INDIANAPOLIS -- Observed and heard in the Indianapolis Colts’ locker room after their 42-20 loss to the New England Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Blow to the running game: Running back Ahmad Bradshaw was on crutches with a boot on his left foot when he departed the locker room after the game. He suffered what the Colts called a lower leg injury in the second half. Coach Chuck Pagano said Bradshaw, who wore sunglasses, possibly to hide his frustration, will have an MRI Monday. “To see a brother go down, especially one I’m around all day, every day, is real tough,” fellow running back Trent Richardson said. “That’s a brother, and it’s heartbreaking to see a guy down like that. We’re going to see what they say [Monday], but at the end of the day, we have his back. Whenever he gets ready to come back, if he does this year or next year, whenever it is, there’s going to be open doors for him.”

Allen also hurting: Bradshaw wasn’t the only Colt to leave the locker room in a walking boot. Tight end Dwayne Allen was also in one. He suffered an ankle injury in the first half and will undergo an MRI Monday.

Playing catch up doesn’t work: The Colts will learn one of these days that it's nearly impossible to beat the Patriots when they fall behind. Three games, three first-half deficits, three losses. “When you get behind and they make you one-dimensional, it’s extremely difficult,” Pagano said. “We just couldn’t come up with any answers. I don’t care who it is, especially the Patriots, it’s going to be really hard to play catch up and win a football game.”