Patriots Edge Colts in Overtime, 23-20 : New England: Davis kicks 51-yard field goal after missing 46 yarder in regulation.

New England kicker Greg Davis knew how to make up for his missed 46-yard field goal at the end of regulation play against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

Just move him back five yards.

Davis kicked a 51-yarder at 9:57 of overtime, lifting the Patriots to a 23-20 win.

“Believe it or not, longer field goals are easier,” said Davis, who signed with the Patriots as a free agent this year. “There’s no pressure on 50-yard field goals. You are a lot more comfortable, especially in a dome because there are no weather conditions to worry about.

“I felt coming into this game, it was going to come down to this, either (Indianapolis kicker) Dean Biasucci or myself to win it.”

It was the third straight game between the AFC East rivals that was decided in the closing seconds. Last year, at New England, quarterback Doug Flutie scored on a 13-yard run with 23 seconds to go for a 21-17 win by the Patriots.

Then, in the rematch at the Hoosier Dome, a 28-yard field goal by Biasucci with 2:22 to go and a miss by Jason Staurovsky at the gun gave the Colts a 24-21 victory.

Sunday’s victory lifted the Patriots to 3-5. Indianapolis is 4-4.

“I didn’t hesitate to go for the field goal,” New England Coach Raymond Berry said of the fourth-and-two situation. “I thought he could put it through.”

The field goal was set up on a disputed pass reception by Sammy Martin at the New England 36-yard line. The game replay official said he couldn’t determine conclusively that Martin caught the ball out of bounds, so he had to go with the call on the field.

Indianapolis Coach Ron Meyer saw it differently. Had it been ruled incomplete, it would have forced New England to punt from its eight.

“It was right in front of me. I saw it. But I’m not allowed to comment on it,” Meyer said. “Obviously, you know my feelings.”

New England quarterback Steve Grogan said he didn’t know it was completed.

“It was an awful throw but a great catch,” he said. “I just threw it in the general vicinity and hoped he would get it. Someone hit me, and when I rolled up, I saw their bench screaming ‘Out of bounds.’ I really couldn’t see what the official had indicated.”

Grogan, the third New England starter this season, passed for 355 yards. He completed 28 of 46 passes, both career highs.

“There’s no question, he just played magnificently for the better part of the game,” Meyer said of Grogan, 36. “His receivers made some good catches, and he had the ball right on target.”

The Patriots started the winning drive from their 12 after an Indianapolis punt. Grogan was driven back to his four on a sack, but completed three consecutive passes, including the 28-yarder to Martin, to bring the Patriots to the 44.

Five straight runs took New England to the Indianapolis 33. Grogan recovered a fumble on the snap for a one-yard loss before Davis hit the winning field goal.

Davis hit field goals of 47 yards in the first quarter and 48 in the final period.