The Indianapolis Colts are back on the road in Week 13, traveling to Foxborough, Massachusetts, for a 1:00 PM ET kickoff with the Patriots.
Following a loss to the Lions, the Colts now sit at 5-7 on the season and essentially are in a must-win situation as they find themselves a full two-games behind the Denver Broncos for the final AFC Wildcard.
Awaiting Indianapolis are the 3-9 Patriots, who are encouraged by the play of rookie quarterback Drake Maye. However, as the record would indicate, there’s been a lot of up-and-down play around the young quarterback, from big plays given up on defense, an offensive line unit that struggles in pass protection to drops in the passing game.
The good news for the Colts is that they are 4-1 on the season against teams below .500 and four of their final five games come against teams with a losing record.
With that said, while there was a lot to like about Anthony Richardson’s performance against Detroit, even if the stat sheet didn’t reflect it, the Colts have to clean up their own errors in what was a mistake-filled Week 12 performance if they hope to take advantage of the remaining schedule.
The Indianapolis Colts vs. Patriots game will be broadcast nationally on CBS in Week 13 of the 2024 NFL season. Spero Dedes and Adam Archuleta will call the game from the booth at Gillett Stadium, with Aditi Kinkhabwala reporting from the sidelines.
Colts Inactives
With two practice squad elevations on Saturday, the Colts have seven players inactive for Sunday’s game, which includes several key starters. For more on the potential impact of these players being out, click here.
WR Josh Downs
WR Ashton Dulin
OT Braden Smith
QB Sam Ehlinger
C Tanor Bortolini
DE Isaiah Land
S Darren Hall
Live Scoring Updates
First Quarter
– Patriots K Joey Slye makes a 35 yard field goal to give New England a 3-0 lead. A strong run game and TE Hunter Henry were the catalysts behind that long drive.
– Anthony Richardson avoids the pressure and finds a wide open Jonathan Taylor in the flat for a touchdown pass. Colts lead 7-3.
– The Patriots again move the ball with ease but stall out in the red zone due to penalites. Joey Slye hits another field goal. Colts lead 7-6.
Second Quarter
– Following an interception by Anthony Richardson, the Colts defenses forces the Patriots to kick a field goal, which Slye makes. Patriots lead 9-7.
– Led by the run game again, Taylor caps off an eight play scoring drive with a touchdown run. Colts lead 14-9.
– The Patriots continue to find success on the ground as well, and in the passing game with their tight ends. Drake Maye connects with Austin Hooper for a touchdown pass. Patriots lead 16-14.
In-game analysis
– The Colts make a switch at right guard, starting veteran Mark Glowinski over Dalton Tucker who has struggled in recent weeks. Danny Pinter will also be at center and Matt Goncalves at right tackle. More consistent play on offense starts with improved play up front.
– It’s only one drive, but much better push from the Colts’ interior offensive line on their opening possession.
– Through the first quarter-plus, the Patriots’ tight ends are off to a fast start in the passing game. This isn’t a huge surprise, given how often Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper are targeted and the Colts have also struggled to defend this position this season.
Highlights
A little pitch and catch.
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— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 1, 2024
(Please note that this article will be updated as the game unfolds.)