[stupac2]

I think the logic is that the Colts rely on their passing game more than the Patriots, so deflating the ball would have confered a larger benefit on the Patriots.  Plus, it is not like Bill Belichick doesn't have a history of playing fast and loose with the rules (remember Spygate?).  That being said, it would be pretty brazen for him to have tried to get away with that.

BC

What? First, each team has their own balls, so the benefit would only be conferred to the Patriots. Second, taking some pressure out helps the passing game (makes the ball easier to catch, apparently), so if your premise were true the conclusion would be backward.

Also, spygate is one of those things that's seriously overblown. The Patriots were just taping stuff from the wrong location. Everyone acts like it was some kind of serious espionage shit going on, but it really wasn't. The worst you can say about Belichick is that he pushes the boundaries of rules, but deflating balls isn't that at, it's clearly just against the rules. And to do it in this game, but not the Baltimore game? It just makes no sense. (I suppose you could say that they did it there too, but then why wasn't it caught? It's not like the defense had many more opportunities to handle the Pats' gameballs in this game.)

[stupac2]

I think the logic is that the Colts rely on their passing game more than the Patriots, so deflating the ball would have confered a larger benefit on the Patriots.  Plus, it is not like Bill Belichick doesn't have a history of playing fast and loose with the rules (remember Spygate?).  That being said, it would be pretty brazen for him to have tried to get away with that.

BC

What? First, each team has their own balls, so the benefit would only be conferred to the Patriots. Second, taking some pressure out helps the passing game (makes the ball easier to catch, apparently), so if your premise were true the conclusion would be backward.

Also, spygate is one of those things that's seriously overblown. The Patriots were just taping stuff from the wrong location. Everyone acts like it was some kind of serious espionage shit going on, but it really wasn't. The worst you can say about Belichick is that he pushes the boundaries of rules, but deflating balls isn't that at, it's clearly just against the rules. And to do it in this game, but not the Baltimore game? It just makes no sense. (I suppose you could say that they did it there too, but then why wasn't it caught? It's not like the defense had many more opportunities to handle the Pats' gameballs in this game.)