Thanks to a strong showing by Jonathan Taylor and their defense, the Colts managed a 27-17 win at home over the Patriots on Saturday to improve their standing in the AFC playoff race.
On a night when Carson Wentz struggled he completed 5 of 12 pa ses for 57 yards Taylor, the defense and the special teams bailed out Indianapolis.
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The Colts led 17-0 at halftime after scoring two touchdowns late in the first quarter, including one on a blocked punt that was recovered in the end zone.
Taylor totaled 170 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries, while the defense recorded two interceptions, a sack and four tackles for lo s. Taylor's most important run of the game came with just over two minutes left as he took it 67 yards to the house for the touchdown that iced the game.
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That was a crucial score because the Patriots had put up17 consecutive points in the fourth quarter to that point.
Mac Jones was 26 of 45 for 299 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Tight end Hunter Henry had an impre sive six-catch, 77-yard, two-touchdown performance.New England couldn't get much going on the ground, however, totaling Andre Dillard Jersey just 81 yards.
Overall, New England outgained Indianapolis and had more first downs, but the Colts capitalized in key moments.
Indianapolis (8-6) moved into fifth place in the AFC standings with the win. Itwill travel to Arizona next week. AFC East-leading New England (9-5) has Buffalo looming in Week 16.
Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights throughout Colts vs. Patriots on Saturday night. Follow below for compete results from the NFL Week 15 game. (All times Eastern.)
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Colts vs. Patriotsscore1 2 3 4 F Colts1433727Patriots0001717Colts vs. Patriotslive updates, highlights from NFL Saturday gameFinal: Colts 27, Patriots 17
11:11 p.m.:The game e sentially ends as Mac Jones' pa s on fourth-and-10 falls incomplete with 1:10 left. Indianapolis takes back over and will enter victory formation.
11:06 p.m.:On second-and-1, Jones dumps it off to Brandon Bolden for 16 yards to the 50 but then the first down pa s falls incomplete and stops the clock. Second-and-10 from the 50 with 1:27left in the game and no timeouts for Rasul Douglas Jersey New England.
11:03 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, COLTS. Jonathan Taylor takes it 67 yards for the late score and that should put this one away. Colts 27, Patriots 17with 2:01 left but no timeouts for New England.
THE J-TRAIN SAID GOODNIGHT!
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11:01 p.m.: The Colts take over at their own 31 following a good return on the kickoff. New England calls its third and final timeout with 2:11 left.
10:59 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS. Hunter Henry with his second score of the night and it's quickly a three-point game. Colts 20, Patriots 17 with 2:21 left in the game.
Weve got ourselves a game.Mac Jones & connect for six again and the trail 20-17 with 2:21 remaining. : on :
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10:56 p.m.: N'Keal Harry hauls in a 43-yarder plus a roughing the pa ser penalty and now it's first-and-10 for the Patriots from the Colts 7.
Mac Jones connects deep with ! : on :
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10:56 p.m.: Offsetting penalties and it's third-and-6 for the Patriots with 2:50 left from the New England 42.
10:52 p.m.: The Colts go three-and-out. New England takes over from their 18 with 3:48 left down two scores.
10:49 p.m.: On second-and-10, the Patriots diagnose the play beautifully and swallow up Jonathan Taylor behind the line. They call a timeout with third-and-14 looming.
10:44 p.m.: For the third time tonight, Indianapolis goes for it on fourth down and again they call a QB sneak and convert it. First-and-10 from the 44 for the Colts upcoming as they call their first timeout with 4:50 left in the game.
10:41 p.m.: Jonathan Taylor for 12 yards on first down following the field goal. First-and-10 for the Colts from their 34.
10:37 p.m.: FIELD GOAL PATRIOTS. After a penalty, the Patriots get driven back but go three-and-out so Nick Folk splits the uprights for a 25-yarder and it's still a two-score game. Colts 20, Patriots 10 with 8: Seth Joyner Jersey 57 left in the game.
10:34 p.m.: An impre sive play call on fourth lets the Pats convert and then on first down, there's a nice to s to the running back in the backfield for the Pats and they peel off 18 yards on a pa s to Bourne. First-and-10 from the 4.
10:32 p.m.: On third-and-1, the Patriots are stopped for a lo s and they'll go for it on fourth down from the Colts' 32.
10:27 p.m.: Jones dumps It off to Bolden on third-and-10 for 12 yards and the Patriots convert and cro s midfield in the proce s.
10:23 p.m.: INTERCEPTION PATRIOTS. Wentz throws his first pick of the game and New England takes right back over at their 47.
Tip drill. Devin McCourty gets the pick and the are back in busine s. : on :
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10:23 p.m.: TY Hilton with his first impact play of the game. This one is a 19-yard pa s by Wentz and the Colts are quickly at their 46.
10:18 p.m Shareef Miller Jersey .: TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS. The Pats are clawing their way back as Jones hits Henry for 12 yards and the score to open the fourth. Colts 20, Patriots 7 with 14:55 left in the game.
New England is on the board. : on :
NFL (@NFL) End third quarter: Colts 20, Patriots 0
10:14 p.m.: It's now first-and-23 following consecutive penalties. The clock ticks down in the third and New England will start the fourth looking at second-and-10 from the 12 again.
10:11 p.m.: Mac Jones throws acro s his body over the middle to tight end Hunter Henry, who hauls it in for back-to-back catches of 8 and 11 yards and the Patriots are now down at the 12.
10:10 p.m.: The Patriots moving the ball here early. Gains of 14, 10 and 6 following the mi sed field goal. An incompletion makes it third-and-4 now for the Pats.
10:05 p.m.: This time Badgley's field goal sails wide right on fourth down. Remains a 20-0 game for the Colts with 4:33 left in the third.
10:03 p.m.: Two ejections on the play following a skirmish after the whistle. Wideout Michael Pittman to sed for the Colts and Kyle Dugger is ejected for the Patriots. Now third-and-3 with 5:26 left in the third for the Colts.
10:00 p.m.: Frank Reich's decision pays off as Wentz takes it himself on fourth-and-1 and picks up 2 and the first down.
9:59 p.m.: The Colts also stay on the field on fourth down now following New England turning it over on downs.
9:54 p.m.: The Patriots keep the offense on the field on fourth-and-1 from their 47 but turn it over on downs. That's where the Colts will take back over.
9:54 p.m.: Nelson Agholor makes an impre sive leaping grab but they spot him a yard short on third-and-11.
9:49 p.m. DeSean Jackson Jersey : On third-and-2, New England gets gifted with an offsides call against the Colts. Now first-and-10 from their own 38.
9:47 p.m.: FIELD GOAL COLTS. Indianapolis extends its lead as Badgley does indeed nail the 41-yarder following the penalty. Colts 20, Patriots 0 with 11:49 left in the third.
9:44 p.m.: Badgley's field goal is no good for 46, but the Patriots jumped offsides and the Colts will move it up 5 yards now and he'll line back up for a 41-yarder.
9:41 p.m.: INTERCEPTION COLTS. Another pick thrown by Mac Jones, this one on third-and-1. Colts take back over at the New England 20 and this game could be over in a hurry.
Bobby Okereke laid out for the interception : on :
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9:40 p.m.: After winning the to s and deferring, the Patriots will start the second half with the ball.
Halftime: Colts 17, Patriots 0
9:20 p.m: INTERCEPTION PATRIOTS. Mac Jones throws a pick to Dallas Goedert Jersey Darius Leonard at the 6 and that's where the Colts will take over with 1:47 left in the first half.
THE MANIAC INT + STIFF ARM : on :
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9:15 p.m.: The Patriots are now near the red zone after a nice catch by tight end Hunter Henry puts New England at the Indy 22 with the two-minute warning upcoming.
9:13 p.m.: Mac Jones hits Kendrick Bourne for 15 and then Rhamondre Stevenson takes it on the ground for 13. Two big plays off the bat for the Patriots as they look to answer before halftime.
9:09 p.m.: FIELD GOAL COLTS. Michael Badgley splits the uprights from 25 yards out and the Colts extend their lead while taking nearly nine minutes off the clock. Colts 17, Patriots 0 with 4:31 left in the first half.
9:07 p.m.: Colts now 2-for-5 tonight on third down as Wentz sails a pa s over the head of Mo Alie-Cox in the end z