Patriots vs. Colts final score: New England blows out Indianapolis 43-22 to clinch AFC Championship berth
By Josh Hill
Not many people gave the Indianapolis Colts a chance against the New England Patriots, but almost everyone covered themselves by saying if the Patriots do lose it’s because it’s not a traditional Patriots team. But Tom Brady proved on Saturday that this is indeed a traditional Patriots team because traditionally, they win and that’s what they did against the Colts in the Divisional Round.
Things got tight in the fourth quarter, but it turns out that was just the pressure in the pipe right before the Patriots blew it up. LeGarrette Blount had a coming out party at the Colts expense, scoring four touchdowns on the night and rushing for well over 100 yards in the win.
We had to sort of expect this, as the Colts defense averaged 21 points per game in the regular season and allowed 44 points in their first playoff game. You can’t win a Super Bowl by averaging over 40 points allowed on defense and that’s the stat that the Colts exit the playoffs with.
Andrew Luck did try to lead the team back, throwing for three touchdowns including two to LaVon Brazill and one to T.Y. Hilton, but they weren’t enough. The Colts learned they have a budding receiving crops in front of them, but they were all out of luck.
Indianapolis can’t be too upset though, as in Andrew Luck’s first two seasons, the Colts got deeper and deeper into the postseason, a trend that puts them on pace for an AFC Championship berth next season.
This year though, the berth belongs to the New England Patriots who will either welcome in the San Diego Chargers next week or travel to Denver to play the Broncos. Either way, the Patriots are in the AFC Championship game for a third consecutive year and another trip tot he Super Bowl to face the Seahawks, Panthers or 49ers is a very real possibility.