AFC Championship Game

Last Sunday, the New England Patriots hosted the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium for the AFC Championship game. The game was a blowout, with the Patriots dominating and finishing victorious with a final score of 45-7. This was the second largest blowout in history for an AFC game. The biggest blowout in AFC title history was in 1990, where Buffalo beat the Los Angeles Raiders, 51-3.

Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady completed 23 of 35 passes for 226 yards and was eventually replaced by Jimmy Garoppolo for the game’s remaining 3:20 minutes. Brady threw three touchdown passes. Running back LeGarrette Blount ran for 148 yards and three scores.

The Patriots led 17-7 at halftime. It appeared to still be a fairly competitive game at this point. New England then scored touchdowns on all four of their first possessions in the second half of the game, pulling away from the Colts quickly.

It was a tough game for Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who completed just 12 of 33 passes. Luck had no touchdowns and two interceptions in the game. This was the Colts third appearance in the AFC Championship game in three years. They last won the game in 2009 but were defeated by the New Orleans Saints in the Super Bowl.

Brady and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick will break records as they enter the Super Bowl, for the most appearances in the game by a quarterback or a head coach.  This will be the duo’s sixth appearance in a Super Bowl, beating out John Elway and Don Shula’s records respectively. In 2001, which was Brady’s first year as a NFL starter, Brady led the Patriots to a Super Bowl win. This began a run of three championships in just four years.

The Patriots will face the NFC champions and reigning Super Bowl champs, Seattle Seahawks in the big game. Both teams finished 14-4 this season. The Super Bowl is on Sunday, February 1st in Glendale, Arizona.