INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts kept their playoff hopes alive with a 25-24 win over the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
A 3-yard touchdown thrown by quarterback Anthony Richardson and caught by wideout Alex Pierce with 12 seconds remaining in the game helped the Colts claw within one point of the Patriots' lead. Then, instead of kicking an extra point to tie the game, the Colts went for two and converted via a Richardson quarterback keeper.
Kicker Joey Slye did have a chance to give New England the lead at the end of the game. His 68-yard, would-be game-winner, however, fell short as time expired.
The win is the Colts' first at New England since Peyton Manning led the team to a 27-20 victory over Tom Brady and the Patriots on Sunday Night Football in 2006.
Both offenses started strong. New England drove 60 yards in 11 plays for a Slye 35-yard field goal, while the Colts drove 71 yards in eight plays, but found the end zone. Richardson hit running back Jonathan Taylor for a 7-yard touchdown and an early 7-3 lead.
The Patriots regained the advantage in the second quarter on Slye field goals of 31 and 54 yards. The second field goal was set up by a Christian Elliss interception of a deflected Richardson pass.
The teams then swapped touchdowns. Richardson put the Colts back ahead with a 3-yard touchdown run, but the Patriots' rookie quarterback, Drake Maye, connected with tight end Austin Hooper for a 16-yard touchdown four minutes later to give the lead back to New England, 16-14.
The Patriots had a chance for more points before halftime, but Slye missed a 25-yard field goal attempt to keep the score at 16-14 as the teams went to the locker room.
The Colts received the second-half kickoff and marched 68 yards in 13 plays. Kicker Matt Gay converted a 25-yard field goal to give Indianapolis the advantage once again, 17-16.
New England was driving for yet another go-ahead score, but linebacker Zaire Franklin broke up a Maye pass at the goal line and defensive back Julian Blackmon intercepted the ball to keep the game, 17-16.
The offense couldn't capitalize on the takeaway, and New England immediately put another drive together, capped by an Antonio Gibson 11-yard touchdown run that put the Patriots back on top, 24-17.
Richardson threw his second interception as the Colts tried to respond to the New England score. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez picked off a pass intended for Pierce.
The Indianapolis defense forced a three-and-out on New England's ensuing possession, setting up Richardson's late-game heroics.
With their win over the Patriots, the Colts improved to 6-7 ahead of their bye next week. They'll return to action on Dec. 15 for a critical game in the AFC Wild Card race against the Denver Broncos.