Zolak Passes First Patriot Test : AFC: New England beats Colts in overtime to break nine-game losing streak, 37-34.

Quarterback Scott Zolak felt so much emotion he forgot about the pressure.

Zolak, making his first NFL start, drove the previously winless New England Patriots to the tying and winning field goals by Charlie Baumann Sunday, the second one sending the Indianapolis Colts to a 37-34 overtime defeat.

“Words can’t describe it,” said Zolak, who passed for 261 yards and two touchdowns starting in place of injured Hugh Millen and Tommy Hodson. “I was going to put a lot of pressure on myself, thinking I have to make big plays. But I just let the other guys carry the game, and they did well.

“I’ve never been involved in a more emotional game, because the odds were against us. We’ve been looking for something good to happen to us, and it finally did.”

The Patriots (1-9) tied the score for the fifth time, 34-34, on Baumann’s 44-yard field goal at the end of regulation.

Baumann, who made three field goals, said it didn’t matter how long it was, as long as he felt it was in his range.

“You have to approach them all the same,” Baumann said. “You can’t think of one being harder than the other. You just have to expect to make them all.”

Quarterback Jeff George of the Colts (4-6) threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, and the third, by Jerome Henderson on the opening possession of overtime, set up the winning field goal.

After the last interception, two runs by Jon Vaughn and a 24-yard pass from Zolak to Vaughn took New England to the Indianapolis one-yard line before Baumann ended the game 3:15 into overtime.

“The defense did a great job of making plays,” said New England assistant Dante Scarnecchia, acting as interim coach for ailing Dick MacPherson.