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INDIANAPOLIS –A four-game winning streak for the Colts (6-4) came to an end on Sunday evening as the New England Patriots (7-3) showed their offensive prowess with a 59-24 victory.
The Colts jumped out to leads of 7-0 and 14-7 before the game changed behind a pair of returns for New England.
Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman took a Pat McAfee punt back 68 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 14 with 12:00 remaining in the second quarter.
Two plays later, the Patriots would take a lead they would never relinquish.
New England cornerback Aqib Talib, who was signed earlier this week, picked off an errant pass from quarterback Andrew Luck and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown.
From there, the Colts were playing catch up and were down at least two scores for nearly the entire second half.
With a 24-17 halftime lead, New England added an opening-drive score behind a two-yard touchdown reception by Edelman.
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski had seven catches for 137 yards and scored two touchdowns.
The Patriots ended any hope for an Indianapolis comeback when New England rookie cornerback Alfonzo Dennard picked off Luck and returned it 87 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
For the Colts, rookie wide receiver T.Y. Hilton had two touchdown catches and recorded his third 100-yard receiving day on the season. Hilton ended the day with six catches for 100 yards.
Wide receiver Reggie Wayne tied an NFL record with his 58th straight game with at least three catches (seven catches for 72 yards).
Luck was 27-of-50 for 334 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Brady was 24-of-35 for 331 yards, with three touchdowns and zero interceptions.
The Colts will return home next week to take on the Buffalo Bills (4-6) at 1:00 p.m.
SCORING RECAP
FIRST QUARTER (10:49 remaining)
The Colts took the opening kickoff right down the field with a seven-play 80-yard touchdown drive capped off by Delone Carter's one-yard touchdown run. The drive was highlighted by running back Vick Ballard's 20-yard run off the left side of the offensive line. New England cornerback Kyle Arrington was flagged for a defensive pass interference on a deep pass to Colts wide receiver Donnie Avery which set the Colts up inside the 10-yard line. Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri hit the extra point.
Colts 7, Patriots 0
FIRST QUARTER (7:07 remaining)
The Patriots wasted no time answering the Colts touchdown drive with one of their own. Tight end Rob Gronkowski caught three passes for 56 yards on the drive and his four-yard touchdown catch tied the score at seven. The touchdown marked Gronkowski's fourth touchdown in his last two games against the Colts. Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski converted the extra point. Colts 7, Patriots 7
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FIRST QUARTER (1:44 remaining)
It was all about the rookies on this touchdown drive with rookie wide receiver T.Y. Hilton making a sliding 14-yard touchdown catch in the back of the end zone. Hilton had a pair of catches on the drive and fellow rookie LaVon Brazill made a 25-yard catch on a third-and-seven play. Rookie running back Vick Ballard has eight carries for 51 yards on the afternoon. Vinatieri added the extra point. Colts 14, Patriots 7
SECOND QUARTER (12:00 remaining)
After a false start penalty forced another punt for the Colts, Patriots kick return Julian Edelman took the punt 68 yards back for a touchdown. Edelman fielded the punt with plenty of room to operate and out ran the Colts defenders down the right sideline. Gostkowski hit the extra point. Colts 14, Patriots 14
SECOND QUARTER (10:59 remaining)
Making his debut as a New England Patriot, cornerback Aqib Talib picked off quarterback Andrew Luck and returned it 59 yards for the touchdown. Luck stepped up in the pocket but his pass over the middle sailed over wide receiver Reggie Wayne and into the arms of Talib. The touchdown was the second in 61 seconds for the Patriots. Gostkowski made the extra point. Patriots 21, Colts 14
SECOND QUARTER (5:46 remaining)
The Colts were able to stop the Patriots' momentum with a 47-yard field goal by Vinatieri. Wayne and Brazill helped extend the 12-play, 52-yard drive early on with a pair of third-down catches. Two drops in the red zone stalled the drive and brought Vinatieri on for the field goal. Patriots 21, Colts 17
SECOND QUARTER (1:54 remaining)
Gostkowski avenged an earlier missed field goal with a 31-yarder late in the first half. The field goal came after pressure by Colts defensive lineman Ricardo Mathews forced an errant throw by Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on third down. For the half, Brady is 13-of-20 for 181 yards and a touchdown. Patriots 24, Colts 17
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THIRD QUARTER (11:07 remaining)
The Patriots opened up the second half with a 10-play 76-yard drive finished off by a two-yard touchdown catch by Edelman. New England was able to convert a critical third-and-11 early in the drive on a screen pass to Edelman. The touchdown pass also came on a third down. Gostkowski converted the extra point. Patriots 31, Colts 17
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THIRD QUARTER (3:22 remaining)
Gronkowski continued his huge afternoon with a 24-yard touchdown catch to give him six catches for 126 yards on the game. The touchdown came on the play following Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich forcing a Luck fumble, setting the Patriots up in Colts territory. Gostkowski added the extra point. Patriots 38, Colts 17
FOURTH QUARTER (14:47 remaining)
Patriots rookie cornerback Alfonzo Dennard jumped a Reggie Wayne out pattern and picked off a Luck pass, returning it 87 yards for a touchdown. The Colts offense had reached the Patriots 23-yard line in hopes of beginning a potential comeback. The interception was the second returned for a touchdown on the afternoon. Gostkowski hit the extra point. Patriots 45, Colts 17
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FOURTH QUARTER (12:32 remaining)
Hilton hauled in his second touchdown of the day, this one from 43 yards out. Hilton now has six catches for 100 yards on the afternoon, giving him three 100-yard receiving days on the season. Hilton was able to get by Talib and Luck laid the ball perfectly into the outstretched hands of his fellow rookie. Vinatieri added the extra point. Patriots 45, Colts 24
FOURTH QUARTER (9:05 remaining)
The ground game got going for the Patriots behind a three-yard touchdown run by running back Stevan Ridley. The touchdown run by Ridley was set up behind a 47-yard reverse by Edelman. All eight of the Patriots scoring drives have taken less than four minutes. Gostkowski connected on the extra point. Patriots 52, Colts 24
FOURTH QUARTER (3:55 remaining)
The Patriots capped the game with a four-yard touchdown run by running back Shane Vereen. New England found most of its success on offense through the air but in the fourth quarter relied on the ground game with a pair of rushing touchdowns. Gostkowski made the extra point. Patriots 59, Colts 24
