5 Takeaways From the Patriots 34-27 Win Over the Colts
Joe Calabro, GoLocalProv Sports Team
5 Takeaways From the Patriots 34-27 Win Over the Colts
"It's a good win. Glad we won, always good to win on the road. We got a quick turnouned this week, division game, so it will be fun," Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said after the game.
See the Five Takeaways Slideshow Below
The Patriots trailed 21-20 at the half but took the lead for good on the first drive of the second half when Brady found Gronkowski for a 25 yard touchdown pass and New England went up 27-21.
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The biggest play of the game came on a Colts botched fake punt late in the third quarter.
The Colts lined up with eight players near the line of scrimmage to the right side and the punter behind them. Then wide receiver Griff Whalen lined up as the snapper and safety Colt Anderson lined up under center.
They snapped the ball and the Patriots made the easy stop for a turnover on downs. The Patriots scored on the ensuing possession to go up 34-21 and seal the win.
"The whole idea there was on fourth-and-3 or less, shift our alignment to where you either catch them misaligned, they try to sub some people in, catch them with 12 men on the field and if you get a certain look, you can make a play. Alignment-wise we weren't lined up correctly, and then a communication problem on the snap. I take responsibility for that," said Colts head coach Chuck Pagano after the game.
The Numbers
Tom Brady went 23 for 37 for 312 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. The interception was Brady's first of the season.
LeGarrette Blount had 16 carries for 93 yards and touchdown while Danny Amendola had seven catches for 105 yards.
Next up
The Patriots return home for the first meeting of the season against the New York Jets. The game will mark the return of Darrelle Revis.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
For more on this game, see the five takeaways slideshow below.
5 Takeaways From the Patriots Win Over the Colts
Jamie Collins
Jamie Collins was impressive in helping fill in for Hightower at linebacker. He also had an impressive high hurdle to block a field goal at the end of the game.
He jumped over the entire offensive line to block it. If he touches one of those guys, it's a penalty so very impressive.
Keshawn Martin
Keshawn Martin was acquired by the Patriots on September 16 from the Houston Texans for a draft pick.
While in his short time with the Patriots he hasn't made a whole lot of plays, he has impressed with the plays that he has gotten.
Martin had one catch for 36 yards in this game and has 5 catches for 56 yards and touchdown so far this season.
Martin may be the reason why Aaron Dobson can't get on the field.
Injuries
The Patriots won the game but they lost several players to injury during it.
Julian Edelman appeared to dislocate his finger and it seemed to effect his catching ability. You could see him letting the ball hit his chest and that caused drops and the interception. Didn't want t catch it with his hands.
Left tackle Marcus Cannon left the game in the first half and did not return. Cannon was filling in for Nate Solder who is out for the season.
Also Jabaal Sheard left the game and did not return
At the end of the game, special teams captain Matthew Slater left the game with a lower leg injury. Slater did not return to the game but it was pretty much over so hard to tell one way or the other.
Defense
The Patriots defense was shaky in the first half allowing the Colts to score 14 points and the Colts to move the ball pretty easily in the first half. The first half may have been as bad as the defense has looked all season to this point.
However, the defense tightened up in the second half, they were much better in the run game and were able to get pressure on Andrew Luck. Chandler Jones had a big sack forcing the Colts to punt.
The Patriots only allowed six points in the second half and it came in garbage time.
Colts Fake Punt?
The Patriots were up by six, 27-21, with a minute left in the third quarter and forced the Colts to punt on a fourth and three, or so we thought. See the play Below.
The Colts lined up with eight players near the line of scrimmage to the right side and the punter behind them. Then wide receiver Griff Whalen lined up as the snapper and safety Colt Anderson lined up under center.
They snapped the ball and the Patriots made the easy stop for a turnover on downs.
The Patriots scored a touchdown on their next drive to go up 34-21 and ice the game.
It appears that fake punt was not supposed to happen, the ball was not supposed to be snapped.
You could argue that play cost the Colts the game.
