INDIANAPOLIS — Emerging from the tunnel after halftime, Patriots tight ends coach Brian Daboll appeared to bend the ear of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
Only they know what the conversation was about, but it may have had to do with the number of targets the tight ends received over the first 30 minutes of the Patriots’ 34-27 win Sunday night over the Colts.
That number was two.
The only reception was a 14-yarder from Tom Brady to Scott Chandler. Rob Gronkowski, who normally tears up the Colts, was targeted once. Perhaps it was no coincidence that the Patriots were trailing, 21-20, at the time.
Not for long.
The Patriots shifted away from their receivers to start the second half — Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman combined for 10 catches for 135 yards on 16 targets — and went to the tight ends to open the second half.
Brady hit Chandler for a 25-yard gain on the second play after intermission. Three plays later, he hit Gronkowski for 10 yards.
Then, two plays later, working from under center, Brady dropped back and hit Gronkowski across the middle. The big bruiser ran past several would-be tacklers and into the end zone.
The jovial one treated the 66,726 in attendance to a super Gronk spike. They didn’t seem to enjoy it as much as he did.
Coach Bill Belichick said there was no grand plan to ignore the tight ends in the first half. The strategy evolved from what the Colts were doing.
“It kind of worked out that way, a little more man coverage in the second half,’’ said Belichick. “They started out in a lot of zone coverage, three-man rush early in the game. As the game went on, they went to less three-man rush and more man-to-man.’’
Whatever, said Gronkowski. As in whatever the defense wants to give, the Patriots will take. If it means going to the receivers — Amendola ended up with seven catches for 105 yards and Edelman added a half-dozen grabs for 50 yards and a touchdown — letting the running backs carry the day, or targeting him and his fellow tight ends, he’ll take it.
“We were just playing together as a team,’’ said Gronkowski. “Not really worried about [targets]. Just going out and doing my job. Blocking, running routes. Just worried about going out there and doing what I gotta do.’’
Gronkowski was doing all those things well against a Colts defense that was getting on him at the snap. He helped pave the way for the Patriots to rush for 65 yards in the first half.
“It just is what it is,’’ said Gronkowski. “When my number’s called, I just gotta make a play. If it’s not, I just gotta run a good route. It’s a team game. Just gotta go out there and do my job. Blocking, receiving, whatever it is.’’
Gronkowski, always one to deflect credit to others, was very impressed with the work of the people in the trenches.
“Lot of people filling in [on that offensive line],’’ he said. “Marcus [Cannon] went down, Nate Solder went down last week, and the offensive line did a great job. You have to give credit to that offensive line. We did a great job protecting Tom and we did a great job running the ball.’’
Gronkowski also credited Brady with steadily guiding the offense.
“Tom did a great job. Physical toughness. Mental toughness. He just went out there and performed,’’ he said.
Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globejimmcbride.