Colts vs. Patriots: New England moves above .500; Tom Brady throws 500th career TD pass

Jacob Janower

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Colts vs. Patriots: New England moves above .500; Tom Brady throws 500th career TD pass image

The Patriots are starting to look like the Patriots again.

After a 1-2 start to the season, New England (3-2) has won two consecutive games by double digits to get over .500. They took down the Colts 38-24 on Thursday in Foxborough, Mass.

Tom Brady passed for 341 yards and three touchdowns, with the third touchdown being his 500th career scoring pass. He spread the ball around to eight different receivers, including Julian Edelman, who caught seven passes for 57 yards in his return from a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Brady's only blemishes were two interceptions off the fingertips of Chris Hogan and Rob Gronkowski, respectively.

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Indianapolis mounted a second-half comeback after falling behind 24-3 at halftime and cut its deficit to seven at one point. Andrew Luck threw a pair of touchdown passes and the defense forced two turnovers. Luck then threw an interception in the fourth quarter and the Patriots' offense struck quickly to pad New England's lead.

Luck still had a strong night despite two of his top targets — T.Y. Hilton and Jack Doyle — being out with injuries. He threw for 365 yards and three touchdowns overall.

Both teams will have a 10-day break before their next contest. The Patriots will play the Chiefs in a Sunday night game on Oct. 14. The Colts will head to New York to face off against the Jets.

Colts vs. Patriots: Score, results, updates, highlights

(All times Eastern)

Final: Patriots 38, Colts 24

11:34 p.m.: New England recovers the onside kick, effectively ending this game.

11:32 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, COLTS. Ebron, who is playing in place of the injured Jack Doyle, catches his second touchdown of the game. Patriots 38, Colts 24.

11:29 p.m.: It initially appeared that Luck had found Swoope for his second touchdown of the game, but Swoope was ruled down at the goal line. The Colts have a prime scoring chance, but with 1:28 remaining they're running out of time for any sort of comeback.

11:25 p.m.: After New England goes three-and-out, Indianapolis has the ball with its last chance to make this a game, although the game seems about over.

11:11 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, PATRIOTS. On the first play after the turnover, Sony Michel takes it to paydirt on a 34-yard run, highlighted by a nasty stiff arm. Patriots 38, Colts 17.

11:10 p.m.: INTERCEPTION, PATRIOTS. Luck's pass to Zach Pascal is dropped and falls into the hands of Jonathan Jones.

11:09 p.m.: The Colts go for it on fourth-and-5 and Luck completes the pass to Nyheim Hines for a first down.

11:01 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, PATRIOTS. Brady unloads one down the field and finds Josh Gordon, who is playing in his second career game as a Patriot, in the end zone for a 34-yard strike. It is Brady's 500th career touchdown pass. Patriots 31, Colts 17.

10:53 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, COLTS. Erik Swoope, who was just promoted from the practice squad, catches a 13-yard pass from Luck to put the Colts one possession behind. Patriots 24, Colts 17.

10:52 p.m.: Luck has completed his last four passes as the Colts are marching down the field.

End of third quarter: Patriots 24, Colts 10

10:40 p.m.: INTERCEPTION, COLTS. For the second time in as many drives, the Colts force a turnover. Najee Goode grabs the ball Gronkowski has it knocked out of his hands.

10:38 p.m.: Brady has made three straight completions and the Patriots are threatening. Rob Gronkowski looks to be limping but is staying in the game.

10:33 p.m.: FUMBLE, COLTS. Jordan Wilkins loses the ball and it's recovered by the Patriots' Devin McCourty.

10:29 p.m.: INTERCEPTION, COLTS. A good start to the drive is all for naught as Brady's pass goes off the hands of Chris Hogan and into the hands of Matthias Farley. The Colts will have a chance to make this a one-possession game.

10:21 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, COLTS. After the strong punt return, Indianapolis finds the end zone in just four plays on a Luck pass to Eric Ebron. Patriots 24, Colts 10.

10:16 p.m.: Chester Rogers takes a Pats punt to the New England 35. The Colts will be in prime position to put points up on the board.

10:10 p.m.: Another empty possession by the Colts. They have converted on just 28 percent of their third downs.

Halftime: Patriots 24, Colts 3

9:49 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, PATRIOTS. Gostkowski connects from 45 yards with 13 seconds remaining in the half. Brady is 23 of 27 for 203 yards over the first 30 minutes. Not too shabby. Patriots 24, Colts 3. 

9:45 p.m.: INTERCEPTION, PATRIOTS. Adrian Clayborn brings pressure on Luck, who is picked by Patrick Chung. New England will take over near midfield with 38 seconds left in the half and three timeouts.

9:39 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, PATRIOTS. Brady records his third touchdown of the half, a 6-yard pass to James White. It was White's eighth catch of the game. New England is firing on all cylinders and is in complete control right now. Patriots 21, Colts 3.

9:30 p.m.: Running back Sony Michel has led the Patriots inside the red zone as we hit the two-minute warning. Indianapolis' defense just doesn't look the same without rookie linebacker Darius Leonard. 

9:26 p.m.: A block in the back on a Colts punt has set New England back to start its drive, with 5:23 left on the clock. 

9:13 p.m.: Vinatieri redeems himself and connects from 54 yards. Luck once again started the drive strong but couldn't connect on his final two passes.  Patriots 14, Colts 3. 

9:04 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, PATRIOTS. It takes three tries, but the Patriots finally get in the end zone from the goal line on a Brady sneak. It's now a two-possession game.  Patriots 14, Colts 0. 

End of first quarter: Patriots 7, Colts 0

8:52 p.m.: After an impressive start to the drive, Luck can't complete back-to-back passes in the end zone. Adam Vinatieri follows that up with a missed 38-field goal attempt. 

8:44 p.m.: New England's drive stalls after Edelman drops a wide-open pass that would have put the Patriots in field goal range. Colts linebacker Anthony Walker has left the game with an injury.

8:37 p.m.: The Colts could not have looked more different than the Patriots on their first drive. They go three-and-out, capped by a sack and a dropped pass.

8:30 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, PATRIOTS. A methodical 12-play drive ends in a 1-yard touchdown pass from Brady to Cordarrelle Patterson to put New England up. Brady was 9 of 9 for 78 yards on the drive. He looks good, to say the least.  Patriots 7, Colts 0. 

8:24 p.m.: The Patriots' first play of the game is a completion from Brady to Edelman. The familiar duo is clicking right off the bat.

8 p.m.: A pair of New England Super Bowl heroes meet up. 

7:41 p.m.: Here are the inactives for tonight's contest. Indianapolis will be without two of its best receiving options: T.Y. Hilton and Jack Doyle. 

Jacob Janower