The Indianapolis Colts escaped Foxborough, Massachusetts, with a win on Sunday, defeating the Patriots to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Defensively, the Colts struggled to contain New England’s run game, while the Indianapolis passing game struggled to find a rhythm. At one point, things were looking a bit bleak in the fourth quarter for the Colts.
However, all of that was wiped away because, for the second time in three weeks, Anthony Richardson would lead a game-winning drive that included a successful two-point conversion attempt.
So, while that was the outcome, what were the key elements that got the Colts to that point?
With the dust having settled and the game now wrapped up, let’s take a look back at the Colts’ performance and break it all down.
Final Score
It was over when..
…Patriots kicker Joey Slye’s 68-yard attempt came up short. After the Colts took the one point lead following their two-point conversion, New England started with the ball at their own 30-yard line. With the Colts not wanting to risk giving up the big play, quarterback Drake Maye took two easy completions to Hunter Henry for 11 yards and nine yards that set up the really long attempt.
Keys to the game
Colts’ poor run defense: This performance against the run was reminiscent of the Colts’ run defense in Weeks 1 and 2 against Houston and Green Bay. The Patriots would rush for 200 yards and that set up the rest of the offense. Oftentimes ahead of the sticks, New England was operating from advantageous situations, resulting in a very efficient day from Maye–who picked the Colts’ pass defense apart with his tight ends–and a lot of third down success, leading to a lot of yards and long drives.
The red zone: With all those yards and long drives by the Patriots, they visited the red zone a whopping six times. However, they left with only two touchdowns, and it felt like more often than not, that was due to their own mistakes rather than something the Colts did. Penalties ended one possession, another ended in a missed field goal, and what looked like a possible touchdown pass ended up bobbled and intercepted. The Indianapolis offense, meanwhile, was 3-for-4 in the red zone.
Richardson and Taylor in the run game: The run game for the Colts has struggled to get going over the last month, but a change at right guard, along with more designed runs for Richardson, and some nifty play-calls from Shane Steichen with the use of motion from heavy sets finally got this element going. Indianapolis would lean heavily on the run game, with the combo of Richardson and Taylor totaling 34 carries for 144 yards. While moving the ball through the air didn’t come easy, the run game provided needed stability throughout the game.
Anthony Richardson: A lot of those things that went wrong in the first 55 minutes of the game and dictated that the Patriots should win can be wiped away by a player of Richardson’s caliber. On that final drive, the Colts marched 80 yards over 19 plays with Richardson doing a little bit of everything. He was 6-of-11 passing, overcoming two dropped passes. He ran the ball when needed, converted three fourth down attempts, which included throwing the eventual game-winning touchdown to Alec Pierce, and bullied his way into the end zone to convert the two-point attempt. That was an incredibly impressive five-plus minute drive he orchestrated.
Stars of the game
Anthony Richardson: The stat line wasn’t great and he threw two interceptions. But for all the reasons just mentioned, he is the star of this game. With not only the game on the line, but likely the Colts season, Richardson was at his best and came through again.
Jonathan Taylor: As already mentioned, Taylor–plus Richardson–and the run game gave this Colts’ offense something to hang their hat on for much of the game. Taylor finished with 96 yards on 25 carries and hauled in a touchdown reception. Credit to the offensive line for their play in the run game as well.
Julian Blackmon: Not a lot of good from the Colts’ defense overall, but Blackmon came away with a red zone interception and in a game decided by only a point, that obviously had a massive impact on the outcome.
Injury updates
We will see if anything is revealed on Monday, but as far as we now, the Colts got out of this game clean.
What’s next?
The Colts finally have their long awaited bye this upcoming week. They will enter it at 6-7 and still alive in the AFC playoff race.
(This article was updated to provide additional information.)
