes of game time, the Patriots controlled their Sunday night matchup against Indianapolis. They led 34-21 with 4:12 remaining in the fourth quarter following Stephen Gostkowski's(notes) 36-yard field goal. And then a strange alliance formed between Colts quarterback Peyton Manning(notes) and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. Manning directed a pair of touchdown drives, the second of which was set up by Belichick's odd decision-making. Faced with a fourth-and-2 at the New England 28 with 2:08 on the clock, Belichick decided to go for a first down...which no one does, ever. If his team would have punted and done it reasonably well, Indianapolis would have needed to cover perhaps 75 yards in their final possession. Instead, after Tom Brady's(notes) pass to Kevin Faulk(notes) resulted in only a 1-yard gain, the Patriots handed the ball to Manning at the 29, just outside the red zone. Peyton completed a 15-yard pass to Reggie Wayne(notes), then ha...