ESPN NFL

The New England Patriots have long been ridiculed for their lack of a substantial running game. The abuse has been warranted because the Pats have one of the worst rushing attacks in the league. During an eight-game stretch near the end of the regular season New England averaged 79.1 yards a game and an anemic 2.6 yards per carry.

But things have been different lately. Over their last four games the Patriots have averaged 118 yards a contest and a far more respectable 3.9 yards per carry. They've been able to do this because they've made more of a commitment to the run, but Sunday they were able to use the art of deception to help RB Antowain Smith eclipse the century mark.

The Colts have aggressive defensive ends and the Patriots thought they could use that to their advantage by running the draw play. They were right. And that's a plan that might also work against their Super Bowl opponent, the Carolina Panthers.

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