Patriots 'Didn't Play Well, Didn't Coach Well' in Loss to Colts, Bill Belichick Says
Dec 19, 2021
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
The New England Patriots' seven-game win streak came to an end with a 27-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday night, and head coach Bill Belichick believes the team made mistakes everywhere, from offense right down to coaching.
"We didn't do anything well enough to win," Belichick told reporters after the loss. "Didn't play well. Didn't coach well, over and over and over…at least close to dozen times."
The Colts dominated much of Saturday's game, leading 20-0 through three quarters. The Patriots went on a 17-0 run to bring them within a field goal just before Colts running back Jonathan Taylor rushed for a 67-yard touchdown to seal the win for Indy.
While Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns, he also tossed two interceptions in the loss and only completed 26-of-45 passes. He hadn't thrown more than one pick since a Week 3 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
New England's leading receiver was tight end Hunter Henry, who finished with six catches for 77 yards and two scores. Kendrick Bourne, Jakobi Meyers and N'Keal Harry were mostly held in check throughout the night. In addition, the Patriots lost Nelson Agholor to a head injury in the third quarter.
From a rushing perspective, New England was down top running back Damien Harris, who was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Rhamondre Stevenson and Brandon Bolden had performed well filling in for Harris earlier in the season but were limited to just 39 yards on 14 carries against the Colts.
The Patriots also took eight penalties for 50 yards on Sunday night, which is rather uncharacteristic for a Belichick-led squad. In addition, their top-ranked scoring defense hadn't allowed more than 20 points in a game since an Oct. 31 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
To cap it all off, the Patriots also struggled on special teams, having a punt blocked and returned for a touchdown. Center David Andrews summed up the performance pretty well.
David Andrews: "8 penalties & 2 turnovers in December is not going to win you a lot of football games" pic.twitter.com/6i5cieoUst
— Patriots Coverage on NBCS Boston (@NBCSPatriots) December 19, 2021
The Patriots dropped to 9-5 with the loss, though they still lead the AFC East. New England will host the Buffalo Bills next Sunday before a rookie quarterback duel between Jones and Trevor Lawrence in a Week 17 matchup at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Patriots close out the 2021 regular season on the road against the Miami Dolphins on Jan. 9.
Jonathan Taylor Leads Colts to Saturday Night Football Win over Mac Jones, Patriots
Dec 19, 2021
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) runs with the ball as New England Patriots safety Adrian Phillips (21) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
The Indianapolis Colts significantly boosted their playoff chances with a 27-17 victory over the New England Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday night.
Entering today as the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoff standings, the Colts could end the weekend in the fourth spot if the Baltimore Ravens lose to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
The Patriots lost a game for the first time since Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys. They are also now looking up at the Kansas City Chiefs for the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in the AFC playoff race.
Jonathan Taylor sealed the Colts' victory with a 67-yard touchdown run that put the Colts up by 10 late in the fourth quarter.
Prior to that score, the Patriots had rattled off 17 unanswered points to turn what looked like a blowout into a three-point game.
New England's run defense got beat up in this loss. That unit allowed 228 yards and 5.8 yards per carry. Carson Wentz only threw the ball 12 times, completing five of those attempts for just 57 yards.
Mac Jones overcame two interceptions on consecutive possessions to finish with a solid stat line overall. The rookie had 299 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdown passes.
Notable Game Stats
Carson Wentz, QB (IND): 5-of-12, 57 yards, TD, INT
Jonathan Taylor, RB (IND): 29 carries, 170 yards, TD
Nyheim Hines, RB (IND): 1 reception, 8 yards, TD
Mac Jones, QB (NE): 26-of-45, 299 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Hunter Henry, TE (NE): 6 receptions, 77 yards, 2 TD
Colts Show Playoff Credentials in Win
There's still no guarantee that the Colts will even make the playoffs, but Saturday's win was the biggest sign that they can cause a lot of problems against anyone in the AFC.
Against a Patriots defense that held four of their last five opponents under 100 yards rushing, Indianapolis had 122 yards on the ground in the first half.
New England's defense seemed to find a way to slow down Taylor for most of the second half. He only had 30 yards on 10 carries before ripping off the 67-yard touchdown to secure the win.
Head coach Frank Reich made a point of establishing Taylor and the running game right out of the gate. The Colts star running back had 18 carries at halftime, while Wentz only attempted six passes.
Reich, one of the architects of the "Philly Special" against the Patriots in Super Bowl LII, went into his bag of tricks once again in a matchup with Bill Belichick to get the Colts their first touchdown.
The Colts kept their foot on the gas pedal after that initial touchdown. Special teams stepped up huge when Matthew Adams blew past the protection to block Jake Bailey's punt, allowing E.J. Speed to recover it in the end zone for another score.
COLTS BLOCK THE PUNT FOR SIX!@EJ_SPEED’s second block return TD of the season 🔥 #ForTheShoe
One reason that Reich was able to keep Wentz hidden for most of the game is because his defense did a fantastic job against New England's offense.
The Patriots were driving down the field, looking to get a score before halftime, but it was halted when Darius Leonard picked off Jones at the 6-yard line.
Leonard's interception allowed the Colts to take a 17-0 lead into halftime. This hadn't historically been a position they are used to being in against a Belichick-led team.
This is 23rd Colts-Patriots meeting since Bill Belichick became head coach, and this is only the 2nd time Indy has led by more than 10 points, according to @ESPNStatsInfo. In 2005 Week 9 the Colts largest lead was 21 points, they won by 19.
Indianapolis extended its lead to 20 points early in the third quarter when Jones threw his second interception of the game, this one to Bobby Okereke.
Reich did abandon the run on the drive after the turnover. Wentz dropped back to pass on all three snaps, completing one pass for no gain and getting sacked on third down for an eight-yard loss.
There were some plays when Wentz got let down by his teammates. He threw a perfect pass in the back of the end zone over a defender where only Mo Alie-Cox could get it, but the big tight end couldn't corral the ball.
However, Wentz also attempted to let the Patriots back in the game with some baffling decisions. He double-clutched on a pass attempt early in the fourth quarter that allowed Jamie Collins to tip the ball up and into the hands of Devin McCourty.
That Wentz decision was unfathomably bad. Not even one of those, "Just didn't see him" picks. He saw *multiple* guys and still let it rip. If Collins doesn't tip that, McCourty still had a shot at it.
It's certainly easy to find some things that might hold the Colts back, but this game was also emblematic of all the things they do so well that makes them a threat to anyone in the AFC.
Indianapolis' offensive line is getting healthier and playing up to its potential. Taylor has been running over defenders all season. The defense came into the game ranked ninth in points allowed per game (21.8).
Leonard and DeForest Buckner are game wreckers along the first two levels of the defense when they are locked in.
The AFC playoff picture really hasn't come into a lot of focus yet. The Kansas City Chiefs certainly look like they are all the way back, but the other division leaders—Patriots, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens—all look incredibly flawed right now.
The Los Angeles Chargers have an incredibly high ceiling because of Justin Herbert, but they've yet to find consistency from week to week. Ditto, the Buffalo Bills with Josh Allen.
There is no reason to think that the Colts can't compete with any one of those teams after dominating the Patriots.
What's Next?
The Patriots will host the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 26 in a rematch of their Week 13 game that New England won 14-10. The Colts will take on the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on Christmas Day.
This article will be updated to
provide more information on this story as it becomes available.
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Nelson Agholor Won't Return for Patriots vs. Colts Because of Head Injury
Dec 19, 2021
New England Patriots wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) lines up for the snap during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
New England Patriots wide receiver Nelson Agholor suffered a head injury in the third quarter of Saturday's game against the Indianapolis Colts.
The Patriots announced Agholor will miss the rest of the game.
Agholor was injured when he was hit in the head by Colts linebacker Darius Leonard after catching a 10-yard pass.
The 28-year-old arrived in New England this offseason as part of the team's spending spree. He signed a two-year, $22 million deal that included $16 million in guarantees. The Patriots committed $307.5 million in free agency, nearly $100 million more than the next closest team, per Over the Cap.
The size of Agholor's contract was somewhat surprising after he enjoyed a solid but unspectacular 2020 season. He caught 48 passes for 896 yards and eight touchdowns with the Las Vegas Raiders.
While the former USC star has often struggled to find consistency from year to year, perhaps he finally turned a corner in Sin City.
His first season in New England has been a return to the norm, though. He has 36 receptions for 450 yards and three touchdowns, including Saturday's stats.
Even if he's not a long-term solution at wideout, New England was clearly looking to Agholor to play a big role in the passing game in 2021 after seeing its investment in 2019 first-round pick N'Keal Harry yield underwhelming returns. His injury will put more pressure on Jakobi Meyers and Kendrick Bourne.
Michael Pittman Jr., Kyle Dugger Ejected After Altercation in Patriots vs. Colts
Dec 19, 2021
New England Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson, right, breaks up a pass intended for Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) during the second half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and New England Patriots defensive back Kyle Duggar had their nights come to an early end during Saturday's game between the two teams.
Pittman and Duggar were both ejected from the game after a "feisty skirmish," per NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.
Following a feisty skirmish, #Patriots DB Kyle Dugger and #Colts WR Michael Pittman have both been ejected.
The dustup occurred on a play where Pittman was blocking downfield. He and Dugger shoved each other, and as Pittman went to adjust his helmet, he was shoved in the back by another Patriots player. Dugger swung at Pittman, then ripped his helmet off, and they both went down and wrestled on the ground before being separated.
Pittman was struggling at the time of his ejection. The second-year receiver was held to just one catch for seven yards, a season-low in both categories. He had at least two catches in every game this season prior to Saturday.
Despite Pittman's quiet night, the Colts hold a 20-10 lead over the Patriots at the time of this writing. Indianapolis was relying on its run game, with over 150 yards on the ground. New England entered the game as the first-place team in the AFC.
Dugger finished the game with five tackles. The Patriots scored their touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter, with Mac Jones throwing a 12-yard score to Hunter Henry.
The Colts defense picked off Jones twice prior to his touchdown pass. Indianapolis also made a huge play on special teams as E.J. Speed recovered a blocked punt in the end zone in the first quarter.
Rhamondre Stevenson, Brandon Bolden Fantasy Outlook After Damien Harris Injury
Dec 17, 2021
FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 17: New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) hands off to New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) during the National Football League game between the New England Patriots and the Dallas Cowboys on October 17, 2021 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The New England Patriots announced running back Damien Harris has been ruled out of Sunday's Week 15 game against the Indianapolis Colts because of a hamstring injury.
That leaves fantasy players to contemplate options like Rhamondre Stevenson and Brandon Bolden for their playoff matchups. J.J. Taylor was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list in late November, and there have been no updates about his availability.
Stevenson is the player most likely to take on Harris' role going forward amid a solid rookie campaign. He's rushed for 429 yards on 100 carries (4.3 YPC) with three touchdowns across nine appearances.
Bolden would seemingly be in line to take over as the third-down back, but Taylor is eligible for activation from the COVID-19 list at any time, which could carve into that reserve playing time.
The greater point here is that it could be difficult to trust New England's running backs, no matter who is in the backfield. James White, for instance, had just five weeks with double-digit fantasy points and seven weeks when he finished with fewer than seven points last season. He's on injured reserve with a hip subluxation this year.
Obviously, some of that came down to downgrading from Tom Brady to Cam Newton in 2020. But White at least was a proven fantasy player who you knew would hover around flex relevance in New England's backfield, but the snaps often fluctuate from week to week for the Pats.
It creates a level of uncertainty around Stevenson and, if activated, Taylor. They're talented, no doubt, but they might also find themselves in a pretty equal platoon, negating the fantasy value of each. Add in Bolden, who seemingly will reprise the White role in the offense, and who knows if any of these players will have much fantasy upside with Harris sidelined.
In fact, Bolden might be the safest bet in PPR leagues, given he's largely served as the team's top receiving option out of the backfield. See how murky all of this is, though?
Seasoned fantasy folks have been burnt by Patriots' backs more than once. Stevenson is the best bet, but there are no guarantees in New England.
The New England Patriots got a well-deserved week off in Week 14, but they enter the final stretch of the regular season with a real shot at the No. 1 seed and a potential Super Bowl run...
Bill Belichick Says Tom Brady Is 'Probably the Greatest Player in NFL History'
Dec 7, 2021
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches his team warm up before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick waded into the debate about the NFL's greatest player of all time, and you probably won't be surprised by his answer.
Belichick said on The Greg Hill Show that Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Tom Brady is "probably the greatest player in NFL history." He also reflected on his time coaching Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor, whom he called the best ever on the defensive side of the ball.
"It's been a tremendous opportunity for me as a coach," Belichick said. "I certainly learned a lot from Tom. He helped me develop as a coach, as did Taylor. I am very thankful for my opportunity to have over 30 years coaching those two guys."
Any GOAT debate is always subjective, but Brady is probably the most common response when the conversation focuses on the NFL.
The 44-year-old is a seven-time Super Bowl champion and the all-time leading passer (82,975 yards and counting). The fact he's totally upending the aging curve is bolstering his legacy further.
Belichick and Brady didn't have a bitter public divorce when the later left the Patriots in 2020 and signed with the Buccaneers, but ESPN's Seth Wickersham detailed how their relationship became strained over time.
Given what Brady helped New England achieve, one might have expected the team to make a stronger effort to re-sign him. The situation seemed to cement Belichick's calculating approach to roster-building. Nobody is untouchable regardless of what he did in the past.
Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft remained laudatory when Brady's departure was sealed, with the former calling him "the greatest quarterback of all-time."
During Tuesday's radio appearance, Belichick praised Brady further by saying, "Nobody deserves more credit for our success here than Tom does."
Patriots Edge Josh Allen, Bills on MNF as Mac Jones Attempts Only 3 Passes
Dec 7, 2021
New England Patriots running back Brandon Bolden (25) gets past Buffalo Bills safety Micah Hyde (23) for a two-point conversion after a touchdown run by Patriots running back Damien Harris during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex )
First place in the AFC East belongs to the New England Patriots.
New England defeated the Buffalo Bills 14-10 in Monday's low-scoring divisional clash at Highmark Stadium. Mac Jones attempted just three passes, but Damien Harris and the defense led the way for the victors as they improved to 9-4 on the season with a seventh consecutive win.
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, NE: 24 carries for 78 yards
Josh Allen, QB, BUF: 15-of-30 passing for 145 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs; 6 carries for 39 yards
Stefon Diggs, WR, BUF: 4 catches for 51 yards
No Quarterback Necessary for Patriots
Perhaps nobody in the NFL was playing better football than the Patriots coming into Monday's game, and the blustery weather figured to play right into their hands since they have been so reliant on the running game and short passing attack.
The game plan was crystal clear when Jones threw a grand total of one pass in the entire first half and New England still held an 11-7 lead.
Harris exploded past a crowded box for a 64-yard touchdown run, and Brandon Bolden's two-point conversion gave the visitors an early lead in the first quarter. Nick Folk also cut through the wind with a field goal, and the defense played well enough to ensure the advantage held up heading into the second half.
Harris reached a top speed of 21.01 mph, the fastest speed by a Patriots running back in the NGS era. Harris is also responsible for 2nd, 3rd & 4th-fastest marks.
Still, there was plenty of pressure on the defense to hold up against Josh Allen and Co. given New England's offensive approach. While it did a solid job of keeping the mobile quarterback in the pocket, the game got that much closer in the third quarter when Tyler Bass drilled a field goal through the wind.
The Patriots responded like they were a service academy at the collegiate level and used tight formations with fullbacks and tight ends to shorten the game and go with run after run. They even unleashed a quarterback sneak on back-to-back plays on third and fourth down, but Buffalo finally responded in the red zone with multiple tackles for loss to force another field goal.
While Jones finally threw multiple passes in the fourth quarter, it became all the more obvious it would be up to the defense if New England was going to win when Harris was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
The defense answered the call with two red-zone stops in the fourth quarter with Myles Bryant breaking up the final fourth-down attempt after a clutch Matthew Judon sack on the previous drive.
Bills Squander 4th-Quarter Chances
Monday was an opportunity for the Bills to right the proverbial ship after going just 3-3 in the previous six games. The inconsistency prevented them from building on a promising 4-1 start, although all it would take was a home win over the rival Patriots to seize control of the division again.
While the weather was largely to blame, they certainly didn't look ready to seize control of the division in the early going.
A fumbled exchange between Allen and Matt Breida ended a promising drive in New England territory, and the offense punted on four of its other five possessions in the first half as it struggled to move the ball in the elements.
First turnover of the night lands in the @Patriots defense hands. #ForeverNE
Yet the halftime deficit would have been much worse than four if one of those punts didn't hit N'Keal Harry to set Buffalo up in the red zone. Allen found Gabriel Davis for a touchdown on the ensuing play, which was all the home team needed to stay well within striking distance heading into the second half.
There were only so many possessions to work with in that second half, though, since New England completely abandoned even the threat of a pass on almost every play. The two sides traded field goals in the third quarter, which at least gave the Bills a chance to win it in the fourth.
It seemed as if they would do just that when they advanced to the 6-yard line, but Judon's sack led to a missed field goal. They still got one more opportunity after New England went three-and-out, but they never advanced past the 13-yard line.
The back-to-back empty trips to the red zone will surely haunt Buffalo fans if their team finishes behind the Patriots in the final standings.
What's Next?
The Bills travel to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14, while the Patriots head into their bye before a road game against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15.
Video: Snow, Wind Swirl Around Buffalo's Highmark Stadium Ahead of Patriots vs. Bills
Dec 6, 2021
Orchard Park - December 5: Early arriving RVs at a RV park across from Highmark stadium in Orchard Park, NY on Dec. 5, 2021. Buffalo Bills fans begin to tailgate a day and a half before the start of the game against the New England Patriots. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
The Monday Night Football matchup between the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills is going to be a blustery affair.
Here's what the 8-4 Patriots and 7-4 Bills will be dealing with on Monday night as they battle for AFC East supremacy:
Per Weather.com, game-time temperature is set to be 36 degrees but will feel like 23 degrees, with winds up to 28 mph and "brief bursts of moderate snow."
This is a huge matchup with implications for the entire AFC playoff picture, and it may be hard to see the action on the field. A Pats win would leave them in sole possession of the top overall seed in the AFC. A Buffalo win would leave four teams—the Bills, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens—at 8-4 atop the conference.
Expect to see a whole lot of running the ball, and a defensive struggle, when these divisional rivals face off on Monday night. The swirling winds inside of Highmark Stadium may also make the contest a struggle for both kickers.
Patriots' Mac Jones Files Trademark for 'MJ10' with Intent to Use It on Clothing
Dec 1, 2021
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) prior to an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
New England Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones is once again following in the footsteps of Tom Brady by creating his own brand.
According to Darren Rovell of Action Network, Jones filed a trademark for "MJ10" with the intent of using the brand for clothing:
Brady, the longtime Patriots quarterback prior to Jones' arrival, already has a successful brand in his own right in TB12.
After contending for a Heisman Trophy at Alabama last season, Jones fell all the way to the quarterback-needy Pats with the No. 15 pick in the 2021 NFL draft.
Jones was the fifth quarterback off the board, going behind Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance and Justin Fields, and all he has done is outperform all of them by a significant margin.
The rookie signal-caller has New England off to an 8-4 start this season, which is good for first place in the AFC East and second overall place in the AFC.
Jones and the Pats got off to a rocky 2-4 start, but they have now reeled off six wins in a row, including impressive victories over AFC competition like the Los Angeles Chargers, Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans.
While Jones' stats don't off the page, he has been solid, completing 70.3 percent of his passes for 2,850 yards, 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Jones was naturally compared to Brady when he joined the Patriots out of college, and thus far he has lived up to or exceeded all expectations.
The biggest challenge of Jones' young career will come Monday night when he goes on the road to face the 7-4 Buffalo Bills in a game that will decide sole possession of first place in the AFC East.
