Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount right is congratulated by Tom Brady after scoring one of four touchdown passes Saturday.(Photo David Butler II USA TODAY Sports)
Story HighlightsThey score six rushing touchdowns to advance to AFC title gameLeGarrette Blount has team record 166 rushing yards and four TDsColts make it close in second half but Patriots pull awayFOXBOROUGH Mass. Another week another deep hole.
But this time there would be no miracle comeback for the Indianapolis Colts.
Just too much Tom Brady. And way too much LeGarrette Blount.
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The New England Patriots built an early cushion then commenced to steamroll the Colts at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night 43 22 to advance to a third consecutive AFC title game.
Blount tied a franchise playoff record with 166 rushing yards and set a postseason mark with four touchdowns three on short blasts then a 73 yard gallop in the fourth quarter as part of a demonstration suggesting the Patriots have found a new formula to make up for all that has been lost in the passing game.
Brady who extended his NFL record with an 18th career postseason win didn't throw a touchdown pass.
He didn't have to.
New England scored a franchise record six rushing TDs more than the team has produced in any game regular season or postseason.
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Last SlideNext SlideIt also marked a humiliating way for the Colts to crash back to Earth a week after their dramatic comeback from a 28 point deficit against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs.
Rather than adding to his ledger for comeback victories Andrew Luck threw four interceptions.
Instead of perhaps trekking to Denver for another showdown against Peyton Manning they are headed home.
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Even so there were times when Luck looked brilliant gamely trying to keep his team in the game.
But this was not the place for an upstart to shock the world.
Not on Saturday night. In the end though the Colts met the same fate in the playoffs at this site as the previous editions with Manning did.
They were overmatched overwhelmed.
Still it was not a typical blowout.
Early on the Patriots seemed primed for a runaway victory.
New England scored touchdowns on its first three drives and led 21 7 early in the second quarter. The first score was set up by Alfonzo Dennard's interception and runback to the 2 yard line. The next two scores came on drives of 10 and 14 plays extended with clutch third downs.
All three drives were finished with short touchdown runs by Blount the Patriots' 250 pound sledgehammer of a running back.
But the Colts didn't go away easily.
After trimming the lead to 21 10 late in the third quarter they also got a significant break when Danny Aiken's high snap sailed over punter Ryan Allen's head. By the time Allen gathered the football he was near his goal line. Then he fumbled perhaps while attempting the pass.
When the ball was slapped backward and rolled out of the end zone the safety made it a 9 point game with 2 18 left in the first half.
But it seemed closer than that.
The mishap on the punt which knocked Allen out of the game with a shoulder injury may have illustrated that these Patriots are just as human as the next team.
After halftime the Colts continued to squeeze with a quick 80 yard TD drive punctuated by Luck's 46 yard completion to T.Y. Hilton. LaVon Brazill's 15 yard TD grab capped the drive and pulled the Colts to within six at 21 15.
Yet it had to be so frustrating for the Colts. The game turned into one big tease.
Each time Indianapolis seemed positioned to get over the hump something bad happened.
A questionable pass interference call set up a Patriots touchdown.
The officials looking the other way on a third down non call on an apparent infraction against a Colts wideout.
A record breaking run by Blount as in a 73 yard jaunt in the fourth quarter that was his fourth touchdown of the night.
A Luck interception.
And then more.
The downpour that was forecast to hit during the game never came.
But it sure rained on the Colts.
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