Patriots Defeat Colts for Fifth Victory in a Row : AFC: New England moves closer to first playoff appearance in eight seasons.

The New England Patriots, a franchise starved for success, continued an amazing turnaround Sunday and moved closer to a rare playoff berth.

New England’s 28-13 victory over the Indianapolis Colts was its fifth in a row after a 3-6 start and it greatly improved the team’s chances of making the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons.

The Patriots overcame Drew Bledsoe’s four interceptions and a 10-0 second-quarter deficit.

“We never count ourselves out,” said Willie McGinest, the Patriots’ rookie linebacker from USC. “People had done that earlier in the season and we turned everything around.”

They’ve done it so well that they no longer need a spectacular game from Bledsoe to win. He was smiling despite a mediocre performance in which he threw two touchdown passes.

“It’s a great feeling to know that our team is now playing at a level that it can overcome the quarterback,” Bledsoe said.

The Patriots defeated the Colts (6-8) with a defense that allowed fewer than 300 yards for the fourth consecutive week after doing it only once in the first 10 games. New England gave up a season-low 212 yards.

The Patriots, who have not had a winning season since 1988, overcame Ray Buchanan’s 90-yard interception-return touchdown. It was Buchanan’s third interception return for a score in five games.

The Colts didn’t score after their other three interceptions, including another by Buchanan, who has six interceptions in five games since moving from safety to cornerback.

For the second time in three weeks, the Patriots controlled Marshall Faulk, the AFC’s No. 3 rusher. He gained 50 yards in 17 carries. In a 12-10 loss Nov. 27, he managed only 48 yards in 11 carries.

“I felt less than 100%,” said Faulk, who was hospitalized Thursday with a respiratory ailment. “There are times when you have to do that.”

The Colts, though, couldn’t control Bledsoe.

After Buchanan’s touchdown gave the Colts a 10-0 lead, Bledsoe led the Patriots to touchdowns on three of their next five possessions for a 21-10 lead with 16 seconds left in the third quarter.

Bledsoe finished 25 of 45 for 277 yards. He said the strong wind was only a minor problem.

The Patriots used a no-huddle offense in the third quarter, hoping to score as much as possible with the wind at their backs.

“The no-huddle was unexpected,” Buchanan said. “The Patriots have taken an average team and made themselves into winners.”

The victory, combined with Minnesota’s win over Buffalo (7-7), left the Patriots alone in second place in the AFC East.