Marshawn Lynch (left) of the Seattle Seahawks scores a touchdown against Corey White of the New Orleans Saints in Seattle on Saturday (US time). Photo: AFP

The New England ­Patriots and Seattle Seahawks each moved within one victory of the Super Bowl after National Football League home playoff triumphs on Saturday (US time) in wet and windy conditions.

LeGarrette Blount ran for 166 yards and four touchdowns to spark the Patriots over the Indianapolis Colts 43-22 while Marshawn Lynch ran for 148 yards and two touchdowns to spark ­Seattle past the New Orleans Saints 23-15.

New England's defense inter­cepted four Andrew Luck passes while the offense ground out 234 rushing yards.

"We've done a really great job of that," said ­Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. "We have been a great running team. It has really been a strength.

"If we don't make mistakes we're tough to beat."

Brady completed 13-of-25 passes for 198 yards in his record-stretching 18th career playoff victory while coach Bill Belichick's 19th playoff win put him one shy of former Dallas coach Tom Landry's all-time record.

Luck was 20-of-41 for 331 yards but could not rally the Colts once New England jumped ahead early.

"We couldn't get over the hump and we paid for it," Luck said. "They do a good job of disrupting things and they have a great pass rush."

The Seahawks denied a late comeback bid by Saints quarterback Drew Brees and moved within one victory of their first trip to the Super Bowl since losing to Pittsburgh in 2006.

"It's only a first step but it's a hell of a first step," said Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.

Blount scored on three two-yard runs in the first half, sparking New England to a 21-7 lead, and had a 73-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Luck threw touchdown ­passes of 35 and 38 yards to wide ­receiver LaVon Brazill.

The Colts used two Adam Vinatieri field goals and a ­safety to pull within 21-15 but New England's Stevan Ridley had touchdown runs of one and three yards in the second half and Indianapolis could not close the gap.

In Seattle, the Seahawks took support from their notoriously loud fans and improved to 16-1 at home in the past two seasons.

Lynch, who carried the ball 28 times, scored on a 15-yard run in the second quarter and Steven Hauschka kicked field goals of 26, 38 and 49 yards to give the Seahawks a 16-0 half-time lead.

That was the same score entering the fourth quarter, the Seahawks' NFL-best scoring defense leaving the Saints without a point through three quarters for the first time since 2002.

"Our defense was relentless the whole game," Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson said.

"I'm proud of the way our guys competed. But we weren't able to get it done," said Saints coach Sean Payton.

"They are a tough defense and have been all season long, and force you to be really ­patient with what you're doing."

AFP - Global Times