Andrew Luck has guided the Indianapolis Colts to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons but the former No. 1 overall pick has one noticeable blotch on his resume — the inability to beat the New England Patriots.
Luck will get a fourth crack at Tom Brady & Co. when the Colts travel to New England for Sunday’s AFC Championship Game (6:40 p.m., CBS-TV). The Patriots, bidding for their sixth Super Bowl in 14 seasons, have demolished the Colts by a combined 144-66 in the past three.
New England, which rolled to a 42-20 victory at Indianapolis on Nov. 16, made postseason history by erasing a pair of 14-point deficits in last week’s 35-31 victory over Baltimore to advance to their fourth consecutive conference title game.
“The Patriots are a great, great team,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. “Hall of Fame coach. Hall of Fame quarterback. We all know how hard it is to win there.” Indy is coming off an upset victory at Denver, knocking off Peyton Manning and the Broncos 24-13.
ABOUT THE COLTS (13-5): Although Luck had his string of three straight 300-yard postseason games halted and tossed a pair of interceptions, but he also had a pair of touchdown passes and spread the ball around as Indianapolis held the ball for 34 minutes. Running back Daniel “Boom” Herron has rushed for a touchdown in each of the two postseason wins while hauling in 18 receptions. T.Y. Hilton was the leading receiver during the regular season with 1,345 yards and has 10 catches in the postseason while tight ends Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener each had eight touchdown receptions. Indianapolis’ defense limited Manning to 211 yards and has surrendered an average of 11 points in its last three games since a 42-7 blowout loss at Dallas on Dec. 21.
ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (13-4): New England set an NFL record for fewest rushing yards (14) in a postseason victory, but the ground game has sparked the past two victories against the Colts. Rookie Jonas Gray rumbled for 201 yards and four touchdowns in Week 11 while LeGarrette Blount steamrolled Indy for 166 yards and four scores in a 43-22 playoff win last season, but Gray was inactive last week and Blount had three carries for one yard. With no running game for which to speak, Brady threw for 367 yards and three TDs while also rushing for a score and tight end Rob Gronkowski had seven catches for 108 yards and a touchdown. Julian Edelman had 92 catches during the regular season and Danny Amendola had a pair of TD catches, but the Patriots’ defense was burned for four scoring passes.
MATCHUP TO WATCH: Colts RB Daniel Herron vs. Patriots run defense. New England was chopped up by Justin Forsett and the Ravens last week. The Patriots play bend-don’t-break and will count on their front seven to contain Herron, who did not touch the ball in the Nov. 16 meeting. Colts running backs combined for 13 carries and four yards in the previous meeting.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Patriots C Brian Stork. The only player not to practice for the team at midweek, Stork has a right knee injury that took him out of last week’s divisional playoff game. The rookie fourth-round pick was given plenty of praise and credit for helping to solidify an offensive line that struggled mightily in the first month of the season. RG Ryan Wendell, who is light and easily moved, would bump inside to the center spot, where he started the previous two seasons, while inconsistent backup Josh Kline likely would play right guard if Stork sits.
FAST FACTS: The Colts have a 2-7 record at Gillette Stadium and a 12-25 overall road record against the Patriots. … New England is third in the NFL with 422 yards in the playoffs. The Colts are averaging 423 in two wins this postseason. … This is the 11th AFC title game for the Patriots, who are 7-3. … The Patriots would tie the Cowboys and Steelers with their eighth Super Bowl appearance with a win Sunday. … The Patriots are 16-4 at home in the postseason and can match Dallas and Pittsburgh for the most Super Bowl appearances with eight. … Luck is the first QB in history to pass for at least 250 yards in each of his first five playoff games. … Patriots coach Bill Belichick needs a win to surpass Tom Landry (20) for the most postseason victories.