Colts Played for Patsies by Patten

David Patten did anything and everything the New England Patriots needed. His performance was unlike any other in the NFL in exactly 22 years.

Patten became the first player since Walter Payton in 1979 to run, catch and pass for touchdowns in the same game, helping the Patriots beat the Indianapolis Colts, 38-17, on Sunday.

Quarterback Tom Brady, filling in for the injured Drew Bledsoe, won for the third time in four starts and the New England defense stopped Indianapolis’ high-powered offense when it mattered.

Still, the day belonged to Patten.

“Every time I touched the ball, I was able to make something happen,” said Patten, who accounted for four of the Patriots’ five touchdowns. “That’s what I pride myself on. I think I’m able to do that every time I go on the field and today I made that happen.”

He seemed the unlikeliest of heroes after playing little more than his role as part of the Patriots’ supporting cast in the first five weeks.

On Sunday, he played more because receiver Terry Glenn was out because of a hamstring injury, and he was better than anyone could have imagined.

He ran 29 yards for a touchdown on the Patriots’ first offensive play, threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to Troy Brown and caught two touchdown passes, including a 91-yarder--the longest play from scrimmage in team history. The Patriots (3-3) won for the third time in four games and swept the Colts for the season.

Patten finished with four receptions for 117 yards.

Payton, the Chicago Bear hall of famer, scored touchdowns by running, passing and throwing on Oct. 21, 1979, against the Minnesota Vikings.

Brady, who replaced Bledsoe four weeks ago, was almost as impressive as Patten. He completed 16 of 20 passes for 202 yards with three touchdowns.

Bledsoe hasn’t played since a hard hit by Mo Lewis of the New York Jets on Sept. 23 caused bleeding in his chest, but the Patriots have lost only once since. The Patriots had 385 yards in total offense and at one juncture, they had 31 points while having run only 29 offensive plays.

“It’s about going out and executing our plays,” Brady said. “We executed them today.”

The Colts (2-3) struggled for the second time in four weeks against the Patriots, who beat them, 44-13, on Sept. 30.

Right away it was clear it was not the Colts’ day--the scoreboard didn’t work at the game’s start.

In the first half alone, Mike Vanderjagt had two field-goal attempts blocked, Peyton Manning was sacked three times, and defensive back David Macklin was beaten on consecutive plays for touchdown passes of 91 yards and 60 yards.

Not even good performances from the Colts’ three offensive stars could offset that.

Manning completed 22 of 34 passes for 335 yards and a touchdown, Edgerrin James ran 30 times for 143 yards, and Marvin Harrison caught eight passes for 157 yards, including a two-yard touchdown pass. But it wasn’t enough.