Indianapolis Colts 7-45 New England Patriots: AFC Championship game – as it happened
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Version 0 of 1. 10.10pm ET03:10 Postgame The New England Patriots suffered through none of the drama we saw in the early NFC Championship game, hammering the Indianapolis Colts, in the rain, breaking away during a potent third-quarter explosion. Now they’ll have a chance to win their fourth Super Bowl and their first since the 2004 season. The match-up is about as good as it gets - the Seattle Seahawks posing an enormous challenge, one Bill Belichick and his Pats will pore over in the coming days. For now however, it’s party time in New England as this historic run reaches yet another level. To all who joined us, thanks for reading. Join us in the coming weeks for piles of Super Bowl coverage, and our live, minute-by-minute blog. Until then, wherever you are, good morning, good afternoon and goodnight. Updated at 2.43am ET 10.04pm ET03:04 Colts 7-45 Patriots, Final The New England Patriots are heading to Arizona for Super Bowl XLIX - everybody practice your Roman numeral writing - a big two weeks coming up! 10.03pm ET03:03 Tom Brady He is still in the game, which is insane of course. Ah, now he comes out and gets thick juicy ovation, one deserved. He was 23/35 for 226 with three touchdowns and a pick. Reserve QB Jimmy Garoppolo, the Eastern Illinois product, will take it from here. 9.55pm ET02:55 Another crazy Brady stat CBS, in full gar-bage time mode, gives us this nugget: Tom Brady has 20 post-season wins, which is more than 21 current NFL franchises. True story. 9.52pm ET02:52 Colts 7-45 Patriots, 5:45 4th quarter The Pats kick it away, all the way down to the Indy nine. Meanwhile... Im sitting up in Nassau, Bahamas still trying to figure out how the Packers blew the other game @lengeldavid @wellknowngun @ferozemj You’re going to be up for a long while... 9.50pm ET02:50 Robert Kraft CBS post an on-screen graphic detailing the expoits of the New England Patriots since Robert Kraft took over the franchise in 1994. They have: All of which is better than a kick in the teeth. 9.47pm ET02:47 INTERCEPTION! Colts 7-45 Patriots, 7:24 4th quarter Jamie Collins steps in front of Tipton and snatches the ball away - it’s another pick for the Pats, who take over at the Indy 40. Andrew Luck is now 11 for 32 with 123 yards (34 in the second half) with two interceptions. 9.44pm ET02:44 Colts 7-45 Patriots, 8:18 4th quarter Herron has the ball on the ground - presumably the Colts also want to run out the clock and get the heck out of dodge - he’s got a gain of 17. Now Luck is on his feet, galloping for 11 yards himself. Indy are close to midfield as their season ticks away... 9.39pm ET02:39 Says Jasbir Deol: Luck sans Luck which pretty much broke google translate. 9.37pm ET02:37 TOUCHDOWN! Colts 7-45 Patriots, 10:05 4th quarter Blount, right down Broadway for the touchdown! The man now has three trips to the endzone to go along with 148 yards on the day! I took the liberty of doing the math for you - that’s a healthy 4.9333333333333.....yards a carry. Not so bad. Updated at 9.41pm ET 9.36pm ET02:36 Colts 7-38 Patriots, 10:30 4th quarter LaFell, a catch and run down to the Indy seven on the near sideline. Now it’s 3rd & 4 and, get this, Edelman has himself another first down catch - but he limps to the sideline after an active evening. That might be it for him tonight, but in the meantime, it’s 1st & goal... 9.33pm ET02:33 Colts 7-38 Patriots, 12:30 4th quarter Ho-hum, New England convert on 4th & 4, and guess who is there to make the catch? Yes, of course, it’s Edelman, who is having a moment, who will no doubt be as dominating a presence on Super Bowl media day as he has been over the past two games this post-season. New England are now pounding the ball on the ground in trying to run out the clock. Blount is up to 122 yards on the ground... 9.30pm ET02:30 9.29pm ET02:29 @WellKnownGun @LengelDavid I am still awake in Germany and plan to watch till the end. Unless you are further east of me, you can't complain Well, as a colleague of mine once said, sleep is overrated. 9.28pm ET02:28 Colts 7-38 Patriots, end of 3rd quarter That will do it for the frame, one that was dominated by the home team, who exploded for 21 points and took any remaining steam out of this outgunned Colts team. When we return, it’s 3rd & 4 for the Pats on the Indy 34. 9.27pm ET02:27 Colts 7-38 Patriots, 1:15 3rd quarter Luck is throwing at Revis again, silly rabbit. He’s trying to get the ball to Moncrief but there’s nothing doing. Now Luck is on the run, spinning and sprinting to his left before chucking it out of bounds. It’s 3rd & 10 and Luck is incomlete for the fifth straight throw, missing Jones while under pressure from the New England pass rush. The Colts kick it away and teelvision sets turn off all over Indy..that is, if they haven’t already. Edleman runs the return and has a LOT OF ROOM after MASSIVE by Brandon Bolden - he’s turning a corner and bursting up to the Indy 45! It’s a return of 45 by Edelman. Now medics tend to the Colts’ Andy Studebaker, who was hurt on that huge block. 9.20pm ET02:20 @WellKnownGun @LengelDavid guess you can go to bed now, if you haven't already!!! :) What about me?! 9.20pm ET02:20 TOUCHDOWN! Colts 7-38 Patriots, 2:08 3rd quarter There goes Blount, through the middle before DESTROYING both LaRon Landry and Vontae Davis as they try to slow him up at the goal line! Nothing doing, he rolls over both of them for the TD, and the party is most definitely on in New England! 9.17pm ET02:17 INTERCEPTION! Colts 7-31 Patriots, 2:14 3rd quarter The fans are on their feet at the drenched Gillette Stadium as they enjoy watching their Patriots dismantle the Colts as they march towards a eighth Super Bowl appearance. It’s 3rd & 5 on the Colts 40. Luck is PICKED OFF! Luck floated a pass and Revis was their to snatch the ball out of the air! It’s a poorly thrown ball by Luck who is having a nightmare of an AFC Championship, and it’s worth noting that his teammates haven’t been too hot either. Revis runs it back for 30 yards and the Pats start at the Colts 13. Updated at 10.13pm ET 9.11pm ET02:11 @LengelDavid does any other team do this eligible/ineligible thing? At least so often?? It’s not uncommon for offensive lineman to become eligible receivers. What is not common is what happened last week when Belichick put an extra wide receiver on the field v Baltimore, so that one was not eligible. That is very confusing to a defense and something only Nick Saban has done previously on a collegiate level, apparently. 9.09pm ET02:09 TOUCHDOWN! Colts 7-31 Patriots, 3:19 3rd quarter Gronk streaks towards the middle of the field and is hit in the chest by Tom Brady for a touchdown! It’s the 49th TD pass by Brady, who seems to know what he’s doing. We are approaching gar-bage time as Pats fans begin to book their flights to Arizona. 9.08pm ET02:08 Colts 7-24 Patriots, 3:42 3rd quarter The weather is deteriorating at Foxborough, which favors the chased, not the chasers. Now the lineman Solder, who had the touchdown earlier, is said to have not reported to the refs to be eligible, which is deceptive and a five-yard penalty. So it’s 3rd & 1 from the Indy five-yard line coming up... 9.05pm ET02:05 Colts 7-24 Patriots, 4:55 3rd quarter Brady steps back and fires over the middle, it’s complete to Gronk who looks to have enough for a first down - and yes indeed, it’s another back-breaking third down conversion for the Patriots. Now Brady is back looking for more - he floats a ball in the direction of Edelman, who falss to thr ground and regroups in time to make the catch! It’s a bit easier when you’re wide open of course, and Edelman now has 84 yards receiving on the day. New England are in the Indy 14, looking for blood. 9.02pm ET02:02 Colts 7-24 Patriots, 7:32 3rd quarter Gronkowski has a catch - his first of the night - a gain of 16 across midfield. Then Brady is taken down - Cory Redding takes down No12, ripping him to the turf after gripping his waist. That’s progress. This isn’t. LaFell, far side, a pass reception and a gain of nine yards. So it’s a big 3rd & 7 where Indy must make a stop. 8.59pm ET01:59 Colts 7-24 Patriots, 8:55 3rd quarter Luck comes up empty looking for Fleener, then Herron runs into the line for a short gain of two. Now it’s 3rd & 8... Luck is in the shotgun - Pats blitz, Luck steps up and throws far sideline looking for Hilton but the ball sails harmlessly out of bounds. That’s three and out for Indy, who kick it away. New England will look to put the bullet in the brain on this drive, starting at their own 38-yard line. Updated at 8.59pm ET 8.53pm ET01:53 VINE - 320 Pound Nate Solder 16 Yrds TD #FatGuyTD #AFCChampionship #INDvsNE https://t.co/TkJCjRKhrh When big people do big things, we all get excited. 8.52pm ET01:52 @ferozemj @LengelDavid Stick a fork in the Colts. 8.52pm ET01:52 TOUCHDOWN! Colts 7-24 Patriots, 10:03 3rd quarter Brady throwing now and he hits, who? Tackle Nate Solder! He is eligible and he is IN THE ENDZONE! Belichick the mad scientist does it again as the 320lb. lineman hits paydirt! So New England open the half with a nine play, 87 yard TD drive, eating up close to five minutes. 8.49pm ET01:49 Colts 7-17 Patriots, 12:22 3rd quarter Blount on 3rd & 1 has that and more - a whole lot more! He stumbles and bumbles to the outside and carries down to the Colts 25! Now he rips off another nine yards in the pooring rain at Foxborough. This is smash-mouth northeastern football right here! 8.46pm ET01:46 Colts 7-17 Patriots, 12:50 3rd quarter Here’s a 3rd & 2 on the Pats first post-halftime series. Brady throws right to a wide open Edleman who catches and then runs - it’s his fourth, third down conversion of the game, which is kind of insane. The 23 yards tally brings the ball to the New England 44. Pats are quickly on the move here... Updated at 8.47pm ET 8.43pm ET01:43 We are back... New England start it up at their 13-yard line. 8.41pm ET01:41 Stats So, who will face the Seahawks in the Super Bowl? Well, that’s what we are here to discover, and right now, the Colts are hanging on, down 10 at halftime. New England also have the time of possession advantage, 17:30 to 12:25. Both quarterbacks have been held under 100 yards - Brady is 11/21 for 95 yards, Luck is 7/19 for just 89. Blount has 68 yards rushing, Herron has just 30 for the Colts. Vereen is the leading wideout with 41 yards receiving - the Colts have yet to hit their second leading receiver, Reggie Wayne, with a pass as Luck has been very un-Luck-like, completing less than 50% of his attempts. 8.35pm ET01:35 Meanwhile... Russell Wilson was emotional after the Seahawks ridiculous comeback victory over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game. If you don’t believe me, have a look. 8.30pm ET01:30 Colts 7-17 Patriots, end of 2nd quarter Colts coach Chuck Pagano isn’t interested in chucking the ball downfield, so the half is over. “We got to slow down the run, they got 80 yards on us.” says the Colts head coach as he speaks to CBS TV before heading into talk to his team at half time. Then CBS reminds us that actually, they’ve given up 93 yards rushing, which reminds me again that New England throwing three straight plays at the goal line is pretty much madness. That Belichick, he just doesn’t know what he’s doing now does he... 8.26pm ET01:26 FIELD GOAL! Colts 7-17 Patriots, 0:09 2nd quarter It’s 15 plays that cover 65 yards - a drive that ends with a 21-yard chip shot by kicker Stephen Gostowski. That’s what we call a moral victory for the Colts, holding the Pats to a field goal right there. Still wondering why New England threw three straight times inside the five, but that’s just me. 8.24pm ET01:24 Colts 7-14 Patriots, 0:13 2nd quarter Brady goes to the air again! Why? Bolount has been so effective this half! Crazy stuff from Belichick, who winces as Brady can’t hook up with Vereen. Here comes the field goal unit. 8.23pm ET01:23 Colts 7-14 Patriots, 0:16 2nd quarter The Pats are thwarted on two consecutive pass plays, first Brady looks to Amendola, then to Gronk. Indy keep it tight in the secondary and then call their final timeout It’s 3rd & goal at the three.. 8.22pm ET01:22 Colts 7-14 Patriots, 0:20 2nd quarter Can New England convert on 4th & inches? It’s a Brady sneak - he faces resistance but his men push him far enough on the second effort for a first down, a big one. New England call for time, their third. 8.19pm ET01:19 Colts 7-14 Patriots, 0:31 2nd quarter Brady is in the shotgun. He steps up amid pressure, sees no one open and takes off! Brady has room to roam - he’s cutting left, then he’s moving right! Finally, he goes down just short of the first down at the three-yard line! He’s been doing a lot of that lately it seems... They’re going to go for it! Now it’s New England that call for time, their second, as we await a huge 4th & inches! Updated at 8.19pm ET 8.15pm ET01:15 Colts 7-14 Patriots, 0:53 2nd quarter Indy blitz and Brady is hit as he throws! Jerrell Freeman lowers his head and that’s roughing the passer, a 15-yard penalty. Old-time football fans will say, hey, that’s a great football hit! Not in 2015. The Pats have it at the 13 and face a 3rd & 10 after Blount is wrapped up for no gain and Brady can’t hit Gronk in the endzone. The Colts call for time, their second, to make sure they have their ducks in a row on a big play coming up... 8.11pm ET01:11 @ferozemj @LengelDavid Kind of waiting for the Pats to pull away so I can go to bed. Colts have actually got a shot here. If the Colts have their way you’re up all night! 8.10pm ET01:10 Colts 7-14 Patriots, 2:00 2nd quarter Blount is so physical - a series of cuts is capped by a punishing hit on the Indy line after a gain of eight yards. We hit the warning with another Blount run, this one for another big chunk - nine yards - down to the Colts 29. The Pats come right back after the TD with a drive of their own. We’ve reached the two-minute warning - when we return it’s 2nd & 1. 8.07pm ET01:07 Colts 7-14 Patriots, 3:02 2nd quarter Now it’s 3rd & 6 for New England. Brady bumps over the middle to Edelman, who returns from the lockers to make a first down catch. The ball is across midfield after Blount rolls for five with the half ticking away... 8.05pm ET01:05 Colts 7-14 Patriots, 4:48 2nd quarter Ha! Offsides on the kickoff - I love that. Dewey McDonald left early for the Colts and that’s just a ridiculous thing to do. It pushes the Colts back five yards and forces a re-kick. The call gives the Pats an additional seven yards after Amendola returns the kick to the 32. 8.01pm ET01:01 Colts 7-14 Patriots, 4:54 2nd quarter Luck hits Fleener, who loses the ball at the goal line but is ruled down. Now Luck is running up to the line trying to get the play off before the Pats can challenge the play. Luck gets the snap and hands off to Zurlon Tipton who runs it into the endzone! It’s a 93-yard drive that turns a Tom Brady interception into seven enormous points - Indy steady the ship, pass the gut-check, and are right back in this game! 7.58pm ET00:58 Colts 0-14 Patriots, 6:06 2nd quarter Another big play - this time it’s 3rd & 7 at the Pats 28. Luck throws incomplete while seeking out Allen...but there’s a flag! Collins is done for illegal contact and Indy are fortunate to pick up another first down courtesy of a penalty on this drive. Here’s another first down - Ninkovich is chasing Luck but he gets rid of it and finds Fleener who has first down yardage down to the 12. Can the Colts finish off this drive? 7.55pm ET00:55 Colts 0-14 Patriots, 6:17 2nd quarter Now it’s 3rd & 8 and Luck is going for it, throwing way down field looking for T.Y Hilton who makes a tremendous catch and manages to stay in bounds on the near sideline!! It’s good for 37 yards and keeps this drive alive! That’s the play of the game for the Colts thus far and they are on the Pats 31! 7.53pm ET00:53 Colts 0-14 Patriots, 8:34 2nd quarter Luck finds Allen for a gain of nine. Next play, Luck has but on the next play, Jack Doyle makes a catch and is pushed back - way back by the animal Rob Ninkovich. But wait, here comes Vince Wilfork to jump all over Doyle for no reason whatsoever - and he is flagged for unnecessary roughness, moving the ball to the Colts 31. Pure silliness from Wilfork. 7.50pm ET00:50 INTERCEPTION! Colts 0-14 Patriots, 9:21 2nd quarter Finally! The Colts get exactly what they need - a play in the secondary! Tom Brady is picked off after linebacker D’Qwell Jackson gets in front of a ball that was heading for Rob Gronkowski at the goal line! That’s just what the doctor ordered for Indy, who have their first pick in four games (really) and the ball on their own seven. Can they make the Pats pay and change the complexion of this football game? 7.47pm ET00:47 Colts 0-14 Patriots, 10:02 2nd quarter Oh my! Blount looks to be wrapped up behind the line of scrimmage, but he keeps pushing the pile and the second efforts gets him first down yardage!! It looked like the play was over to all except Blount - nice work there from the running back. 7.45pm ET00:45 Colts 0-14 Patriots, 10:08 2nd quarter Brady finds Michael Hoomanawanui (sp?), again on the near side for five yards setting up a 3rd & 1. Brady looks way too comfortable out there, and we all know that the only way to beat him is by roughing him up and making him considerably less comfortable in the pocket. New England burn a timeout on the Indy 28. 7.42pm ET00:42 Colts 0-14 Patriots, 11:20 2nd quarter Danny Amendola has his first catch of the day - it’s on the near sideline for eight, setting up a 3rd & 2. Brady now runs a similar sideline play and hits Edelman for first down yardage up to the 41. Here’s Blount now, running left, cutting right and finding room and another New England first down across midfield! Colts - D - needs - to - make - a - play - NOW! In other news...Edleman is heading to the lockers to be looked at, we will let you know why. Updated at 7.43pm ET 7.38pm ET00:38 Colts 0-14 Patriots, 14:44 2nd quarter Luck in the shotgun - he’s looking for T.Y. Hilton who is running a slant - the ball bounces off him and hits the turf. It would not have been enough for a first down anyway - clumsy play call there and Indy punt. New England take over on the 30. 7.36pm ET00:36 Colts 0-14 Patriots, end of 1st quarter There’s a little life - Luck dumps one over to Herron, who scampers for a first down up to their 33. Now, Luck, under center, fires and it’s batted down! It’s that Rob Ninkovich, again, asserting himself in the line! The guy is just everywhere right now. Here is the final play of the quarter, an incomplete pass to former Giant, Hakeem Nicks. So when we resume, it will be a big 3rd & 10 from the Colts 33, and they need to come up with some sort of resistance after being dominated in the first frame. 7.32pm ET00:32 @WellKnownGun @LengelDavid well! Colts overcame the pats in 2006 when trailing by 15 points. Will history repeat itself? Ah ha! Good question! The Colts need to show us something on this drive. Is anybody home under those white helmets? 7.31pm ET00:31 7.28pm ET00:28 TOUCHDOWN! Colts 0-14 Patriots, 1:20 1st quarter That wasn’t the play Indy was looking for - instead, Brady hits James Develin at the goal line, whose second effort puts him in the endzone for the first touchdown reception of his young career. It’s a disastrous start for the Colts who are now down 14 in a hostile environment, contending with both the Pats and the rough weather. 7.26pm ET00:26 Colts 0-7 Patriots, 1:51 1st quarter It’s 3rd & 9 and Brady hits that pesky Edelman, who just finds room inside a crowded secondary, right down the middle of the field. It’s a big first down that brings New England to the five-yard line. Colts need to make a play and turn the tide here. 7.25pm ET00:25 Colts 0-7 Patriots, 2:51 1st quarter WOW! Brady finds Shane Vereen downfield - he makes the catch with a forearm under his face guard after having to slow down and come back for the under-thrown football! A wild play on the far sideline, and a gain of 30 yards! Bount is stopped for no gain on the next play and the Colts call a timeout with the Pats in the red-zone. 7.21pm ET00:21 NO GOOD! Colts 0-7 Patriots, 4:50 1st quarter Former Pats kicker Adam Vinatieri is wide right on the 51-yard attempt and the Colts come up empty! Even worse, the Pats have good field position, staring out on their own 41. Perhaps on a night like this, kicking into the wind is not such an intelligent choice. Next time they should consider a play the field position game and just kick it away. 7.19pm ET00:19 Colts 0-7 Patriots, 5:25 1st quarter Luck has a pass tipped by linebacker Rob Ninkovich which is nearly picked off. Now it’s another third down - the Colts need five and get more than that - Luck hits Coby Fleener over the middle for eight. NOTE - Revis, checked for a concussion, is cleared and back on the field. Now Luck has it on the New England 33 and going deep - Herron is there but he drops it! Oh my! That would have put the Colts around the ten, a big moment there as the running back could not make the play! The drive stalls on third down when Luck can’t find Wayne and here comes the field goal unit on a very tough night to kick. 7.13pm ET00:13 Colts 0-7 Patriots, 6:45 1st quarter Indy start from their 20 and there goes Herron, streaking through the New England line on the near side for a first down - that’s a gain of 12! He’s less fortunate on the next play, where he’s wrapped up for a gain of just a yard. Now Luck is on his horse, pump faking, before taking off and finding five yards. He’s not so nimble on his feet, but the effort helps make it 3rd & 3. Luck is in the shotgun, has time, looks left and finds Herron who is just short of the first down. But wait - there’s a defensive holding call on the Pats’ Brandon Browner and that means the Colts are the lucky winners of a first down. By the way, Darrelle Revis was injured two plays ago, we’ll watch that and update you shortly. The ball is at midfield. Updated at 10.36pm ET 7.08pm ET00:08 @LengelDavid hope the Pats make it to Super Bowl. Brady deserves another shot at it! Well, I supposed everyone is entitled to their opinion. Updated at 7.08pm ET 7.08pm ET00:08 TOUCHDOWN! Colts 0-7 Patriots, 10:15 1st quarter This time there is no doubt - Blunt is in the endzone and the Pats make the most of the untimely muff by Cribbs. The Pats are already the better team and certainly don’t need any help from Indy special teams. So, an early deficit for the Colts, let’s see how they respond. 7.05pm ET00:05 OVERTURNED! Colts 0-0 Patriots, 10:21 1st quarter It’s overturned because Blunt was down before crossing the plane. Now they have four shots at a touchdown that sticks... 7.04pm ET00:04 UNDER REVIEW! Colts 0-6 Patriots, 10:28 1st quarter Can the Pats cash in on the Colts cough up? Well, they may have - LeGarrette Blount drives up the middle and into the endzone - at least that is what the ruling is on the field. The play comes on third and inches, and as Blount ran for four yards, it’s either a touchdown or a first down. Stand by.... Updated at 10.35pm ET 7.00pm ET00:00 TURNOVER! Colts 0-0 Patriots, 12:27 1st quarter The Pats go three and out also, but that’s not the big news... ...Josh Cribbs has muffed the punt and that the Pats have it! Was he blinded by the light? Was he ruffled by the rain? Was he wowed by the wind? We don’t know, but New England have it on the Colts 26 after a huge gaffe! Updated at 7.00pm ET 6.57pm ET23:57 Colts 0-0 Patriots, 13:47 1st quarter There’s that man again, Julian Edelman, getting everyone into a tizzy because he is a tiny little thing playing big-time exciting football - this time he’s running up the return for 24 yards up to the New England 44. Updated at 10.34pm ET 6.54pm ET23:54 Colts 0-0 Patriots, 14:16 1st quarter The first play from the scrimmage goes Boom...and bust, with Herron running for a couple of yards. Then Luck is incomplete, throwing to his right and looking for the tight end - that is Dwayne Allen. Now it’s 3rd & 9 and Luck has time but overthrows the grizzled veteran that is Reggie Wayne. Three and out for the Colts on their first drive...gulp. 6.51pm ET23:51 Kickoff! And away we go! The heavens unleash, the winds blow and it’s wet wet wet as we get going on a mild night in Foxborough. The Colts start it up at their own 20. 6.50pm ET23:50 National Anthem It’s that time, and Pat Monahan, who has won a Grammy, apparently, is on hand to sing it loud to the NE crowd. It sounds a little something like this...hit it: Not bad at all Pat - I’ll give you 7.1/10. Strong and steady, nice work. 6.47pm ET23:47 And here they come... Tom Brady runs out onto the field beside the large, foamy mascot known as Pat Patriot. Brady is about to play in his ninth AFC Championship game in his 13th full season, which is pretty insane. If New England win it will be the 21st post-season win for head coach Bill Belichick, breaking the mark held by the legendary Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry. Updated at 10.33pm ET 6.38pm ET23:38 A long winter... ...no, the longest winter - that’s what you are facing if you are a fan of the Green Bay Packers. They just suffered one of the most gut-wrenching defeats I have seen in a while, capped off by Russell Wilson hitting Jermaine Kearse in the endzone sending the Seahawks to the Super Bowl. Wilson had a QB rating of around 10 with his team down five points in the fourth quarter after throwing four interceptions. THAT’S FOUR INTERCEPTIONS - 1-2-3-4! And his team are NFC champs!! Personally it’s going to take some time to digest. Green Bay fans may never... I was listening to the Seattle radio broadcast for most of the game, and their commentators said repeatedly, “it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.” It’s a thought that seems impossible to argue at this moment. Updated at 6.41pm ET 6.30pm ET23:30 The big quote This week it’s Tom Brady’s dad, who spoke in an interview broadcast on NFL Network on Sunday morning. In addition to calling out his son as a “pretty slow white guy”, he also provided this brutally honest appraisal of his status as the Pats QB: There are no sacred cows in the NFL. If Bill Belichick doesn’t want him anymore, then Bill Belichick will get rid of him. True enough - it’s good to see a dad that hasn’t drank the Kool-Aid and has a realistic view on reality. Brady Sr. also said: He doesn’t have a doubt that they’re gonna get to the Super Bowl. He doesn’t have a doubt that they’re gonna win the Super Bowl. Now whether or not that happens, that remains to be seen. He’s got a never ending will to succeed and a will to work and do what’s necessary to get where he wants to be. 6.22pm ET23:22 NFC Championship Mason Crosby connects on a 48-yard field goal which ties up this game moments after Seattle, shockingly, took a lead that they had absolutely no business taking in any way shape or form. So the Packers and Seahawks are somehow heading to OT over there with Bryann Arman Graham and we are delayed until 650ET, 1150UK, as no two championship games may be played at one time...apparently. Updated at 6.24pm ET 6.16pm ET23:16 Weather I know, I can’t help myself. Chances are that it could get wet and wild pretty soon, with the wild coming in the form of 15MPH gusts. Should be interesting to discover just what sort of impact this has on our big ballgame... Updated at 6.17pm ET 6.07pm ET23:07 Prediction Well, Paolo really put his buns on the fire with his choice of the Patriots to represent the American Football Conference in the Super Bowl. That won’t happen here, where we take chances, where we go against the grain, where we believe that the torch has been permanently passed to Andrew Luck. Look, the man is a Stanford graduate, and that means he is always learning from moments in his life, such as those three consecutive thrashings by the Pats. This is the day all of those teachings come together in one out of body performance against these beasts from the east, with he and his underdog Colts having their way in Foxborough. 35-31, Colts win it. That’s my prediction, how about yours? Tweet me @LengelDavid or email david.lengel@theguardian.com 5.50pm ET22:50 What are you doing here? I mean, I appreciate it, but Bryann Arman Graham is live blogging the Packers and Seahawks right now. The NFC Championship game is in the crucial fourth quarter, so I strongly suggest sticking with that match-up. Then you can join us when that concludes - do we have a deal? 12.00am ET05:00 David will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s Paolo Bandini’s preview of the game: A great many words were written about the passing of torches in the wake of Indianapolis’s victory over Denver last weekend. Andrew Luck had defeated Peyton Manning, the man who preceded him as Colts quarterback, and who just happens to be one of the greatest ever to play the position. In narrative terms, it was an easy sell. Although he threw a pair of interceptions, Luck had also played extremely well. Both picks came on long third-down heaves, shifting field position about as effectively as a punt might have done. He otherwise completed 27 of 41 attempts for 265 yards and two touchdowns, and crucially avoided getting sacked – despite being hurried on 15 out of 45 dropbacks, according to ESPN. It was Luck’s second strong playoff performance in as many weeks, following his dismantling of the Cincinnati Bengals on Wild Card weekend. For a player who had previously underachieved in the postseason, going 1-2 over his first two years in the league, whilst throwing more interceptions (eight) than touchdowns (six), this was a significant step. But the challenge facing him his team in New England this Sunday is of a different order entirely. As good as Luck was against the Broncos, Manning was awful – whether that be a factor of his age or the quad injury that he had been playing through for several weeks. It is hard to imagine the Colts restricting New England to fewer than 20 points. Indy, indeed, have given up more than twice that number in all three of their meetings with the Patriots since Luck took over from Manning in 2012. Most recently, they lost 42-20 at home to these opponents in week 11. From an individual standpoint, this was actually Luck’s best game against the Patriots so far in his career – as he threw for 303 yards and a pair of touchdowns. But the Colts’ defense was gouged for 201 rushing yards and four touchdowns by Jonas Gray. That was the tailback’s second-ever start for New England and he has not been granted a whole lot of carries since, earning a place in Bill Belichick’s doghouse by showing up late for practice a few days later. But regardless of who starts in his place on Sunday, the likelihood is that we will see New England run the ball early and often, grinding down the Colts’ modest front seven and keeping the ball out of Luck’s hands. Not that Belichick has anything to envy from the young quarterback. Tom Brady is only a year younger than Manning, at 37, and after the Patriots’ 41-14 mauling by Kansas City in September it was widely suggested that he might be past his peak. His performances since have demonstrated that he is anything but. Against Baltimore, Brady demonstrated yet again that he is a man to rely on when the chips are down. He was instrumental in guiding his team back twice from 14-point deficits against the Ravens, and his final touchdown pass, to Brandon LaFell, was perfectly thrown. With that score, he surpassed Joe Montana as the player with the most postseason touchdown passes in NFL history. Now he has his sights set on equaling the San Francisco player’s record (shared with Terry Bradshaw) of four Super Bowl wins. I expect him to take a big step towards achieving that goal on Sunday. For the final one, we will have to wait and see. Patriots to win |