PATRIOTS BEAT COLTS

New England quarterback Jim Plunkett yesterday passed for 194 yards to lead the Patriots to a 27-17 victory over the Baltimore Colts.

The victory ended New England's three-game losing streak and, with the Patriots' 7-4 record, kept alive its chances for a wild card playoff berth in the American Conference.

Plunkett completed 17 of 26 passes with no interceptions, including a two-yard scoring toss to John Tanner that ended a scoreless deadlock in the second quarter.

Plunkett also plunged over from the one-yard line and John Smith booted a 33-yard field goal for a 17-3 halftime lead.