Colts Fan Struggles to Watch Another Patriots Super Bowl

The Patriots' dominance over the Colts has left a lasting impact on one fan.

Feb. 7, 2026 at 6:31am

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As a lifelong fan of the Indianapolis Colts, the author expresses his reluctance to watch the New England Patriots compete in yet another Super Bowl. The article delves into the Colts' long-standing rivalry with the Patriots, which has been marked by the latter's repeated victories over the former, dashing the Colts' Super Bowl aspirations on multiple occasions. The author cites specific painful memories, such as the 2015 Super Bowl and the Deflategate scandal, that have left him emotionally drained and unwilling to subject himself to another Patriots championship.

Why it matters

The Colts-Patriots rivalry has been a defining part of the NFL landscape for over two decades, with the Patriots consistently emerging victorious and crushing the Colts' Super Bowl dreams. This article provides a glimpse into the emotional toll this rivalry has taken on one devoted Colts fan, highlighting the deep-seated animosity that can develop between fan bases when a team consistently dominates its opponent.

The details

The author recounts the numerous times the Patriots have reached the Super Bowl, including nine appearances over the last two decades. He describes specific moments, such as the 2015 Super Bowl and the Falcons' historic collapse in 2017, that have left him emotionally exhausted and unwilling to watch the Patriots compete in another championship game. The author also touches on the Deflategate scandal, which he believes was the final nail in the coffin for the true rivalry between the two franchises.

  • The Patriots have reached the Super Bowl 9 times over the last 20 years.
  • The 2015 Super Bowl was a particularly painful loss for the author as a Colts fan.
  • The Falcons' 28-3 collapse in the 2017 Super Bowl against the Patriots was another heartbreaking moment for the author.

The players

Tom Brady

The former quarterback of the New England Patriots, who led the team to multiple Super Bowl victories and was a central figure in the Colts-Patriots rivalry.

Bill Belichick

The head coach of the New England Patriots, who has led the team to unprecedented success and was a key part of the Colts-Patriots rivalry.

Peyton Manning

The former quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts, who was a central figure in the Colts-Patriots rivalry during his playing career.

Teddy Bruschi

A former linebacker for the New England Patriots, who was known for his role in the team's success and was a source of frustration for Colts fans.

Malcom Butler

A former cornerback for the New England Patriots, who made a game-saving interception in the 2015 Super Bowl, which was a painful moment for the author as a Colts fan.

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What they’re saying

“Sports is all about emotion, and I have nothing left to give the Patriots.”

— Jon Spradley, Colts Fan (stampedeblue.com)

“Call it ridiculous. Call it PTSD. I have enough memories of the Patriots winning Super Bowls to last a lifetime. I'm not sure I want to add another to the collection.”

— Jon Spradley, Colts Fan (stampedeblue.com)

The takeaway

This article highlights the emotional toll that a long-standing sports rivalry can have on a devoted fan, even when the key players and coaches have changed. The author's reluctance to watch the Patriots in another Super Bowl speaks to the lasting impact of the Colts-Patriots rivalry and the difficulty in moving on from such a dominant and painful history.