Indianapolis Colts Face New England Patriots in Week 14 Matchup

The Indianapolis Colts (5-7) are gearing up to take on the New England Patriots (3-9) this Sunday at 1 p.m. EST, broadcasted on CBS. As per the latest BetMGM odds, the Colts are favored by 2.5 points. When considering their performance against the spread, the Colts have fared decently with an 8-4 record, while the Patriots record stands at 4-7-1. Historical data shows that the Patriots hold an advantage in their head-to-head series with a record of 53-31. The last encounter saw the Patriots narrowly defeating the Colts 10-6 on November 12, 2023, in Frankfurt, Germany. Last week, the Colts faced a tough loss against the Lions, losing 24-6, whereas the Patriots suffered a 34-15 defeat to the Dolphins in Miami.

When looking at the offensive statistics, the Colts rank 22nd overall, 17th in rushing, 24th in passing, and 21st in scoring. Their defense is struggling more, sitting at 28th overall, 27th against the run, and 27th against the pass, while being 16th in scoring defense. The Patriots are trailing even further in offensive rankings, taking the last spot at 32nd overall, 21st in rushing, 32nd in passing, and 31st in scoring. However, their defense is comparatively better, ranking 22nd overall, 18th against the run, 22nd against the pass, and 19th in scoring.

In terms of turnover differentials, the Colts have a minus-1, and the Patriots are at minus-7. For this matchup, a key player to keep an eye on for the Colts is running back Jonathan Taylor. Colts head coach Shane Steichen emphasizes the need for Taylor to become a more significant contributor to the team’s offense. With only 11 carries in the previous game against Detroit, he hasn’t produced enough, with just 92 yards on 35 carries over the two prior games. The solution, according to Steichen, is to increase Taylor’s workload during the final five games of the season.

On the Patriots roster, quarterback Drake Maye stands out as a player to watch. The rookie has excelled with 286 rushing yards, ranking second among AFC rookies, and boasts an impressive average of 8.7 yards per rush across 33 attempts. Notably, the best rushing average for a quarterback in a single season belongs to Michael Vick, who had 8.5 yards per rush back in 2006.

A critical matchup in this game will be Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson against the Patriots’ defense. Since regaining his starting role, Steichen has introduced more quarterback keepers and read options into Richardson’s game plan, creating opportunities to disrupt opposing defenses. However, Richardson must also demonstrate that his passing game is reliable, and this matchup against an average defense should present a more favorable challenge than last week’s game against the Lions.

In terms of injuries, the Colts are relatively fit outside their offensive line. Wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs both resumed playing after having minor shoulder issues last week. However, wide receiver Ashton Dulin did not return due to a foot injury. The offensive line has faced difficulties with left tackle Bernhard Raimann and center Ryan Kelly on injured reserve. Additionally, rookie center Tanor Bortolini is currently in concussion protocol, and if he cannot play, veteran Danny Pinter would likely fill the spot. For the Patriots, defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr., who is tied for the team lead in sacks, has been sidelined for two weeks due to a foot injury.

Historically, the Colts have won two of their last three matchups against the Patriots when neither Tom Brady nor Peyton Manning was starting. Brady famously finished his career with eight consecutive wins against the Colts. The rivalry has produced its fair share of streaks, with the Patriots dominating from 2001 to 2005, while the Colts responded by winning five out of six from 2005 to 2009. In the postseason, the Patriots have also led, winning four out of five playoff encounters. Notably, this game will mark the first time since 2000 that Bill Belichick will not be coaching against the Colts.

Statistically, the Colts have lost four of their last five games and 1-7 in their last eight visits to New England. As they enter this game, Indianapolis is facing a stretch of five games against teams with losing records, starting with the Patriots. Impressively, the Colts’ defense has forced 13 fumbles, leading the NFL, and their defensive line has not allowed a sack in three games. Richardson, despite having the lowest completion percentage among starting QBs at 47.1%, has shown improvement over the past few weeks, achieving two of his highest passer ratings. Meanwhile, Jonathan Taylor is just 31 rushing yards shy of surpassing Marshall Faulk in franchise rushing history. On the Patriots’ side, running back Rhamondre Stevenson is approaching a significant career milestone and needs just 55 yards to move into 10th place on the team’s all-time rushing list.

For fantasy football players, now may be an ideal moment to start Drake Maye. He has showcased his best performances at Gillette Stadium, having thrown for 225 or more yards and two touchdowns in two of his last three home games.