Colts edge Patriots on late TD pass, two-point conversion

Anthony Richardson threw a late 3-yard touchdown pass to Alec Pierce before powering his way into the end zone on a two-point conversion attempt to lift the Indianapolis Colts to a 25-24 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon in Foxborough, Mass.

Richardson had been picked off on Indianapolis’ previous drive, but he more than made up for the mistake in the game’s final moments. The dual-threat quarterback used both his arm and his legs to lead a successful 19-play, 80-yard march that resulted in the go-ahead points with 12 seconds to play.

Joey Slye came up short on a 68-yard field-goal attempt on the final play of the contest for New England (3-10), which was up 24-17 following Antonio Gibson’s 11-yard touchdown run and a successful two-point try with 8:43 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Richardson completed 12 of 24 passes for 109 yards, two TDs and two interceptions. He added 48 yards and a score on the ground, where Jonathan Taylor led the way with 96 yards on 25 carries for the Colts (6-7).

The Patriots amassed 200 rushing yards, getting 73 from Rhamondre Stevenson, 62 from Gibson and 59 from quarterback Drake Maye.

Maye also had 238 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 24-for-30 passing. Hunter Henry finished with seven catches for 75 yards.

New England worked all the way down to the Colts 5 on the game’s opening drive but ended up having to settle for Slye’s 35-yard field goal.

It took Indianapolis only 4:10 to get to the end zone on its ensuing drive, with Richardson finding Taylor for a 7-yard TD to punctuate a 71-yard excursion.

Two more field goals from Slye — from 31 and 54 yards out — gave the Patriots a 9-7 edge with 12:49 left in the second quarter.

Richardson used his legs to score from the New England 3 with 8:36 remaining in the first half to give the Colts a 14-9 lead.

Austin Hooper hauled in a 16-yard touchdown to put the Patriots up 16-14, but Slye shanked a 25-yard chip shot just before intermission to prevent the hosts from extending their advantage.

Taylor had nine carries for 44 yards on the first drive of the second half, which ended with Matt Gay’s 25-yard field goal that gave Indianapolis a 17-16 edge.

–Field Level Media