Patriots vs. Colts first half notes: Blount dominates while Ryan Allen makes huge mistake to give Colts safty

Score: 21-12 Patriots lead

Even in a game that has New England owners of a comfortable 9 point lead over their divisional playoff game opponent, Ryan Allen seemed to have lost a bit of respect with this Patriots team. Midway through the 2nd quarter of this one, Allen got unlucky on a terrible long snap that soared high over his head. While that mistake was not one that could be blamed on Allen his decision to pick the ball up on the 1 yard line was bizarre. 9 times out of 10 such a play would result in the punter kicking the ball out of the back of the end zone and yet, while the result of Allen's picking up the ball was no different than the alternative on the scoreboard, he was clobbered as 3 Colts swarmed the ball resulting in his eventual removal from the game because of what looked like a pulled bicep. 

But the Allen debacle was not the only thing that happened in this half. As predicted, the Patriots relied heavily on the run in this half putting the ball in a running back's control 27 times in the half while throwing it just 11 times. When he did throw it, Tom Brady was surgical tossing the ball not only where his receivers could dive an get it but more so where they could grab a ball 10 yards forward of the line and then sprint past the Colts coverage an turn the play into a 20 or 30 yard gain. This was the case at least 3 times in this half as while LeGarret Blount did the scoring guys like Julian Edelman and Danny Ammendola pushed the ball to the point on the field where Blount could bash it in. 

With a 9 point lead the Patriots kick things off in the second half looking to prevent the Colts from reviving that comeback magic they employed last week in Kansas City.