Indianapolis @ New England preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 16, 2014 ) New England 42, Indianapolis 20

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. 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.

TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Patriots -7. O/U: 53.5

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.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Patriots are 16-4 at home in the postseason and can match Dallas and Pittsburgh for the most Super Bowl appearances with eight.

2. Luck is the first QB in history to pass for at least 250 yards in each of his first five playoff games.

3. Patriots coach Bill Belichick needs a win to surpass Tom Landry (20) for the most postseason victories.

PREDICTION: Patriots 30, Colts 26