The New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts have epic battles throughout an energized rivalry during the 2000s. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s Patriots engaged in clashes for AFC supremacy with Peyton Manning’s Colts.
For a stretch until the conclusion of the 2007 season, the Colts played home games at the enclosed RCA Dome. That included the 2006 AFC Championship Game when the Colts overcame a 21-3 deficit to defeat New England 38-34 before winning Super Bowl XLI over the Chicago Bears.
Only 10 months later, the teams met with undefeated records in “Super Bowl 41.5” with the Patriots earning a comeback 24-20 victory. That November matchup sparked rumors that Indianapolis pumped in fake crowd noise when the Patriots took the field on offense. Belichick surely didn’t forget that and took a playful jab at the former Colts quarterback during “Monday Night Football” as the Kansas City Chiefs hosted the New Orleans Saints.
“Bill, how do you simulate the crowd noise when you’re playing these guys?” Manning asked.
“I’ll tell you, Peyton, the crowd noise there at Arrowhead wasn’t as bad as when you guys piped in music at the RCA Dome,” Belichick replied. “When the crowd noise skipped, that’s when we knew you were pumping it in.”
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Belichick and Manning reunite each week during the 2024 NFL season during the first half of the “Manningcast” on ESPN2.
Featured image via Matthew Emmons/Imagn Images
