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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots faced disappointment once again after underperforming during critical moments in their game against the Indianapolis Colts. In their six trips into the red zone, they secured only two touchdowns and two field goals, along with an interception at the goal line and a failed short field goal attempt that was less than the distance of an extra point. These missed chances proved costly, especially when considering how close they were to winning against the Colts.

Rookie quarterback Drake Maye reflected on the game, expressing frustration over the opportunities lost. After the Colts drove 80 yards to claim a 25-24 victory, pushing the Patriots (3-10) to their third consecutive defeat and officially knocking them out of playoff contention, Maye acknowledged, “I left some plays out there.” He completed 24 of his 30 passes for 238 yards with one touchdown and an interception, fully aware of the need to guide his team to success. “I pride myself on trying to lead this team to wins, and we didn’t accomplish that. That’s probably the biggest thing,” he added.

The Patriots started strong, managing to score on their first four possessions but stumbled as they missed a 25-yard field goal on the fifth attempt. Remarkably, the team only had one punt in the entire game, which occurred with 5:34 left in the fourth quarter. However, their performance was marred by penalties that negated two touchdowns. One penalty resulted in merely delaying a scoring opportunity, while the other forced the team to settle for a field goal instead.

Ending the first half with a mere 16-14 lead, the Patriots held a 24-17 advantage when the Colts (6-7) regained possession. Quarterback Anthony Richardson spearheaded an impressive 19-play drive that converted three crucial fourth downs, culminating in a touchdown pass to Alec Pierce with just 12 seconds remaining. The Colts then opted for a two-point conversion, successfully executed by Richardson, sealing the score at 25-24.

Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez reflected on the missed chances to secure victory. “It just wasn’t good enough,” he said. “We made plays; they made more plays. We’ve got to hold it down for the offense. When we get it on our back, we’ve got to be better.”

With just 12 seconds left on the clock, the Patriots had a chance for a last-minute miracle. Maye connected with Hunter Henry for two quick passes, pushing them to midfield. Instead of attempting a Hail Mary pass, coach Jerod Mayo made the call to go for a 68-yard field goal, aiming for a potential NFL record. Joey Slye’s kick, however, fell short, striking the base of the goalpost.

Mayo defended his decision, stating, “Not sure what the numbers are on Hail Marys versus the field goal there, but that’s what I felt was right.” Statistically, there have been 45 passes thrown 30 yards or more in the last five seconds from near midfield since 2006, resulting in only four touchdowns. In contrast, no one has yet kicked a successful 68-yard field goal, leaving its success rate at zero.

This game marked the Patriots’ fifth loss by a single score this season. Gonzalez concluded with an admonition: “It’s too late in the season to be saying, ‘We’re close.’ We’ve got to make those plays and finish out the game.”
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