Gronkowski’s 3 TDs lead Pats over Colts 31-24

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Rob Gronkowski caught two touchdown passes then scored on a lateral and the New England Patriots withstood a fourth-quarter rally to keep the Indianapolis Colts winless with a 31-24 victory Sunday.

Trailing 31-3, the Colts rallied with a touchdown run by Donald Brown and two scoring passes from Dan Orlovsky to Pierre Garcon, the last a 40-yarder with 36 seconds to go. But Deion Branch recovered the onside kick and Tom Brady took a knee on the final play.

The Patriots (9-3) posted their fourth straight win and improved to 38-5 in December starting in 2001. The Colts (0-12) must beat Baltimore, Tennessee, Houston or Jacksonville to avoid a winless season.