The Sports Xchange

INDIANAPOLIS — A loud and emotional Lucas Oil Stadium crowd was ready to rattle Tom Brady, hoping to see him fail Sunday night against the Indianapolis Colts.

There would be no distracting Brady in the Deflategate rematch, still a very sore subject in the Hoosier State.

Accused of playing a role in New England using partially deflated footballs during an AFC title game victory over Indianapolis in January, Brady answered his critics with three touchdown passes — two during the second half — while leading the Patriots to a 34-27 triumph Sunday night.

Avoiding Deflategate talk, Brady focused on the latest victory, not the one in January that prompted the most controversy of his storied career.

“(The Colts defense) played pretty good,” Brady said. “I thought they competed really hard. Our execution was off at times, so it was a good win. They definitely did some things to challenge us. Obviously, this was a good win on the road.”

The Colts (3-3) set up two New England touchdowns with special teams mistakes — a failed onside kick in the first half and a failed fake punt from their own 37-yard line with 1:12 remaining in the third quarter.

Brady, who completed 23 of 37 passes for 312 yards and an interception, directed a seven-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to begin the third quarter, capping it with a 25-yard scoring pass to tight end Rob Gronkowski. The reigning Super Bowl champion Patriots (5-0) grabbed a 27-21 lead on the play.

Later in the quarter, the Colts lined up in an unusual punt formation, with nine players standing to the far right side on a fourth-and-2 situation. The ball was snapped to special teams player Colt Anderson, who was tackled for a 1-yard loss, giving the ball to Brady and the prolific New England offense at the Indianapolis 35.

Six plays later, Brady threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to running back LeGarrette Blount (16 carries, 95 yards) with 12:48 left in the fourth quarter.

What we learned about the Patriots:

1. Playing in a hostile environment against a team and a fan base that doesn’t think he plays by the rules, quarterback Tom Brady proved once again why he may be the best at his position in this generation. With the controversy over partially inflated footballs on their minds from January, the Colts and their fans were hoping to see Brady play poorly. Just the opposite was the case. Brady completed 23 of 37 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns with one interception in unbeaten New England’s 34-27 victory.

2. Can there be a better three-pronged pass catching group than wide receivers Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman and tight end Rob Gronkowski? The trio had a collective 16 catches for 205 yards and two touchdowns. Each time New England needed to convert on third down, one of those three usually was the target.

3. The Patriots’ defense gave up a pair of first-half touchdowns, but it limited Andrew Luck to 13 completions in 28 second-half attempts and allowed no points after halftime until 1:19 remained. New England especially was good at denying the deep ball. Luck’s longest completion covered 27 yards. Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones had 2.5 sacks.

Etc.

–QB Tom Brady, in what is becoming a potential MVP season, has completed 139 of 197 passes for 1,699 yards and 14 touchdowns in five games. Until being picked off by Colts S Mike Adams on Sunday night, he had not been intercepted. He finished 23-for-37 for 312 yards and two touchdowns at Indianapolis.

–K Stephen Gostkowski remains perfect on the season, 12-for-12 on field-goal attempts and 20-for-20 on extra points. He made two field goals and four extra points Sunday night.

–WR Julian Edelman has a team-leading 40 catches for 449 yards and four touchdowns. He finished with six receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown Sunday against Indianapolis.