The New England Patriots survived a late fourth quarter scare as they beat the Indianapolis Colts 34-27 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
It took a Rob Gronkowski (3 catches for 50 yards and 1 score) recovery of a last ditch onside kick attempt by the Colts, to finally salt away the game clock and help the Patriots (5-0 overall, 1-0 AFC East) stay undefeated.
Quarterback Tom Brady (23 of 37 for 312 yards, 3 touchdown passes and 1 interception) had a lot to do with tonight’s victory, but this game wasn’t about just him. Running back LeGarrette Blount (16 carries for 93 yards and 1 score) used his two-tool skills to help to knock the Colts defense off balance here and there. One of his scores (rushing) gave the Patriots a two touchdown cushion late in the game. 
Then there were players like receivers Danny Amendola (7 catches for 105 yards) and Julian Edelman (6 catches for 50 yards and 1 score), who all game long contorted their bodies and used their athleticism to squeeze extra yards out of every catch.
As for the Colts, if it wasn’t one thing it was another for quarterback Andrew Luck (30 of 50 for 312 yards, 3 touchdown heaves and no picks) tonight. Either he completed passes to his receivers and tight ends, or those same offensive players dropped passes or weren’t on the same page with Luck as they tried to round off their routes.
The Colts (3-3 overall, 3-0 AFC South) got on the board first when on 4th and 1 from the NE 5 yard line, Luck took the snap and looked to his left where he found receiver Donte Moncrief (6 catches for 69 yards and 1 score) who leapt into the air and snagged Luck’s pass over the top of Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler. The receiver then got both of his feet in bounds, then finally he fell down hard out of bounds. That score gave the Colts a 7-0 lead with 7:16 left in the first quarter.
But on the Patriots’ ensuing drive, they countered that Moncrief score with a touchdown connection of their own. On 2nd and 10 from the IND 12 yard line, Brady took the snap, then used two key pass blocks from left guard Shaq Mason and left tackle Marcus Cannon, to move forward and zoom a 12 yard laser to Edelman. Edelman caught the pass and had to squeeze between two defenders to be able to fall into the end zone. That score tied the game at 7-7 with 2:50 left in the first quarter.
Down 10-7 early in the second quarter, the Colts received a big break when their strong safety Mike Adams took advantage of Edelman bobbling a Brady pass that ended up in the safety’s hands and that he (Adams) ended up taking 14 yards untouched down the left sideline. That was Adams’ first pick-six since January 1, 2006, when he took an interception 40 yards for a score as a member of the San Francisco 49ers. With 11:30 left in the second quarter, the Colts had the lead again at 14-10.
But less than two minutes later, Blount took a Brady handoff and calmly jogged up the middle. Then he raced past and through two tackle attempts by Colt defenders Adams and Dwight Lowery, with Blount then taking the final steps into the end zone. That 38 yard touchdown run gave the Patriots the lead at 17-14 with 9:33 left in the second quarter.
The Patriots upped their lead, when Gronkowksi got behind and then between the Colts’ defense down near the left sideline, where he took a Brady pass 25 yards untouched into the end zone. With 10:56 left in the third quarter, New England had a 27-20 lead.
Blount scored his second touchdown of the game, this time on the receiving end. Early in the fourth quarter, Brady took the snap and then he waggled to his right where he threw a pass into the end zone and into the waiting hands of Blount. That 11 yard touchdown pass gave the Patriots a 34-21 lead with 12:48 left in the contest.
The Colts weren’t done yet. Late in the fourth quarter, Luck threw a deep and over the shoulder completion to wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (6 catches for 74 yards and 1 score) who took the pass to the NE 30 yard line for a 27 yard gain. That reception set up a Griff Whalen (2 catches for 30 yards and 1 score) leaping and closely contested 18 yard touchdown reception. With just under 1:30 left in the game, the score moved to 34-27 after the extra point attempt by kicker Adam Vinatieri was blocked.
