INDIANAPOLIS - Chuck Pagano came to Indianapolis making the case for a robust defence.Now the Colts coach has the proof he needs to demonstrate its working.The stats have improved, the game tapes look better and a suddenly stout defence is one of the major reasons the Colts are playing for their third AFC title Sunday at New England.Were playing better run defence now than we ever have, Pagano said Monday after shutting down Denver 24-13 in an AFC divisional-round win one day earlier.Weve got to prepare the same way we prepared last week. Weve got to do a better job because if were not able to stop the run, were not going to have a chance.Until Pagano arrived three years ago, it was a mantra that rang hollow.But evidence shows thats not the case anymore.In 2013, Indianapolis allowed 125.1 yards rushing per game, 26th in the league. This season, they trimmed that number to 113.4 yards and jumped to No. 18.In the playoffs, the Colts have been even better. Against two of the hottest backs in the league, Cincinnatis Jeremy Hill and Denvers C.J. Anderson, the Colts allowed a meagre 198 yards rushing in two games. The per-game average of 99.0 yards is the lowest among the four teams still playing on championship weekend.Indys pass defence has been even stingier.On Sunday, the Colts secondary challenged Peyton Manning with press coverage. Manning finished 26 of 46 for 211 yards with one touchdown and lost a fumble.We disguised a lot and we ran to the ball. As a group, we didnt stop, safety Mike Adams said. We did great things and we didnt let the ball over our head. The corners did a great job. We really shut down the deep balls.How did the Colts make such a dramatic shift in just three years? By getting bigger and stronger up front.In 2012, Indy started the conversion by signing free agent defensive end Cory Redding, drafting rookie defensive tackle Josh Chapman, moving Robert Mathis to outside linebacker and adding inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman from the CFL.General manager Ryan Grigson then traded a second-round pick to Miami for cornerback Vontae Davis, who has blossomed into a Pro Bowler.In 2013, Grigson continued to follow the long-range plan by singing defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois, safety LaRon Landry, cornerback Greg Toler and outside linebacker Erik Walden in free agency and taking outside linebacker Bjoern Werner in the first round of the draft. All five are starters.Last summer, Grigson added three more starters in free agency — inside linebacker DQwell Jackson, defensive tackle Arthur Jones and safety Mike Adams — and found a budding pass rusher in outside linebacker Jonathan Newsome, a fifth-round draft pick.Pagano likes the results.Getting Art back and healthy, hes playing at a high level right now. Everybodys doing their job, Pagano said. The execution is really good. Guys are getting off blocks. Were tackling, were tackling better. Were not giving up the long (plays), we had a couple get out on us yesterday, but not giving up big plays.Being better still might not be good enough this weekend, though.The AFC South champs face Tom Brady on his home turf, where he is 13-3 in the post-season and 3-0 against Indy thanks in large part to a formula the Colts havent yet figured out.Last year, LeGarrette Blount piled up 166 yards rushing and four touchdowns in a 43-22 divisional-round rout. In November, the Patriots got a career-high 201 yards and four more touchdowns from unheralded running back Jonas Gray in a 42-20 victory.This time might not be the same.I think, like most good teams do as the season progresses, they just continue to get better, Patriots offensive co-ordinator Josh McDaniels said. Theyre very aggressive with, not only pressuring, but also man-to-man coverage. Theyll get up there and play tight and jam and disrupt the passing game that way. And its a physical group.The Colts, of course, will focus on stopping the run first this weekend.That mission could be complicated by Bradys efficiency and the matchup problem theyll have against tight end Rob Gronkowski.But the Colts see this game in simpler terms. One more win in a hostile venue will give them a trip to the Super Bowl.Stats and all the other stuff doesnt matter, Redding said. The only stat that matters is a W or an L. So right now our main focus is to prepare the best way we know how, get the game plan and go into Foxborough (Massachusetts), try to execute it to a T and get the W.___Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Martin Hanzal Stars Jersey .35 million, avoiding arbitration. Davis led the majors last season with 53 home runs and 138 RBIs, both career highs. He earned $3. Alexander Radulov Stars Jersey . The Blue Jackets announced the injury through their official Twitter account Friday afternoon. Gaborik, 31, has scored five goals and six assists in 17 games with the Blue Jackets in 2013-14. http://www.thedallasstarshockey.com/jaro...-hockey-jersey/. His second visit, not so much. Roark (7-5) allowed four runs on 10 hits and one walk over six innings in a 7-2 setback in front of several friends and family members, as the Cubs snapped his personal streak of four consecutive victories on Friday. Ben Bishop Stars Jersey . Carling Bassett-Seguso was a world No. 8 almost 30 years ago. Currently 13th, Bouchard is assured of equalling that when the next rankings are released Monday. Bobby Smith Stars Jersey . - Alex Dostie scored two goals and assisted on another to lead the Gatineau Olympiques to a 5-3 victory over the Drummondville Voltigeurs in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action on Sunday.SHANGHAI - Canadas Charles Hamelin and Marianne St-Gelais won silver medals Saturday at the ISU short-track speedskating World Cup.Hamelin, from Sainte-Julie, Que., finished second in the mens 1,500 metres while St-Gelais, from Saint-Felicien, Que., was second in the womens 500 metres. Hamelin was just behind South Koreas Sin Da Woon, who won in two minutes 16.943 seconds. Hamelin was next in 2:17.041 and John-Henry Krueger of the United States was third in 2:17.169.I skated well in the final, I was able to manage my energy level well, said Hamelin. The Korean skater was in front with four laps to go and he was able to finish it off with strong skating, while I had just enough legs to be able to stay with him. So I mainly worked on protecting my position.It was Hamelins second medal of thee World Cup season.dddddddddddd He won a silver in the 1,500 at the season-opening event in Salt Lake City.St-Gelais finished second behind Chinas Fan Kexin, who won in 43.272 seconds. The Canadian was next in 43.361 and South Koreas Kim Alang was third in 43.458.I wanted to try to do something to overtake the Chinese skater, but I still cant find that switch, it seems, that would allow me to react at the right time, said St-Gelais. I thought about it, I saw the openings and I adapted my line to be able to do it. But I wasnt able to take advantage of it.But I was right there, I was able to stay with her. I just need to find a way to push it a little more.It was her fourth individual medal of the season. Also Saturday, both Canadian relay teams qualified for Sundays finals. ' ' '