Gordon TD aids Pats

Receiver comes up clutch to stifle Colts

FOXBORO — Everything was setting up for a Patriots blowout, but after a sluggish third quarter there was some unexpected drama at Gillette Stadium.

Then Josh Gordon happened.

Tom Brady stood patiently in the pocket, scanned the field, and uncorked a deep ball into the end zone. Gordon, blanketed by Colts defensive backs Chris Milton and Matthias Farley, leaped over both to pull down the ball for a gamesealing touchdown with 9:19 remaining in the 38-24 victory last night.

Farley threw his hands up in disbelief. There wasn’t much else to do.

Indy had held Gordon in check to that point — one catch on three targets — but this 34-yard touchdown was the back-breaker.

And after jumping out to a 24-3 lead, the Pats survived a scare from a feisty Colts team. The Pats will now have 10 days off before a showdown against Pat Mahomes and the Chiefs’ juggernaut offense.

Last night, the Pats faced a Colts team that, well, wasn’t quite at juggernaut status. Indy limped in, having ruled out seven players. They lost a couple more along the way. They remained competitive, though, and moved the ball on the Pats defense despite limited offensive weapons.

Andrew Luck had much success targeting tight ends Eric Ebron and Erik Swoope against safety Devin McCourty.

The Pats’ momentum stalled in the third quarter after two Brady interceptions, neither the quarterback’s fault. Chris Hogan let a ball slip through his hands and into the arms of Farley with 6:57 left in the third. On the next possession, Rob Gronkowski couldn’t corral a pass down the middle. The ball popped into the air and was picked off by linebacker Najee Good.

The Colts capitalized on the turnover and drove 80 yards for a score that narrowed the deficit to 24-17.

On cue, the Pats answered with Brady’s touchdown bomb to Gordon, the 500th TD pass of Brady’s career.

In his first game back from suspension, Julian Edelman caught seven passes for 57 yards.

STAFF PHOTO BY MATT STONE ON A GOOD RUN: Sony Michel looks to elude the tackle attempt of the Colts’ Arthur Maulet during last night’s game at Gillette Stadium. Michel scored a fourth-quarter touchdown to help seal the Patriots’ 3824 victory.

STAFF PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER EVANS JUST CATCHING UP: Julian Edelman congratulates Cordarrelle Patterson on his touchdown in the first quarter of the Patriots’ 38-24 victory against the Colts last night at Gillette Stadium.