BSJ Game Report: Colts 25, Patriots 24 - New England blows late lead on TD, 2-point conversion with 12 seconds

FOXBOROUGH — Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ loss to the Colts in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

HEADLINES

Patriots allow 80-yard drive, 2-point conversion with 12 seconds left: Patriots led 24-17 with 7:59 left after Christian Gonzalez had a great interception of Anthony Richardson. At that point, they had an 88% chance of victory. Patriots had -2 yards on three plays (two Rhamondre Stevenson runs, Drake Maye slide/sack) and punted.

The Colts then went 80 yards in 19 plays, converting three fourth downs and a 3rd and 9. Richardson hit Alec Pierce against Kyle Dugger on 4th and 3 with 17 seconds left. Colts coach Shane Steichen went for the win, and Richardson plowed in for the 2-point conversion.

"Very disappointing," Jerod Mayo said. "They obviously ran the ball relatively well. We just didn't make the stops that we need to. Look, that's the NFL. That's the NFL. We say it every week. It's that one play here, that one play there. That extended drive definitely hurt, and then those guys going for two and couldn't keep them out.

"It comes down to execution. I think we should win every game. That's just my mentality. We just got to get better."

Patriots' defense allowed Colts drives of 71 (touchdown), 70 (touchdown), 68 (field goal) and 80 (touchdown) net yards. The Colts rushed for 144 yards and Richardson completed 12 of 24 passes for 109 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs.

Patriots couldn't finish drives: The running game was great (200 yards) and Maye had no trouble carving up Gus Bradley's defense (80% completions, 238 yards), but they just couldn't finish drives and that was the difference in the game. The Colts were 3 of 4 in the red zone and 3 for 3 in goal-to go situations. The Patriots were 2 of 6 and 0 for 2.

Patriots drove to Indy 5 ... got a field goal.
Patriots got to the Indy 2 ... but back-to-back holding calls on Mike Onwenu and Layden Robinson led to a field goal.
Patriots got to Indy 4 ... missed Joey Slye field goal from 25 yards.
Patriots got to the Indy 7 ... Maye was picked off on a bouncing ball that was to Hunter Henry's wrong shoulder.

That's just brutal.

"Obviously a tough game. I just told the guys, again, I know I sound redundant – we’re doing a of things that are good. We just need to be more consistent," Mayo said. "I would say penalties and, look, it's about us. Penalties continue to show up, both operational and post-snap, which we've got to do a better job of. I would also say just our red area in general. Our red area offense I think we were 1 for 6. Our red area defense, we weren't able to stop them there. That's really the game. You talk about on special teams, the missed field goal. I thought we handled the situations the right way, the way we wanted to, and we gave ourselves a chance to win. Gave ourselves a chance to win at the end.

Should have been Maye's coming out party: We said before this game that if the Patriots won, it would be because Maye had his coming out party carving up Gus Bradley's defense ... and that almost happened. It's a shame they didn't put the ball in his hands at the end of the first half, and after the Gonzalez interception. He was totally in control and the Patriots only punted once all game.

TURNING POINT

Patriots had control of the game after the Gonzalez interception and they played not to lose, instead of trying to add another field goal that would have iced the game. I understand the Stevenson run on first down (although Antonio Gibson - 7 rushes, 62 yards, TD - was the better back for a second-straight week) even though the Colts had eight in the box. Looked like Maye checked the second down run and the wide-zone run lost three yards. They need a better call there. Didn't like the coaches obviously telling Maye to be conservative on third down. Maye was at his best (90%) completions with 7 to 10 yards to go.

SECOND GUESS

Absolutely hated how they handled the end of the first half after they took their first timeout at the 11-yard line, even though they didn't really need to ... but I'll give them that one.

2-19-IND 40 (:50) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short right to K.Boutte to IND 11 for 29 yards (Z.Franklin). P14
Timeout #1 by NE at 00:41.

1-10-IND 11 (:41) (Shotgun) R.Stevenson right tackle to IND 10 for 1 yard (D.Odeyingbo).
Timeout #2 by NE at 00:30.

2-9-IND 10 (:30) (Shotgun) R.Stevenson up the middle to IND 4 for 6 yards (Z.Franklin).
Timeout #3 by NE at 00:27.
Timeout #1 by IND at 00:27.

3-3-IND 4 (:27) (Shotgun) D.Maye sacked at IND 7 for -3 yards (Z.Franklin).
Penalty on NE-V.Lowe, Offensive Holding, declined.

Absolutely no reason to run and take the two timeouts on the first two downs from the 11 and, more importantly, not to use Maye as a weapon on either of the first two downs. Why wait to let him pass in an obvious situation?

The Patriots deserved what they got with the Slye missed field goal. They should have scored a TD there.

FOUR UP

RB Antonio Gibson: We said it after last game that Gibson was now the team's best back in this offense, and he had 7 impressive carries for 62 yards (8.9 average) and a great TD. Not sure Stevenson needed 18 of 25 RB carries.

QB Drake Maye: Wasn't totally perfect, but he was pretty damn good with 24 of 30 for 238 yards, a touchdown another 59 yards on five carries.

CB Christian Gonzalez: Just a great and huge interception that should have ended the game.

THREE DOWN

Offensive line penalties: The Patriots had five huge holding calls (one was declined) that ruined drives. Layden Robinson had 2, while Onwenu, Jacobs and Lowe (declined) had one.

S Kyle Dugger: Another week, another touchdown on him and there was another bust on a Colts passing TD to Jonathan Taylor.

K Joey Slye: Just can't miss from 25 yards. Can't have it.

INJURIES

TE Hunter Henry (head): Took a vicious shot but cleared concussion protocol and returned to the game.

DE Anfernee Jennings (right shoulder): Was helped off the field late and went to the blue tent. He returned to the game.

TOP PLAYS

TWO TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

Patriots staring at 3-14: New England goes on the bye week and the returns to go on the road to both Arizona and Buffalo, before returning home to face the Chargers and Bills again. Patriots haven't finished with fewer than four wins since 1992 (2-14 under Dick MacPherson). 

Unfortunately, the Patriots still stand at 4th in the NFL draft after the 1 p.m. games.

You've got the QB and everything is now about him: Today was just further confirmation that the Patriots have their franchise QB in Drake Maye, but it's starting to feel really dicey on whether they have anything else to support him. I'm getting big-time Justin Herbert vibes with Brandon Staley. Will be interesting to see how they finish up the final four games. If you're the Krafts, don't you have to look at everybody - and I mean everybody?