The Indianapolis Colts ended their playoff bid to the championships and a return to the Super Bowl in a loss to the New England Patriots, 43-22, at Gillette Stadium.
- · The Colts found the end zone at the 4:35 mark in the first quarter when quarterback Andrew Luck found wide receiver LaVon Brazill for a 38-yard touchdown. The touchdown was the first of Brazill’s postseason career. On the possession, Indianapolis drove 80 yards on seven plays and totaled three first downs. Luck also hit wide receiver Griff Whalen for a 22-yard pass.
o Following the score, the Colts had tallied six touchdowns on their last 10 offensive possessions dating back to a Wild Card Playoff meeting against Kansas City on Jan. 4.
- · Following a botched snap on a Patriots punt, Indianapolis recorded a safety to cut New England’s lead to 21-12. The safety was the first for the Colts in team postseason history.
- · Brazill added the team’s second touchdown of the game after hauling in a 35-yard strike from Luck in the third quarter. The touchdown cut New England’s lead to one possession. The score also marked the second consecutive postseason game a Colts receiver tallied multiple touchdowns (T.Y. Hilton, two touchdowns vs. Kansas City on Jan. 4, 2013).
- · Quarterback Andrew Luck completed 20-of-41 passes for 331 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions for a 53.0 passer rating.
o With 41 passing attempts, Luck passed Jim Harbaugh (119) for the third-most attempts in Colts postseason history.
o With 20 completions, Luck passed Jim Harbaugh (61) for the third-most completions in franchise postseason history.
o With two touchdowns, Luck passed Jim Harbaugh (five) for the third-most touchdowns in team postseason history.
- · Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton led the team in receiving and finished with four catches for 103 yards against the Patriots.
o For the second consecutive week Hilton topped the 100-yard receiving plateau while making long receptions of 40 and 46 yards.
o With four receptions, he passed Brandon Stokley (22) for the seventh-most catches in Colts postseason history.
o With 103 receiving yards, Hilton passed Eddie Hinton (380) for the fourth-most yards in team postseason history.
- · Wide receiver LaVon Brazill finished with two receptions for 73 yards and two touchdowns.
o He scored his first touchdown on a 38-yard reception in the first quarter and followed with his second score on a 35-yard grab in the third quarter. It marked Brazill’s first career multiple-touchdown game in the postseason and the fifth multiple-touchdown game by a receiver in franchise postseason annals.
- · Tight end Coby Fleener led the team with six receptions while adding 74 receiving yards. Wide receiver Griff Whalen established postseason highs with five catches for 67 yards.
- · Running back Donald Brown led the team in rushing with 17 carries for 63 yards.
o With 17 rushes, Brown passed Don Nottingham (34) for the ninth-most carries in team postseason history.
o With 63 yards, Brown passed Zack Crockett (161) for the eighth-most yards in team postseason history.
- · Outside linebacker Robert Mathis finished with three tackles, 1.0 sack and one forced fumble.
o The sack was the second of the postseason for Mathis as he now sits 2.5 sacks shy of Dwight Freeney’s postseason franchise record.
MOST CAREER SACKS IN COLTS POSTSEASON HISTORY
o Mathis moved into a tie with Justin Snow and Reggie Wayne for the third-most postseason games played in franchise history with 18.
- · Outside linebacker Erik Walden posted a five-yard sack of Tom Brady on a third down in the first quarter, which forced a New England punt. It was the third postseason sack of his career.
- · Safety Antoine Bethea finished with seven tackles and one pass defensed.
o He competed in his 13th career postseason game, which ties him with Tarik Glenn for the 12th-most in franchise history.
- · Adam Vinatieri converted 2-of-2 field goals and two PATs for eight points against New England.
o Vinatieri split the uprights on an extra point following the team’s first touchdown of the game and took sole possession of first place on the NFL’s all-time postseason extra point list, topping David Akers’ old record of 58.
o His 36-yard field goal in the second quarter cut New England’s lead to 21-10. Vinatieri added his second field goal of the game (21 yards) on the team’s first offensive drive in the third quarter to trim New England’s lead to 21-15.
o Vinatieri currently leads the NFL in postseason records for points scored (213), field goals made (51), consecutive games scoring in the postseason (27) and extra points made (60).
MOST CAREER POINTS SCORED IN NFL POSTSEASON HISTORY
MOST CAREER FIELD GOALS MADE IN NFL POSTSEASON HISTORY
MOST CONSECUTIVE GAMES SCORING IN NFL POSTSEASON HISTORY
MOST CAREER PATs IN NFL POSTSEASON HISTORY
o Vinatieri ranks first in franchise history in postseason scoring (96), field goals (25), field goals in a game (five), field goal attempts (27) and field goal long (52).
o He played in his 27th career postseason game, which ranks tied for the second-most in NFL history.
MOST CAREER POSTSEASON GAMES PLAYED IN NFL HISTORY
- · Punter Pat McAfee totaled five punts for a 51.8 average with a long kick of 58 yards.
o With five punts, McAfee passed Chris Gardocki (23) for the third-most punts in Colts postseason history.
o With five kickoffs, McAfee passed Adam Vinatieri (36) for the most kickoffs in Colts postseason history.
