Patriots stunned by Colts in 25-24 home loss
The New England Patriots fell to 3-10 on the 2024 season with a devastating 25-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson threw a fourth-down touchdown pass with just 17 seconds left in regulation, then Colts head coach Shane Steichen decided to go for the go-ahead two-point try. Richardson carried the ball and successfully powered into the end zone for the conversion, and the Patriots’ final offensive drive came up short to seal their 10th loss.
Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye finished the game 24-of-30 passing for 238 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, a 96.9 passer rating, in the tough-luck losing effort. His pick was the result of a drop off the hands of tight end Hunter Henry.
The Patriots started off well on offense, driving 60 yards in seven plays before settling for a 35-yard field goal by Joey Slye. Sparking the drive was a field-flipping 32-yard run by Rhamondre Stevenson, and a trick play helped set up the Pats with first-and-goal from the seven-yard line.
Maye took an 11-yard sack on third down, stalling the drive from reaching the end zone.
The Pats defense couldn’t match the solid start that the offense had. Richardson drove his team 71 yards in eight plays all the way to the end zone, culminating with a seven-yard pass to a wide-open Jonathan Taylor for an easy touchdown, making it 7-3.
Maye got the next Patriots drive going with a 41-yard scramble, setting up first-and-10 from the Colts’ 24-yard line. Maye then completed two passes for 22 yards to make it first-and-goal from the two, but a holding penalty by right guard Mike Onwenu nullified what would’ve been a Stevenson touchdown run out of the “Wildcat” formation. Another hold, this time by left guard Layden Robinson, suddenly made it first-and-goal from the 22. The Patriots had to settle for another field goal, as the offensive penalties ultimately hurt them.
Then, the defense finally stepped up and made a big play. Linebacker Jahlani Tavai tipped a Richardson pass attempt into the air, and fellow LB Christian Elliss came down with it for the interception, giving the Patriots the ball back at the Colts’ 42-yard line.
The offense couldn’t move the ball enough to approach the end zone on the ensuing drive, but they did cash in for three points. Slye converted his third field goal of the day in less than 18 minutes of game time, this time from 54 yards, to make it 9-7 Patriots.
Richardson and the Colts promptly responded, and retook the lead. Set up at the Patriots’ 15-yard line by a 29-yard pass interference penalty by Tavai, Richardson eventually ran it in from three yards out to give his team a 14-9 lead.
Not to be outdone, the Patriots answered the Colts touchdown with their first of the day. They drove 70 yards in eight plays, including three runs for 25 yards on the ground. Maye finished the drive with a 16-yard strike to tight end Austin Hooper, who snuck around the pylon for six. The extra point was good and the Patriots went up 16-14, for the fifth lead change in just the first half.
The Patriots had a golden opportunity to extend their lead before halftime, but questionable coaching decisions and sloppy execution doomed them. They opted for back-to-back running plays to use up their timeouts, making it third-and-3 from the Colts’ four-yard line with 27 seconds left. Maye scrambled and went down on the ensuing play, but a holding penalty by left tackle Vederian Lowe stopped the clock, and the Colts declined to force fourth down.
Slye could not make it four straight field goal conversions, as his end-of-half kick pushed wide left, keeping it 16-14 Patriots at halftime. The ugly end to the drive spoiled a strong drive by Maye, who was 5-of-6 for 62 yards.
The Colts got the ball to start the third quarter, and the Patriots defense bent but didn’t break. Indy drove all the way down to the Patriots’ seven-yard line, but New England cornerback Marcus Jones broke up Richardson’s potential touchdown pass attempt for rookie receiver Adonai Mitchell, forcing a field goal try. Colts kicker Matt Gay converted from 25 yards to put the Colts back on top, 17-16.
Maye led the Pats on another promising drive after that, save for one play in which Jacoby Brissett checked in on third-and-1, seemingly to show the threat of a quarterback sneak. But Maye and the Pats drove down to the Colts’ seven-yard line, including a third-down conversion that Mayo successfully challenged after Maye was initially ruled short of the line to gain.
Unfortunately, that’s when the Pats’ most disastrous play of the day took place. Maye’s pass attempt clanged off the hands of tight end Hunter Henry right at the goal line, and it popped into those of Colts safety Julian Blackmon for an interception.
Fortunately, the Patriots defense was able to get a stop on the ensuing Colts drive, as pressure by newcomer Yannick Ngakoue flushed Richardson out of the pocket and forced an errant third-down throw. Maye and the Patriots responded with a nine-play, 54-yard drive, culminating in a tough touchdown run by Antonio Gibson and a two-point conversion from Maye to Kayshon Boutte.
The Patriots defense again joined in on the playmaking on the next Colts drive, as cornerback Christian Gonzalez undercut a Richardson pass attempt intended for Alec Pierce and intercepted the ball, his second straight game with a takeaway.
The Patriots went three-and-out after the interception, giving the Colts another chance at a game-tying drive. Richardson responded, driving the Colts all the way to the end zone in an epic 19-play drive, finishing off with a touchdown pass to Pierce. Then, the Colts went for the bold two-point try, and converted, making it 25-24.
On the end-of-game drive, Maye completed two quick passes to set up a 68-yard field goal try for Slye to end the game. Slye made an admirable kick attempt, accurate but short by seemingly just a few yards.
With the loss, the Patriots are 3-10, and face a tough remaining slate of games, including two against the Buffalo Bills. Another win may not be coming, in a frustrating first season for head coach Jerod Mayo.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
