INDIANAPOLIS – The pregame, deflate-gate inspired storylines here Sunday were simple: The New England Patriots were trying to humiliate the Indianapolis Colts by winning by 60 points and Indianapolis was trying to in turn humiliate New England by winning at all.

And then the Colts came out and humiliated themselves, although not by losing 34-27. Most teams lose to the 5-0 Patriots.

View photos Tom Brady and Bill Belichick notched another victory against the Colts on Sunday. (Getty Images) More

No, this was self-inflicted embarrassment via a late third-quarter "fake punt" decision that very well may be the most ill-conceived, if not worst executed, play in NFL history. It is, at the very least, in the running.

"Obviously it played a huge factor in this loss," Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. "That's all on me. I take full responsibility."

This was the situation: Colts ball on their own 37-yard line, 1:14 left in the third quarter. The score was Pats 27-21. This was a game, back and forth. Considering the recent history of New England blowout victories in this series, it was rather promising for Indianapolis.

And then it wasn't.

Rather than simply punt the ball away on fourth-and-3, Indy shifted almost its entire team to the right side, leaving the ball unattended in the middle of the field. That's when third-string wide receiver Griff Whalen assumed the role of center with safety Colt Anderson becoming the quarterback.

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They were alone, out on an island, yet didn't fool the Patriots one bit. New England immediately spread out along the line of scrimmage, planting players on either side of Whalen, a third just a yard back and two more in the area. This was essentially five on two, and since Whalen would have to snap he wasn't in any position to fully block. He also weighs 190 pounds. Maybe.

Gasps of confusion swept through Lucas Oil Stadium, as most expected the Colts to return to the normal formation or at least have Pagano call timeout because whatever Indy was up to, it was doomed for failure.

Instead nothing happened as the seconds slipped by. There was ample time to bail on the play. Indy didn't. Then Whalen snapped the ball to Anderson, who didn't take it cleanly (perhaps he was surprised). Patriot Brandon Bolden stepped up and immediately tackled Anderson in about the easiest fourth-down stoppage ever.

The refs threw flags all over the place because the rest of the Colts were lined up illegally, with not just too few guys on the line of scrimmage but lacking anyone on the left side of the football. Even if the play had somehow worked, it was completely ridiculous in its design.

The entire concept was a complete disaster.

New England declined the penalty, took over in prime field position and scored a few plays later on a Tom Brady touchdown pass to LeGarrette Blount.

It proved to be the winning points and even though Indy made a late push, at that moment, the game was effectively over. All the energy Colts fans brought to the stadium was gone as people took turns either laughing or cursing the ineptitude before them. Plenty of them, no doubt, began scrolling through their cell phones, as social media lit up with jokes.

So many Colts fans eventually bailed early, that when Indy rallied late and lined up for an onside kick that conceivably could have given them a chance to win or tie, the place was 25 percent of its capacity. They'd seen enough.

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