FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) – Antowain Smith is going back to Houston on a roll.

New England’s running back had been inconsistent all season but rushed for 100 yards on 22 carries, outgaining Edgerrin James, in the Patriots 24-14 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday’s AFC championship game.

“It was something that we needed today,” Smith said of a running attack that produced 112 yards.

Now he and the Patriots are headed to the Super Bowl in the city where he played college ball at Houston.

“He said he wanted to get 100 on his way back to Houston. That’s a goal for us every week,” Patriots tackle Matt Light said. “When that big dude gets rolling, good things happen.”

By controlling the ball, the Patriots could keep Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning on the sidelines.

Smith had gained more than 60 yards just once in the first 14 games of the season but has done that in all four games since then.

James, who rushed for 125 yards a week earlier in a 38-31 win over Kansas City, gained 78 yards on 19 carries against the Patriots as the game-long deficit forced the Colts to pass more.

Review revisted

Referee Walt Coleman from Tom Brady’s “tuck rule” game two years ago was in charge again Sunday when another controversial call against the New England quarterback was reviewed.

This one also went his way.

Officials ruled that he had fumbled the ball away with the Patriots leading Indianapolis 21-14 with 1:20 left in Sunday’s win over the Colts.

But a video review showed Brady’s knee had hit the ground before he lost the ball, depriving the Colts of a chance to start a potential tying drive at about the New England 20.

Adam Vinatieri followed with a 33-yard field goal that finished the scoring.

Punting problem

The Colts were about to attempt their first punt in their three playoff games on their third possession Sunday but Hunter Smith kicked the ball the wrong way.

With the ball at the Indianapolis 35-yard line, Justin Snow’s long snap sailed throw the snowflakes over Smith’s head. Smith ran after it, reached it at about the 5 and kicked it out of the end zone for a safety that gave the Patriots a 15-0 lead with 4:08 left in the half.

It was the first safety scored by the Patriots in the 22 playoff games in their history.

Fast start

The Patriots scored on their first possession for the fifth consecutive game and haven’t trailed in their last seven games.

As usual, Brady was the key player as he completed six of eight passes for 51 yards on the drive.

, capped by a 7-yard scoring pass to David Givens. On the 13-play drive, Givens caught four passes for 26 yards.

Stokley plays

Colts wide receiver Brandon Stokley had three catches in a game the team wasn’t sure he would play in a few days ago.

On Tuesday, his infant son was hospitalized with an undisclosed illness, and on Friday, Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy said he didn’t know whether Stokley would play against the Patriots.

But Stokley did, finishing with 22 yards receiving.

Stokley had three touchdown catches in the Colts’ two playoff victories. He missed practice Wednesday.

, returned for about half of the two-hour practice Thursday afternoon and worked out with his teammates Friday.

AP-ES-01-18-04 2058EST