TD: Total Domination

LeGarrette Blount struggled to get out of his rain-soaked jersey and shoulder pads, but he slipped instantly into an AFC championship t-shirt. Then he shook his hair to get out the water and donned a championship cap.

“It’s feels awesome,” the 250-pound running back said after he rushed for 148 yards and three touchdowns Sunday night as the New England Patriots – doing what they had done before against the Indianapolis Colts – pounded the running game in a 45-7 romp in the AFC title game.

The Patriots advance to Super Bowl XLIX against the defending champion Seattle Seahawks. It will be New England’s eighth Super Bowl – but the first for Blount.

“I haven’t had a feeling like this since I’ve been in the league. It’s unreal,” said Blount, a fifth-year pro from Oregon.

“But we have one more to get.”

His situation was far different in November when he was by the Pittsburgh Steelers after a game in which he left the field early after getting no carries. He also had a preseason marijuana arrest in Pittsburgh.

He was quickly resigned by New England after playing for the Patriots last season before signing with Pittsburgh as a free agent.

“I’m grateful to get in this situation period, no matter where I’ve been,” said Blount.

“I love being here. I love my team. I love my guys, the coaches, Mr. Kraft (owner Robert Kraft), everybody. They welcomed me with open arms and it’s been an amazing run.”

Blount had just three carries for one yards in a playoff win a week earlier against the Baltimore Ravens in which the Patriots shut down the running game while playing catchup in the second half. In five regular season games this season with New England, Blount ran for 282 yards and three touchdowns.

But in the divisional playoffs last season, he ran for 166 yards and four touchdowns in a 43-22 win over Indianapolis.

Sunday night in the rain, he had 30 carries, a Patriots playoff record.

When did he find out he’d be carrying the load?

“Ah, when they started giving me the ball lot,” said Blount.

Shane Vereen started at running back for New England against the Colts. He had one carry for two yards with no complaints.

“The o-line did a great job. When somebody is running like LG was running and the o-line is opening up holes, how can you not (feed him)?” said Vereen.

Blount got extra help up front. Backup offensive tackle Cameron Fleming reported regularly as an eligible receiver and lined up as a second tight end, giving the Patriots seven big blockers across the front.

“It’s good to have him on the team,” said tackle Sebastian Vollmer. “He’s a big guy. He’s hard to tackle. He just runs hard. He’s an awesome guy to have around.”

On several plays, Blount started to one side and then cut back to the other for big gains.

“He can move. Don’t let the size fool you,” said Vollmer.

Colts defensive end Cory Redding said during the week that the Colts defense had gotten better since a November game this season when another Patriots’ back, Jonas Gray, ran for 201 yards and four touchdowns against the Colts.

“Fundamentals,” Redding said Sunday night. “You have to tackle and you have to wrap up, regardless of the atmosphere on the situations, you have to play good ball.”

Said Blount: “We planned to run the football. Whatever is working, we are going to do it.”