Patriots 17 vs. 27 Colts summary: stats, scores and highlights | NFL Week 15
The Indianapolis Colts sent a message to the rest of the league by beating the New England Patriots, snapping their seven game winning streak. Jonathan Taylor ran for 170 yards and a touchdown in the Colts 27-17 win on Saturday night.
IND vs. NE rivalry is back
The Patriots and the Colts used to be one of the rivalries of the AFC when Tom Brady and Peyton Manning were under center for their respective teams. Saturday night’s game felt like the rivalry had been rekindled as a playoff atmosphere was palpable at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The first quarter ended with a scoring explosion by the Indianapolis Colts. It started with an eight play, five minute scoring drive capped off by Nyheim Hines’ eight yard touchdown reception. On the next series the Colts came up with a stop, and Matthew Allen blocked the punt which was recovered by E.J. Speed. In a matter of three minutes the game went from scoreless to 14-0 in favor of the home team.
Defense stepped in after two quick TDs
After a Michael Badgley field goal and with the big early lead, the Colts defense was allowed to take charge and they made life awfully difficult for New England quarterback Mac Jones. The Patriots struggled to move the ball on the Indy defense until their final possession of the second quarter.
Jones marched the Pats down the field, and it looked like Belichick’s men were finally going to get on the board, but Darius Leonard picked off the Patriots quarterback and the Colts lead at halftime was 17-0.
Despite a virtually non existent first half on the offensive end, New England’s defense kept them in the game. After the opening touchdown drive the Pats locked down Jonathan Taylor and Carson Wentz for the second and third quarter.
Pats held scoreless until the fourth quarter
The Colts opened the second half by intercepting Mac Jones deep in Patriots territory. Wentz and the Indy offense could only manage a field goal after getting great field position following the turnover.
Down 20-0 entering the fourth quarter there was a sense that if the Patriots could get their offense going they might have a chance with how well their defense was playing.
On the first play of the final quarter Mac Jones hit Hunter Henry for the Patriots first score of the game. Three plays later a Devin McCoutry interception injected a dose of life into a once flat lined Patriots team. On the ensuing drive the Pats brought the ball all the way down to the IND 2 yard line, but a false start sent New England back to the 7 and after a failed 3rd down conversion the Patriots kicked the field goal to cut the lead to 20-10 with under nine minutes to play.
Henry and Jones almost enough for Pats comeback bid
New England got another stop on the next Colts drive and seven plays later it was Henry with his second touchdown catch of the fourth quarter with 2:21 to go in the game.
The Colts got the ball and if they could pick up a couple of first downs they would be able to end the Pats comeback bid. Jonathan Taylor did more than just pick up a couple of first downs, he broke a 67 yard touchdown run to crush and chance the Patriots had to make a miraculous fourth quarter comeback.
Taylor ended the game with 170 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries, while Carson Wentz played a back seat role, going 5/12 for 57 yards with a touchdown and a pick.
The Colts currently have the first Wild Card spot in the AFC after the win, whle the Patriots lost ground in the race for home field advantage in the conference.
Jones hit Henry for the second time in the fourth quarter and the Patriots closed the one time 20 point gap to 3.
McCoutry came up with the pick and the Patriots looked like they were on the comeback trail, but the Patriots settled for a field goal.
Okereke with an acrobatic interception on the first drive of the third quarter. Nothing was going right for the Patriots up until this point.
COLTS WIN!!!
Jones' pass to Olszewski is incomplete on 4th down and the Colts survive a scare thanks to Jonathan Taylor!
Indy take it 27-17 and they currently hold the top spot in the Wild Card race.
Bolden on the screen pass takes the Pats to the 50 yard line.
TOUCHDOWN COLTS!!!
Taylor busts a 67 yaed touchdown run to end this game. And who else was it going to be? The leagues best running back takes this game on his shoulders and stretches this game out to a two possession game.
27-17 the Colts are back in control.
Dulin stopped on the jet sweep and the Pats take thier last timeout of the night.
They decide to kick it deep and the Colts will have the ball with 2:16 to go from the IND 31.
TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS!!!
Jones hits Henry for the second time this quarter!!! 7 yard TD pass from Jones with 2:21 to go in the fourth quarter.
IND leads 20-17, and what do the Pats do here with one timeout
It's 3rd and Goal with 2:25 to go after a couple incomplete passes from Jones.
Jones airs it out and he finds Harry for a 43 yard gain, and add 15 more yards after the roughing the passer penalty.
The Pats have 1st and Goal from the IND 7
`Henry picks up a 1st down, but it's coming after offsetting penalties and we will replay 3rd and 6 from the NE 43
Jones hits Bourne with a bullet for 20 yards.
The Pats will start their drive from the NE 16 after the fair catch. 3:48 to go in the fourth quarter.
The Patriots come up with the stop they needed and take a time out. 4th down coming up with 3:55 to go.
3rd and long coming up for the Colts after Taylor is wrapped up in the backfield. Pats take a timeout. with 4:00 to go.
Timeout IND with under 5 minutes to go.
Wentz on the QB sneak yet again and he picks up the 4th and 1 conversion for the third time today.
Huge play and a huge call by the Colts.
Taylor is denied on 3rd and 1 and the Colts have a decision to make from the own 44
It's time for the Colts to put Taylor to work. They have a 10 point lead and now they need to wind some time off the clock.
FIELD GOAL PATRIOTS!!
Folk hits the 25 yard field goal and it's 20-10 from Lucas Oil Stadium.
Interesting choice to take the field goal there, that means the Pats still need two scores.
On 4th and goal the Patriots will try a FG.
The Pats with a false start on 3rd down and Goal from the 2 yard ilne, That will back them up to the 7 and it's four down territory.
Bourne on the reverse busts an 18 yard run and the Pats have 1st and Goal from the IND 4.
Jones hits Meyers on a crossing pattern and the Patriots extend their drive with over 10 minutes to go.
Stevenson is stopped on 3rd and 1 from the IND 32 and that brings up a huge 4th down
Big first down pick up by Boldin who made the catch in the flat and it was a foot race to the marker. 1st and 10 for the Pats in IND territory.
INTERCEPTION PATRIOTS!!!
Wentz is picked off by McCourty after the deflection by Collins.
The Patriots will start their drive from the NE 47. That was exactly what the New England needed with 13:25 to go in the fourth quarter.
Wentz hits Hilton on a crossing route, and that was a big 1st down to break some of the momentum the Patriots were starting to get.
TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS!!!
Jones finds Henry in the endzone on a 12 yard pass from the crossing route and the Patriots are finally on the board.
Colts are still in command leading 20-7 over New England.
We are headed to the fourth quarter and the Patriots are still looking for their first points of the game down 20-0
Smith ran it to the inch line on the run to the right side, but a holding call would have brough a 1st and 18 from the IND 20, but a false start brings them back to the 25.
A grown man catch by Henry on 3rd and 4 after Jones throws across his body and Henry boxed out the defender.
1st down and 10 from the IND 23.
Agholor with a big catch for 10 yards, but pays the price after getting crushed.
New England are in IND territory for the first time since the interception late in the 2nd quarter.
The Colts are stopped again after getting the ball with great field position.
Badgley misses the 49 yard field goal wide left and the Pats take over with a chance to cut into the lead.
There was skermish between Dugger and Pittman and both have been ejected after the fight.
Wentz is stopped on 3rd and 4 a yard short of the first down marker, and Wentz picks up the 4th down conversion after his second QB sneak of the game.
1st and 10 from the NE 36
TURNOVER ON DOWNS!!!
Jones throwing on 4th and short, and he skies it over the head of Agholor. Turnover on downs and the Colts come up with a huge stop again.
Nothing is working for New England at the moment. Colts ball from the NE 47.
Agahlor makes the catch on 3rd and 11, but he is a yard short of the marker. 4th and 1 coming up and the Pats will go for it
A block in the back on NE's Bourne will complicate the drive for the Pats. 2nd and 20 coming up for the Patriots.
The Pats just avoid another turnover as Stevenson fumbled, but it was recovered by Smith.
That could be a play to look back on if the Pats can comeback in this game.
For as poorly as NE is playing their defense is keeping them in the game. They stop the Colts after the interception, and they weren't resposible for the punt blocked for a TD.
FIELD GOAL COLTS!!!
Badglet missed the FG from 46 yards, but an offsides flag gives Badgley another try from 41 and he hits it.
Colts lead the Patriots 20-0 with 11:49 to go in the third quarter.
Wentz brought down in the backfield by Wise on 3rd down and the Colts will settle for a field goal.
This is the largest lead the Colts have had on the Patriots since 2004.
INTERCEPTION COLTS!!!
Jones is picked off Okereke on 3rd and short!!! Disaster for the Pats to start the third quarter.
IND take over from the NE 20.
We are back in play for the second half of action here from Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Pats get the ball first needing points on this drive.
Jones has 75 yards passing, but that interception to end the half was costly. He's got to be better in the second half.
Wentz only has 38 yards, but he has been happy to hand it off to Tayler all night
The Colts have 122 yards on the ground, and Taylor has 73 of those yards on 18 carries.
The Colts are going to run out the clock bringing an end to a first half in which they absolutley dominated.
The Pats have to go back to the drawing board down 17-0.
INTERCEPTION COLTS!!!
Jones is picked off by Leonard on 3rd and 3 and the Patriots come up empty handed yet again.
You know the leagues best defensive unit at creating turnovers were going to play a big role tonight, and they could not have waited for a bigger moment for the first INT of the game.
IND will take over from their 3 yard line.
We are at the Two Minute Warning with the Pats driving, but down 17-0. They need points, will they get them?
Jones hits Henry and the Patriots have a first down at the NE 23.
Stevenson on the ground takes the run for 13 yards and the Patriots are moving. 1st and 10 from the IND 47
Jones hits Bourne for a 14 yard gain. That was one of, if not the biggest, play of the night for the Pats.
The Patriots are not a team that are designed to make a big comeback. They like to run the ball and dink and dunk with short passes from Jones. They need points before the half, let's see if they can get some on this possession.
FIELD GOAL COLTS!!!
Alie-Cox couldn't drag down the high pass from Wentz on 3rd and Goal and and the Colts will settle for a field goal.
Badgley drills the 25 yard field goal to put the Colts up 17-0 with 4:31 to go in the second.
Taylor with another first down run on 3rd and short. This has been a strikingly similar drive to their first TD drive.
Wentz tucks and runs this time, and he picks up 11, and moves the chains again. The Colts are in the red zone once more.
Wentz lofted it up and found Pascal for 23 after a beautiful blitz pick up from Taylor. 1st and 10 from the NE 32.
The leading rusher in the league showing he can do a little bit of everything, including keep his quarterback off the grass.
Wentz on the QB sneak, barley picked it up and the Colts drive continues.
Taylor is stopped on 3rd and 1, and the Colts will go for in from the own 44.
Things go from bad to worse for the Patrtiots who go three and out on their third possession. The Colts will get the ball back from their own 35.
The first quarter comes to a close after an explosive end to the first 15 minutes.
The Pats are down two touchdowns for the first time since Week 3.
That is speeds second punt block return for a touchdown of the season.
TOUCHDOWN COLTS!!!
THE PUNT IS BLOCKED AND SPEED RECOVERS IT IN THE ENDZONE!!!
What a start for the Colts, who lead 14-0
Jones dropped a dime to Meyers down the left sideline, but had the pass slip through his hands and the Pats will be forced to punt yet again
Great protection for Jones who hits Meyers on 3rd and 3. He is now 4/4 to start the game and has more passes tonight than he had the entire Bills game.
TOUCHDOWN COLTS!!!
THE TRICKERATION!!! It looked to be a hand off from the shot gun, but a pitch after the hand off to Hines had the defense wrong sided and Hines runs it in for the 8 yard TD.
Indy leads 7-0 with under 4 minutes to go in the first quarter.
The Colts will have a 1st and Goal from the 8 yard line after the sixth straight run for Indy.
Taylor up the middle on his first carry of the night gets 11 yards and a first down.
Bill Belichick is 18-2 against teams with running backs with 100 yards. In those games, just 4 running backs have gained 100 yards.
Big chunk on the opening play of the drive for IND. Dulin on a jet sweep picks up 37 yards.
A couple of penalties on the Pats puts a halt to their drive after being put in a 2nd and 19 situation. Jones was dropped in the backfield on third down.
IND will have the ball on their 22 to start their second drive.
Jones tucks it and runs for a 12 yard gain and picks up the first down. Who say Mac can't move???
Jones moves the chains with a dart to Meyers on his second throw of the night. He has already thrown more than he did in the entire first half against Buffalo two weeks ago.
The Colts go three and out after Wentz over throws Pittman on a deep ball down the right side.
Olszewski fumbled the return, but was fortunate to see it bouce out of bounds.
HERE WE GO!!! Carson Wentz and the Colts will take the field first after the Pats won the coin toss.
For information on how to watch tonight's contest from Indianapolis click here
Indy the favorites at home
According to Bet365.com the Colts are 2.5 point favorites and the Over/Under is set at 45.
Games postponed due to COVID
The new Omicron variant is sweeping across the league and has forced the postponement of three games. The Raiders-Browns game, the Washington-Philadelphia, and Seattle-Los Angeles Rams games which were scheduled for Sunday has been moved to Tuesday.
Saturday Night Football
The NFL has moved this game, and another one that eventually got postponed due to COVID problems popping up around the league, on Saturday to fill the football gap left by the end of college football’s regular season. The Las Vegas Raiders and the Cleveland Browns game that was scheduled for before the Pats Colts game has moved to Monday afternoon.
Colts sneaking into playoff positioning
The Colts are coming off a bye as well after winning six of their last eight games and both losses, to the Ravens and the Buccaneers, were one possession games.They got back to their winning ways after the Bucs loss with a 31-0 thrashing of the Houston Texans two weeks ago.
NE's win streak has Pats at top of AFC
The Pats have been flawless since losing to the Dallas Cowboys in overtime on the 17th of October. They have rattled off seven straight wins, most recently in one of the games of the season against their division rivals the Buffalo Bills. That game was marred by high wind gusts that made it virtually impossible to throw the ball. Mac Jones finished the game with just three pass attempts while Damien Harris ran for 111 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
Big playoff implications on the line
Hello everyone and welcome Indianapolis where the Colts are looking to stay in the vacuum sealed AFC playoff picture, while the Patriots are coming off a bye week and can make it an eighth straight win and remain the leaders in the chase for home field advantage in the conference.
Patriots vs. Colts
The New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts are looking to rekindle a rivalry that was must see TV in the early 2000s. Tonight two of the hottest teams in the AFC will go toe-to-toe and AS English will be keeping you up to the minute with live coverage, stats, scores and analysis of tonight’s spotlight showdown from Lucas Oil Stadium.