FOXBOROUGH, Mass.
— With just 12 seconds remaining, Anthony Richardson connected on a 3-yard touchdown pass to Alec Pierce and subsequently ran the ball in for a crucial 2-point conversion, leading the Indianapolis Colts to a narrow victory over the New England Patriots, 25-24. The game concluded with Patriots kicker Joey Slye missing a 68-yard field goal attempt as time ran out.
Richardson completed 12 of his 24 passes, totaling 109 yards along with two touchdown passes and an interception. His performance was essential for the Colts (6-7) as they continue to chase a playoff spot, especially with three of their remaining four opponents carrying losing records.
On the other side, the Patriots (3-10) have had a tough stretch, losing four out of their last five games. Quarterback Drake Maye threw 24 passes, completing 30 for a total of 238 yards, which included one touchdown and one interception.
The Colts benefited from a pass-interference call that positioned them within striking distance with just over a minute to go in the game. On a critical fourth-and-goal at the 3-yard line, Richardson skillfully rolled out and found Pierce for the score, pulling Indianapolis within a point. Following the successful 2-point conversion, Maye quickly connected with tight end Hunter Henry for two passes that gained 20 yards, bringing New England to midfield. They then attempted an NFL record-setting field goal, but Slye’s kick was accurate in direction yet fell short of the crossbar.
Jonathan Taylor had a strong outing for Indianapolis, rushing the ball 25 times for 96 yards, which allowed him to surpass Marshall Faulk (5,320 yards) and secure third place on the franchise’s all-time rushing leaderboard. Matt Gay also contributed by kicking a 25-yard field goal that put the Colts ahead 17-16 early in the third quarter.
The Patriots responded by driving down the field after a brief bout of defense from the Colts. Maye nearly threw a touchdown pass to Henry, but Julian Blackmon intercepted the ball after wresting it away from him at the goal line. Subsequent drives saw the Patriots back in the red zone again, culminating in an 11-yard touchdown run by Antonio Gibson and a successful 2-point conversion pass to Kayshon Boutte, putting New England up 24-17 with just over eight minutes left on the clock. During the first half, New England maintained control of the ball for nine minutes longer than Indianapolis, but they struggled to finish drives, scoring only one touchdown alongside three field goals in four trips to the red zone. Their offensive line also faced issues, with four penalties for holding that stifled their progress. Meanwhile, Indianapolis was disciplined, incurring just one penalty in the first half while capitalizing on their red zone opportunities, leading to a close 16-14 score at halftime.
In injury news, Patriots tight end Hunter Henry exited in the first quarter due to a helmet-to-helmet hit but managed to return in the second period.
Safety Jabrill Peppers made his return after being removed from the commissioner’s exempt list this week, amid his ongoing case regarding domestic violence. Placed on the exempt list following his arrest on October 9 for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, the league confirmed that its review is still ongoing. Peppers ended the game with a total of nine tackles.
Looking ahead, the Colts will enjoy a bye week before facing the Denver Broncos on December 15, while the Patriots will similarly take a break before traveling to Arizona on the same date.
