Takeaways from Patriots' heartbreaking last-minute 25-24 loss to Colts

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots’ defense couldn’t hold when it mattered most in Sunday’s 25-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

The Patriots led 24-17 when the Colts got the ball at their own 20-yard line with 5:34 left in regulation. They went 80 yards on 19 plays before quarterback Anthony Richardson hit wide receiver Alec Pierce for a 3-yard touchdown over safety Kyle Dugger. Richardson then ran up the middle for the game-clinching two-point conversion.

The Patriots gained enough yards to attempt a 68-yard field goal, but Joey Slye’s attempt came up short.

Rookie quarterback Drake Maye had one of his most efficient games of the season, completing over 75% of his passes and combining for 297 passing and rushing yards.

The Patriots opened the game in promising fashion with running back Rhamondre Stevenson ripping off a 32-yard run on the second play of the drive. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye was three of four for 28 yards on the drive but took two sacks including one on third down when he scanned the field but couldn’t find an open receiver. The Patriots had to settle for a 35-yard field goal from Slye.

The Colts responded with a quick score on an eight-play, 71-yard drive. Quarterback Anthony Richardson found running back Jonathan Taylor wide open for a 7-yard touchdown on yet another red-zone coverage breakdown for the Patriots’ defense. Those were common last week against the Dolphins.

The Patriots took a trip into the red zone with another explosive play, this time a 41-yard scramble from rookie quarterback Drake Maye. Once inside the 20, offensive linemen Mike Onwenu and Layden Robinson were charged with back-to-back holding penalties, and the Patriots had to settle for a 31-yard field goal to cut the Colts lead to 7-6.

On the second play of the Colts’ ensuing drive, linebacker Jahlani Tavai tipped a pass from Richardson intended for wide receiver Michael Pittman. Linebacker Christian Elliss got under the ball to intercept it, giving the Patriots’ offense the ball at the Colts’ 42-yard line at the start of the second quarter. The Patriots only went 6 yards on three plays before Slye kicked a 54-yard field goal to go up 9-7.

The scoring continued on the Colts’ next drive. After an 8-play, 70-yard drive, which included a 29-yard defensive pass interference penalty on linebacker Jahlani Tavai, Richardson scampered through the line for a 3-yard touchdown on a designed run.

Things didn’t slow down on the Patriots’ next series. Maye found tight end Austin Hooper on a 16-yard touchdown pass after an eight-play, 70-yard drive.

The Patriots drove down the field on their next drive but Slye missed a 25-yard chip shot wide left.

Cornerback Marcus Jones made a key pass breakup on third down of the Colts’ first drive of the second half, forcing a 25-yard field goal to give them a 17-16 lead.

The Patriots got into the red zone on the next possession but Maye’s pass was thrown slightly behind tight end Hunter Henry, who couldn’t haul in the ball and had it bounce off his hands and body straight to Colts safety Julian Blackmon for an interception.

The Patriots went up 24-17 midway through the fourth quarter when Antonio Gibson scored a rushing touchdown from 11 yards out. Maye then converted the two-point attempt with a throw to wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, who did a nice job pulling the ball over the goal line to make sure it was a successful try.

The Colts’ next drive ended early when cornerback Christian Gonzalez picked off Richardson on a target to Alec Pierce.

They went three-and-out after Gonzalez’s interception and gave the ball back to the Colts after losing 3 yards.

Takeaways

— Switch-up in the secondary: With safety Jabrill Peppers’ return to the defense after being removed from the commissioner’s exempt list, 2023 third-round pick Marte Mapu was a healthy scratch. His return also meant fewer snaps for Jonathan Jones, who was moonlighting as a safety last week.

The Patriots went with a rotation at cornerback opposite Christian Gonzalez, with Jonathan Jones, Isaiah Bolden, Marcus Jones and Alex Austin all seeing snaps.

Austin and Marcus Jones both broke up two passes.

— Rookie regains starting role: The Patriots cut starting left guard Michael Jordan, re-signed him to the practice squad and elevated him for Sunday, but rookie Layden Robinson took his starting job on the offensive line. The run game was noticeably better with him back on the field.

— Bad hold?: Slye appeared to glare at punter/holder Bryce Baringer on his missed 25-yard field goal attempt. The ball fluttered off Slye’s foot and went wide left.

— Good challenge: Head coach Jerod Mayo won the first challenge of his career when he threw the red flag on a bad spot from the officials, who initially ruled Maye down short of a first down on a scramble. The challenge was successful, and they gave Maye the first down. Unfortunately for the Patriots, Maye’s interception came two plays later.

Ups

— QB Drake Maye: Yes, he had the interception, but it wasn’t his fault, and otherwise he was incredibly accurate and efficient, going 22 of 27 for 238 yards with a touchdown and interception.

— LB Christian Elliss: The athletic linebacker picked off Richardson off of a tip from linebacker Jahlani Tavai. Tavai deserves credit for the pick but also picked up a brutal 29-yard defensive pass interference penalty.

— Run game: The Patriots had two explosive plays in the run game and picked up 200 yards on 31 carries with a touchdown. Stevenson, Maye and Antonio Gibson all ran well.

— Cornerbacks: Christian Gonzalez was everything you want a lock-down cornerback to be. He jumped a route run by Pierce to intercept Richardson. He also made a head’s up play on Elliss’ interception to shove down wide receiver Michael Pittman after the ball was tipped to ensure his own team could catch the floating ball.

Marcus Jones and Alex Austin both had two pass breakups. Austin was flagged for a defensive pass interference penalty late in the fourth quarter.

Down

— O-line penalties: They protected Maye a little bit better and didn’t get charged with any false starts, but they were flagged five times for holding. Layden Robinson drew two penalties, and Demontrey Jacobs, Vederian Lowe and Mike Onwenu each had one.

— Run defense: The Colts ran at will on the Patriots’ defense, gaining 144 yards on 34 carries with a touchdown.

— Field goal operation: Whether it was Slye or Baringer’s fault, the 25-yard missed field goal loomed large.

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