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Patriots ready to throw out DeflateGate, fans holding on

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The Colts are preparing to take on the Patriots in Sunday’s first match up since last year’s DeflateGate scandal.

The Patriots’ players and their coaches won’t say anything about the Colts or DeflateGate. They say they are fully focused on football, but fans are telling a different story.

Fans on both sides are getting excited for the game at Lucas Oil Stadium. 

24-Hour News 8’s Chris Widlic traveled to Foxborough to see what fans there had to say about last year’s AFC Championship game.

Patriots’ fans are passionate and they are open and ready for football but they feel they have something to prove.

“There is a lot of emotion with this game; we have to prove something,” a fan told Widlic inside the Patriots’ Pro Shop.

Another fan said, “We can win. We don’t have to deflate balls to win. It comes down to coaching, determination and skill.”

Widlic also spoke with a fan who is heading to the game. He said he wouldn’t miss it for the world after what the Colts did to his quarterback.

The average score in this matchup in the Luck-Pagano era is 47-18. But New England running back LeGarrette Blount says big deal.

“We’ve put that in the past,” says the back who’s scored multiple times on the Colts. “I know they’ve forgotten about it. They’re trying to beat us like we’re trying to beat them, with new teams.”

The Patriots are also expecting the unexpected, especially on defense, not knowing who might start at quarterback.

“Luck is great at keeping plays alive,” said safety Devin McCourty. “Hasselbeck has seen and done it all with a very different style, so we’ve got to get ready for whatever they come with at quarterback.”

“I’ll give you the company line,” said the all-pro. “It’s the best way to stay out of trouble.”