The rule is there’s a range of PSI (12.5 -13.5) and they can set it in that range. The refs “inspect” the balls before the game. then they go to the equipment guy. There’s been plenty of chatter over the years from various QBs about not particularly respecting the rule and having their equipment guys submit balls out of spec and hope the refs miss them (which apparently they do quite regularly). Nobody has admitted to having them tampered with after inspection, but the Viking and Panthers both got letters from the league when the cameras caught them aiming the sideline heaters into their bags. Apparently a lot of the guys don’t think the rules apply to them.
What’s interesting here is that the league decided to do this half-assed sting operation. The Colts warned the league before the game they felt the Pats deinflated balls. The league apparently decided to “investigate” with half time measurements (very outside the realm of normal procedure). But they didn’t actually bother to right down the measurements from the normal pre-game inspection, other than the official says they were “fine”. So we really don’t know how deflated they got. And they only got around to measuring 1/3 of the Colts balls during half time (again with no pre-game record), so we don’t really even know how the deflation compares, what could have been just normal use (Brady has commented in the past that Gronk spikes the ball so hard it loses air).
What we really know from this is Brady likes them below the legal limit, he complains a lot when they aren’t right, and he rewards the equipment guys with autographed swag when they are. That’s really what’s known. Oh, and it’s kind of a dumb rule and bad procedure that gives teams hours before and during the game to mess with the balls after ref approval.
The Patriots can't seem to win Playoff games on the road, but at home, they are a completely different team.
And little is being said about the deflated ball being easier for the running backs to carry so there are fewer fumbles.
Look at the amount of fumbles by the Patriots at home, it is nonexistent.