FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) – LeGarrette Blount scored on a 1-yard run after a muffed punt gave New England a short field, and the Patriots took a 14-point lead before heading into halftime up 17-7 against the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC championship game on Sunday night.
James Develin scored on a 1-yard touchdown to make it 14-0, then Andrew Luck led the Colts on a 93-yard drive that was capped by Zurlon Tipton’s 1-yard run. The Patriots brought the ball to the Indianapolis 3, but Tom Brady couldn’t connect on three straight passes and they settled for Stephen Gostkowski’s 21-yard field goal.
Brady was 11 for 21 for 95 yards and an interception at the Colts 1-yard line. Luck was 7 for 19 for 89 yards in the half.
Blount had 68 yards in the half, but Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was held without a catch as New England (13-4) played in its fourth consecutive AFC title game – its ninth under Brady and coach Bill Belichick. The Patriots are seeking their sixth trip to the Super Bowl, with a chance for their fourth NFL title.
Indianapolis (13-5) is going for its third Super Bowl berth in nine years, but its first since Andrew Luck replaced Peyton Manning at quarterback. The Colts won the title in 1971 when they were in Baltimore, and again in 2006 after moving to Indianapolis.
The teams traded three-and-outs, but on New England’s punt, the ball bounced off of return specialist Josh Cribbs’ visor and into the hands of Darius Fleming at the 26 yard-line. It took the Patriots six plays to get it into the end zone.
After Adam Vinatieri missed a 51-yard field goal attempt, New England went 59 yards on eight plays, scoring on a pass from Brady to Develin. It was the first pass the Patriots running back had caught in nine games.
The Patriots beat the Colts 42-20 in November, led by Jonas Gray, who ran for 201 yards and four touchdowns. But Blount joined the team the next week, having worn out his welcome in Pittsburgh, and has taken over as the No. 1 running back since.
—
AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL