No the Colts would not have benefited equally. As the NFL rules stipulates each team is allowed to present their own footballs. Thus the Colts more than likely did not use the same football that was used by the other team. This is for all games. The Colts played lousy and should have lost the game. I am a Colts fan but I personally think the Pats did not need to deflate the balls to win that game.
However, to cheat is to steal, its wrong and therefore the punishment should be extremely harsh at this level if found guilty. I would even say if found guilty the coach should be within an inch of being thrown out of the game for life and if he is found guilty in one more incident of cheating , should be gone entirely to never coach another game of football again and not be allowed into the Football Hall of Fame, except to be distinguished as getting thrown out of football for cheating.
Agreed