By Nick St. Denis
Rob Gronkowski is scoring so many receiving touchdowns that the refs are starting to categorize them.
Just kidding. Well, sort of.
Quarterback Tom Brady's favorite red zone target found the end zone via the air two times -- recording his 12th and 13th touchdown receptions of the season and seventh and eighth in the last five games -- as the Patriots defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 31-24.
That's not all. Gronkowski was also credited with a rushing touchdown, scoring on a pass from Brady that technically didn't go forward.
"I thought it was a forward pass -- I threw it," Brady told the media after the game.
Either way.
"I'm glad we scored," Brady, who was unaware at the time that the final Gronkowski score didn't count as a pass, said. "That was a good play, good blocking. They blocked well for him on that play. That was great."
Gronkowski gained 63 yards through the air, and Wes Welker led the Patriots in receiving with 110 yards. BenJarvus Green-Ellis added a rushing touchdown.
Colts quarterback Dan Orlovsky tossed a pair of touchdowns to Pierre Garcon, who gained 150 yards receiving in the game. Donald Brown added a score on the ground for the Colts.
The Patriots improved to 9-3 with the victory and all but have the AFC East won. They'll need a monumental collapse and a perfect run by the New York Jets to lose hold of the division.
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