The Patriots are headed back to the Super Bowl, for the sixth time in the Brady-Belichick era (a record for a quarterback-coach combination), where they will play former New England coach Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks on February 1st at 6:30 p.m. ET in Glendale, Arizona. They defeated the Indianapolis Colts with a convincing 45-7 victory, scoring 28 unanswered points in the second half, including another trick play that saw tackle Nate Solder catch a touchdown pass.

Starting with a fortunate turnover on the part of the Colts in the first quarter (Josh Cribbs couldn’t field a punt and the Patriots recovered in Indianapolis territory), Brady and the offense struck first.

LeGarrett Blount scored the first of what would be three touchdowns.

And while Indianapolis briefly answered in the second quarter to make it 14-7, that was as close as the game got. The revamped Patriots defense tore through the Colts offense, not allowing Andrew Luck any openings for his normally high-powered passing game.

Blount also continued to rampage through the Colts’ defense, making tacklers miss and running them over:

He celebrated in style after his second touchdown, striking a pose with the end zone militia:

Solder, a former college tight end-turned-left tackle, lined up as an eligible receiver and caught a touchdown pass on the second half’s opening drive.

Making the score 24-7, Solder’s touchdown allowed the New England pass rush to get after Luck, who would throw eventual interceptions to Darrelle Revis and Jamie Collins. Now in the Super Bowl, the Patriots will face the Seahawks, who won in miraculous fashion over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game earlier on Sunday, 28-22.

And while the Patriots are clearly “on to Seattle,” as Bill Belichick was quick to decree, there was still time for some grade-A Gronkowski celebrating:

Image via Keith Allison, CC By SA 2.0