FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Colts came into Saturday’s AFC divisional playoff coming off the second-biggest comeback in playoff history. But there would be no upset, no rally at rainy Gillette Stadium; just a 43-22 Patriots rout that was more of a beating than a game, more of an emasculation than a contest.
New England rushed for 234 yards and six touchdowns, a team record and just one shy of the NFL record. LeGarrette Blount bruised and battered the Colts for 24 carries for 166 yards and a Patriots-record four scores. The defense picked off Andrew Luck four times, and when it was mercifully over, the Patriots had rolled to their third straight AFC title game.
“It’s just a great achievement for our team,” said Tom Brady, who didn’t have to throw a single touchdown, so complete was this blowout. “There are only going to be four teams standing after tomorrow. I know people have counted us out at times. … But I think we have a locker room full of believers, so hopefully we can go out and play our best next week.”
“Hats off to the offensive line, because on a couple of those runs, I didn’t get touched,’’ Blount said. “If you would’ve told me before the game, I wouldn’t have believed it at all. … It feels amazing to know that they got enough confidence in me to go out there and close a game.’’
New England will face the winner of Sunday’s AFC divisional game — in Gillette, if the Chargers win or Denver, if the Broncos advance. Will either put up a better fight than the Colts? After Indianapolis and Andrew Luck erased a 28-point deficit to upset Kansas City last weekend, there was no encore Saturday night.
“I’m disappointed in myself,” Luck said. “I cannot commit that many turnovers and have a chance to win against a team like that.
“It starts on my shoulders, on those picks. … You just couldn’t overcome it. It stinks.’’
Luck — who said beforehand he measures himself against Tom Brady — threw three interceptions against the Patriots last season in what had been the worst game of his career. That is, until Saturday, when Luck — who threw just nine picks all season — coughed up four in a soggy blowout.
“They throw balls down the field, so we knew if we jammed up the receivers and get a good pass rush we’d have a chance to put some pressure on them,’’ cornerback Aqib Talib said. “We know once he gets that pressure on him he forces a lot of balls, so we just tried to match the rush with the coverage, and I think we did a good job.’’
Luck threw two touchdown passes to LaVon Brazill, but his four interceptions, including one on the second play, killed the Colts’ chance. Alfonzo Dennard picked him off twice, running that first back to the 2-yard line to set up Blount’s plunge. After a three-and-out, Brady threaded a tight throw to wide receiver Danny Amendola to set the Patriots up at the 7, and two plays later Blount scored again.
Luck hit Brazill for a 38-yard over-the-shoulder TD, but Blount’s third score pushed it to 21-7. When Danny Aiken’s bad snap sailed over punter Ryan Allen’s head for a safety, it was 21-12, but even that was a break for the Patriots.
It was still 22-15 in the third, and Brady’s 53-yard play action to Amendola set up running back Stevan Ridley’s TD run and two-point conversion. Luck threw another TD, but that’s when Blount ripped off a 73-yard jaunt.
“There’s nothing better than seeing that big guy out in the open field,’’ left guard Logan Mankins said. “Man, he grabs another gear from somewhere and he starts moving and you know none of those safeties and corners want to tackle him, let alone they’re not going to tackle him when it’s one-on-one.’’
Linebacker Jamie Collins picked off a Luck pass intended for tight end Coby Fleener and returned it 20 yards down to the 18, with Ridley icing it with a one-yard plunge with 11:12 left