Quite true - but the game balls had just spent two hours in the cooler temperatures, and the halftime break is brief. So the footballs themselves and the air they contained was at or near game time conditions. The introduction of a little air prior to return to the field of play would have little effect on the “conditioned” footballs. Thus, little or no change in their condition throughout and after the second half of play.
They did not reinflate the balls. They used the reserve balls for the second half.
Ok. But the officials measure and mark all balls prior to the game. This includes the Colts’. They stand there with a little electric air pump. I saw a behind the scenes video for another game. I find it highly implausible that they’d have 11 of 12 at the very bottom of the range for the pats, but have 12 of 12 at the very highest edge of the range for the colts. I just don’t see it. If you could show me even that two or three Colts balls were below spec, I could give nature more credence here.
This is walking and quacking like a duck. I’m calling it a duck.