Tom Brady rallies Patriots past Colts, 34-27

Tom Brady threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns, and led two second-half scoring drives to help lift the New England Patriots over the Indianapolis Colts, 34-27, Sunday night.

Indianapolis helped Brady and the Patriots win with a fake punt late in the third quarter. With most of the offensive line set up near the right sideline, the Colts snapped the ball to Colt Anderson, who was immediately tackled for a one-yard loss that gave the Patriots the ball at the Colts 35.

Six plays later, Brady got free from the pass rush and connected with LeGarrette Blount for an 11-yard touchdown pass to give the Patriots a 34-21 lead early in the fourth quarter.

“The whole idea there was on fourth and three or less, shift our alignment to where you either catch them misaligned, they try to sub some people in, catch them with 12 men on the field and if you get a certain look, you can make a play,” Coach Chuck Pagano said. “Alignment-wise we weren’t lined up correctly, and then a communication problem on the snap. I take responsibility for that.”

Said Patriots defensive lineman Chandler Jones: “I saw the formation and I wasn’t sure what was going on. But it was great awareness by our special teams.”

The Colts (3-3) never recovered in losing to the Patriots for the seventh consecutive time. New England is 5-0 for the first time since its 16-0 season in 2007.

Brady completed 23 of 37 passes with one interception in the first meeting between the teams since January’s AFC title game, which ultimately led to allegations of improperly inflated balls, months of investigation and eventually a four-game suspension for the quarterback that was nullified in court.

The crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium booed heartily when Brady first appeared and roared when quarterback Andrew Luck returned after sitting out two games because of an injured right shoulder. Luck was 30 of 50 for 312 yards with three touchdowns and no turnovers.

New England players didn’t care about the crowd or the significance.

“I look at it just like any other win,” Blount said after running for one touchdown and catching the first of his career. “It feels good no matter who we’re playing.”

The Colts scored a touchdown on the opening series by going for it on fourth and one. They tried a first-half onside kick and continued to take shots down the field.

Indianapolis led, 21-20, after the first half but Brady took control in the second half.

He threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski to make it 27-21 early in the third quarter and sealed the victory with the touchdown pass to Blount.