While enjoying his rest time on the Patriots sideline, linebacker Tedy Bruschi came up with a nifty nickname for his running back.
"We called him 'Clock-killin' Corey Dillon,' " Bruschi said after New England's dominant 20-3 win over the Indianapolis Colts in their AFC divisional playoff game. "He just ate up that clock for us."
Finally sprung from the gloom of life as a Cincinnati Bengal, Dillon rushed for 144 yards on 23 attempts for a back-breaking average of 6.3 yards per carry.
Even better, on scoring drives of 78, 87 and 94 yards the Patriots held the ball for 9:07, 8:16 and 7:24 respectively.
"For them to sit on the sideline and watch our offence control the clock and really dictate the game, it's very frustrating," Patriots safety Rodney Harrison said.
Frustrating used to be Dillon's life until he was signed by the Patriots in the off-season. He has given the Super Bowl champs an added dimension that may make them even more formidable on their latest run at a championship.
"I looked at it as an opportunity," Dillon said of his fallout in Cinci and landing with the most efficient team in the league. "They expected me to contribute and I've attempted to do that."
With the run game wearing down the Colts defence, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady could have some fun. He completed passes to 10 different players, including five to Dillon, as he toyed with the lightweight Indy defenders.
NOT SO RIPE, AFTER ALL
So much for the Patriots being ripe for the picking.
Brady, like many of the Patriots players, seems to have taken the comments made by Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt somewhat personally. Vanderjagt caused a manufactured, overblown controversy when he told an Indy TV station that the Patriots could be had this time around.
The fans at Gillette Stadium certainly lapped it up, booing lustily when the former Argo came on to attempt a first-half field goal, which turned out to be the only points of the game for the Colts.
"Around here, we respect our opponents," Brady said. "We can come out and talk all we want, but it looks so bad. It's not classy."
