Patriots used Colts’ footballs in first half

The New England Patriots apparently used properly inflated footballs for more than just the second half of the AFC Championship Game.

Indianapolis Colts linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, who is said to have made the interception that sparked suspicions that the Patriots were using under-inflated balls, told NFL Media’s Jeff Darlington on Thursday that he noticed New England’s offense using Indy’s game balls at one point during the first half.

According to Jackson, there was a delay during a television timeout in the first half that prompted him to approach an official and ask what was going on. He was told that the refs were trying to locate a usable ball, which he found strange. He realized the Patriots were using Colts footballs after that.

Jackson’s revelation raises a couple of interesting questions. For starters, who tipped the officials off that something might be going on? Jackson insisted that he was only looking to keep his interception as a souvenir and could not tell if the ball was under-inflated. He said he knew nothing about the controversy until the flight home.

“I wouldn’t know how that could even be an advantage or a disadvantage,” Jackson explained. “I definitely wouldn’t be able to tell if one ball had less pressure than another.”

A previous report indicated that the Colts were concerned about the Patriots using under-inflated balls when the two teams met back in November. Jay Glazer of FOX Sports also reported that the Baltimore Ravens tipped off the Colts before the AFC Championship. Perhaps the Colts were simply waiting to get their hands on one of New England’s balls, and Jackson’s interception provided them with the opportunity.

As we mentioned before, it’s possible the NFL treated the game like a sting operation and didn’t inform the Patriots that they were being watched.

In addition, Jackson’s observation that the Patriots were using Indy’s game balls is further proof that Deflategate had zero impact on the outcome of the game. Tom Brady completed 12 of 14 passes for 155 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the second half after New England’s illegal balls were taken out of play. And if he used some of the Colts’ balls for the first half, it would appear that New England benefitted even less than we initially thought.