Patriots With A “Touch Of Gray” In Blowout Of Colts
Sunday, November 16, 2014
It was a clash of the top two teams in the AFC looking to take their place atop the conference. It was also a battle of two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL as Tom Brady led the New England Patriots and Andrew Luck led the Indianapolis Colts into a key AFC matchup. With both quarterbacks ruling the headlines, it was running back Jonas Gray who stole the show — scoring four touchdowns and helping the Patriots route the Colts 42-20.
After forcing a 3-&-out to start the game, the Patriots started their attack by utilizing their power running attack with Jonas Gray. Gray carried the ball four times for 77 yards and a touchdown on the drive as he ran behind a line that had rookie tackle Cameron Fleming in to help with the blocking. The rushing touchdown gave the Patriots the 7-0 lead early in the 1st quarter.
The Colts came back on their next drive and started to attack the Patriots defense through the air. The drive was highlighted by a huge 46-yard completion from Luck to Reggie Wayne. Wayne went right past Darrelle Revis, who appeared to pass-off the route but did not get safety help. The Colts were unable to find the end zone, but did get a 31-yard field goal from Adam Vinatieri to make the score 7-3, Patriots.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe Colts were able to intercept Tom Brady on the next possession, as Mike Adams hopped in front of the pass. They were unable to convert, however, as the Patriots defense stepped up to stop Luck and the Colts.
After the teams traded possessions, it was the Patriots turn to grab an interception. Kevin McCourty stepped in front of an Andrew Luck pass for the interception. The interception led to another touchdown run by Jonas Gray. It was Gray’s first multi-touchdown game of his short career and gave the Patriots a 14-3 lead.
As the Patriots tried to run the clock down for the half, they had another huge error by Tom Brady as he threw his second interception to Mike Adams in the half — giving the Colts the ball back on the Patriots 23 yard line with 0:59 left in the half.
The Colts turned that into an amazing Hakeem Nicks 10-yard touchdown just two plays later, making the score 14-10 at the half with the Patriots in front.
While many questioned if the Brady interception changed the momentum of the game, the Patriots answered the call out of the half with an eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that culminated in a Tim Wright touchdown. The Patriots continued to rely heavily on the rushing attack — with Jonas Gray continuing to shoulder the load for New England. The Wright touchdown gave the Patriots a 21-10 lead.
The Colts were able to answer back, but once again it was with an Adam Vinatieri field goal rather than a touchdown. The 53-yard field goal cut the Patriots lead to 21-13, halfway through the 3rd Quarter.
The Patriots were able to come back and answer that score, however they converted a touchdown rather than a field goal. It was once again Jonas Gray, punching in his third touchdown of the game and capping a 10-play, 80-yard drive. The third touchdown tied a Patriots regular season record and gave the Patriots a 28-13 lead going into the 4th Quarter.
The Colts came right back and answered the call with a touchdown on a tackle-eligible play to Anthony Castonzo on the third play of the 4th Quarter. Castonzo capped the touchdown with a touchdown dance that will, more than likely, find its way onto the SportsCenter Not Top-10 Plays. Regardless, the score made it a one-score game at 28-20, Patriots.
The Patriots offense did not slow down, however. They continued to rely on Jonas Gray as he set a new regular season record for the Patriots with his fourth touchdown run of the game. Gray punched this one in at the end of another 10-play, 80-yard drive. Gray got his fourth score on a one-yard run, which he ended with an emphatic, Rob Gronkowski-like spike. Gronkowski was penalized on the play for a late hit on former Patriots safety Sergio Brown.
The Patriots next drive came following a turnover on downs from the Colts. The second play that the Patriots had the ball Tom Brady found Rob Gronkowski for a screen pass which was sprung by a huge Julian Edelman block. Gronkowski did the rest as he rumbled his way through defenders and in for a 26-yard touchdown to make the score 42-20. The Patriots were able to sit on the ball and keep the Colts offense on the sidelines to come away with the 42-20 win, taking sole possession of 1st place in the AFC at 8-2.
The Patriots were able to get the dominant win despite Tom Brady having an off night. Brady finished 19-of-30 for 257 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Brady limited his mistakes to the 1st half, not turning the ball over in the 2nd half and being very precise.
It was the running game, more precisely Jonas Gray, that led the Patriots to victory. Gray ended his career night with 38-carries for 199-yards and four touchdowns. Gray becomes the first running back since 1921 to have four rushing touchdowns in a game that he entered without a career rushing touchdown (per @SportsCenter). Gray also had zero negative carries on the night and only one play that went for no gain.
Rob Gronkowski led the Patriots pass catchers with four receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown. Tim Wright caught the other Brady touchdown and finished with just that one reception.
Defensively, the Patriots were led by fantastic cornerback play. Darrell Revis led a group that held TY Hilton to 24-yards receiving and the NFL’s top-scoring offense to just 20 points. They also received great games from Jamie Collins and Dont’a Hightower. Collins finished with eight tackles and a forced fumble on the night, while Hightower had six tackles and a pass defensed.
The Patriots also had Stephen Gostkowski make a big career accomplishment as he moved past the legendary Gino Capelletti for 2nd place all-time on the Patriots career scoring list — trailing only current Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri.
The Patriots now stand alone atop the AFC at 8-2 and got help from St. Louis, who defeated Denver today. They will be back at Gillette Stadium next Sunday as they welcome Matt Stafford, Calvin Johnson and the Detroit Lions.
