Running back Danny Woodhead — known by every one of his Patriots teammates by the nickname, “Woody” — pulled off Sunday’s show-stopping highlight of the game during the Pats’ 31-28 victory against the Colts.
Woodhead ripped off 36 of his career-high 69 rushing yards on a touchdown run in the third quarter that staked the Patriots to a 28-14 lead. It happened so quickly, so unexpectedly that the Colts looked around in completely befuddlement.
“When you get a crease or a hole, it makes things a lot easier,” said Woodhead, who deflected the praise to his blockers. “The offensive line, receivers, tight ends, everyone was blocking, doing their job, and it makes it a lot easier for the running back. I just try to do what I do and run the ball, and when you have great people around you, it makes things a lot easier.”
Woodhead took the hand-off and went right, and he was immediately helped by right guard Dan Connolly, who pulled behind right tackle Sebastian Vollmer and sealed off the edge. Woodhead had a ton of space, and his initial burst propelled him into the second level of the defense, where he split between cornerback Jerraud Powers and safety Aaron Francisco, who collided while trying to converge on Woodhead.
Then, wide receivers Deion Branch and Wes Welker double-teamed cornerback Kelvin Hayden, and Woodhead bounced it one more time toward the sideline and waltzed into the end zone. And moments after the Colts scraped themselves off the Gillette Stadium turf, Woodhead flew down the field and made the tackle on kickoff coverage.
“Great player, great person,” Branch said of Woodhead, who was signed by the Patriots in Week 2 after he was released by the Jets. “Thank the Jets for letting him go. We truly appreciate it.”
