LeGarrette Blount rushed for four touchdowns as the New England Patriots pulled away from the Indianapolis Colts to win 43-22 and advance to the AFC Championship game for the third straight year. 

New England beat Indianapolis by concentrating on their rushing game, benefiting from some big turnovers, and finally running away with the game after leading 29-22 going into the final quarter.

Indianapolis spent much of their AFC divisional playoff threatening another epic playoffs comeback. But Blount and key interceptions of Andrew Luck meant the Colts could never quite catch the Patriots.

The Patriots will now face the Denver Broncos in the AFC championship game next Sunday on Denver.

The Colts gave up another head start to their opponents – 0-14 in just seven minutes – and spent the rest of the game playing catch-up. After Indianapolis' epic come-from-behind victory in last weekend's wildcard playoff against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Colts found the Patriots a much tougher proposition once they were ahead.

After that disastrous opening, the Colts scored regularly enough to stay in touch but never enough to gain parity. Luck out-threw Tom Brady 2-0 in touchdowns and 331 yards to 198. But Luck also threw four interceptions after throwing just nine all season.

Brady claimed his 18th playoff win courtesy of handing the ball to his running backs. The Patriots scored six running touchdowns, led by a 73-yard effort plus three more TDs and 166 yards in total by Blount. Stevan Ridley added two more running touchdowns.

Brady, who has thrown 42 career post-season touchdown passes to sit third on the NFL all-time list, completed just 13-of-25 pass attempts and no touchdowns.