In a sodden Gillette Stadium, the New England Patriots rushing attacked again thrashed the Indianapolis Colts defense in route to a 45-7 victory. LeGarrette Blount was a reoccurring nightmare for the Colts as he rushed for 148 yards and three touchdowns, giving him seven lifetime against the Colts in the postseason.
Patriots Nation heeded the call from their team and showed up in force to “Do Their Job”, the motto of this year’s Patriots run, and cheered on as the New England Patriots took their final step in getting to Super Bowl XLIX to face the NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks.
LeGarrette Blount, who had been something of a lost soul in the Patriots stable of running backs as of late, reemerged to lead the Patriots in a 28-0 second half onslaught. Blount hinted such a night could happen as he tallied 68 yards and a touchdown by halftime. His first quarter touchdown, his fifth career postseason score, tied him with Curtis Martin and Tom Brady for most all-time in Patriots history. He would break the record in the third quarter with a 13-yard scamper to paydirt.
Tom Brady also had a career night as he tallied his seventh career three touchdown postseason game, putting him into second place all-time. The all-time leader Joe Montana, Brady’s childhood hero, holds the record with nine.
Brady finished the game with 226 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Giving him and coach Bill Belichick 20 career postseason wins together, and also making Belichick the winningest head coach in postseason history passing legendary Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry. With the Super Bowl next on the schedule, Belichick also tied Hall-of-Fame coach Don Shula for the most Super Bowl appearances with six.
The Colts were still in the game going into halftime going into halftime with the score 17-7. Their lone score coming on a 10 play, 93-yard drive which was highlighted with a tremendous 36-yard catch by receiver T.Y. Hilton. However, the Colts defense could not hold the Patriots out of the end zone as the Pats went on a 21-0 scoring run in the third quarter.
Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, now 0-and-2 against the New England Patriots in the postseason, finished the game with 126 yards and two interceptions.
Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis, heading to his first Super Bowl, made one of those interceptions and nearly brought it back for a touchdown. A special moment for Revis as longtime friend and mentor Ty Law served as an honorary captain for the game. Both players grew up in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania and Revis wears Law’s old number twenty-four.
The Patriots defense held the Colts offense in check all game, preventing neither a 100-yard receiver or rusher. Dan Herron just broke over 50 yards on the day and Hilton led to the team in receiving yards despite having just one reception.
