Patriots vs. Colts: Full Report Card Grades for New England
The New England Patriots have always prided themselves on building one of the league's deepest and most diverse roster. So in a game billed as a shootout between Tom Brady and Andrew Luck, it is fitting that power personnel and previously anonymous back Jonas Gray powered the Pats to a 42-20 win Sunday.
The Patriots dominated Indy at the line of scrimmage on their opening drive, bulldozing 89 yards down the field. Gray foreshadowed his dominant night with a bruising four-yard touchdown run to help give New England an early 7-0 lead. With Indy turning to sub-package personnel against the Patriots' two-tight end packages, the Pats were able to romp over one of the league's smallest front sevens.
After the Colts answered with a field goal, Brady and Luck traded turnovers before Gray once again powered the Pats into the end zone with another double-digit play drive, helping put New England ahead 14-3. The Patriots proceeded to hold Indy to a three-and-out, but Brady threw his second pick of the half, leading to a Hakeem Nicks touchdown that helped cut the lead to 14-10 at the half.
As they have the past six weeks, however, the Pats responded well to the momentum shift, driving down the field and extending their lead back to 21-10 after a Tim Wright touchdown and a Stephen Gostkowski extra point. With the offensive line continuing to dominate in run-blocking, the Patriots subsequently converted a pair of key third downs to take a 28-13 lead after their fourth consecutive red-zone touchdown.
However, Indy opened the fourth quarter by finishing an 11-play touchdown drive, capped off with a one-yard touchdown to offensive lineman Anthony Castonzo. But the one-possession margin was merely temporary, as Gray and the running game were simply irrepressible. The Patriots led 35-20 after the third-year back's fourth touchdown in what was effectively the game's final dagger.
Rob Gronkowski added one more jaw-dropping touchdown, leaping into the end zone with his best Clark Kent impression. New England notched their second consecutive 22-point victory over a top AFC contender.
Read on for full position-by-position analysis of the win that secured the Patriots' place atop the AFC.
Quarterback
1 of 10
Despite receiving excellent pass protection, Brady was arguably the biggest factor in keeping the Colts in the game during the first half. Brady threw a pair of uncharacteristically inaccurate interceptions to Mike Adams; the second one came in the final two minutes of the half and led directly to a Colts touchdown. With just 4.4 yards per attempt at the half, Brady's performance was reminiscent of his rough first month.
However, behind an improved screen and perimeter passing game, Brady turned things around after the intermission, finishing with 8.6 yards per attempt, a whopping total considering where he started from. Brady was able to establish a better rhythm with Shane Vereen and Brandon LaFell, while also delivering his most accurate passes on third down.
Indeed, that situational execution was key on a night in which Brady did not bring his consistent best. Indy came into the game as the league's best third-down defense, but the Patriots were able to convert nine of 12 third downs. Consequently, New England accrued 34:21 in time of possession, controlling the pace of the game and never allowing Indy's offense to establish a rhythm.
Brady's overall grade receives a bump for the strong finish and timely execution. Though the Patriots' passing game did not exploit its matchups as decisively as many would have expected, Brady's 19-for-30, 257-yard performance is not much to sneeze out when taking New England's run-heavy game plan into consideration.
Grade: B-
Running Back
2 of 10
The Patriots offense has been one of the league's most diverse units this season, and that trait was on full display against Indy. Two weeks after turning to spread formations to air things out against Denver, New England reverted to power personnel, regularly utilizing six offensive linemen and the power run game against Indy's undersized front.
After LeGarrette Blount ravaged the Colts in last season's divisional-round game, Jonas Gray had an eerily reminiscent performance, powering through Indy's undersized back seven en route to a franchise regular-season record four touchdowns. The Pats' 141 first-half rushing yards were more than Indianapolis had conceded in any full game this season.
Though Indy committed more men to the box after halftime, Gray continued his throwback workhorse effort, toting the ball 38 times in total for 199 yards. The third-year back will no longer be under the radar, and while the record-setting performance also stemmed from sterling blocking and game planning, it is clear that the Pats have found their go-to power-back replacement after losing Stevan Ridley.
As a result of Gray's exemplary night, Shane Vereen was marginalized a bit, receiving just five total touches. Though the lack of spread personnel limited Vereen's snaps and impact, he still managed 77 yards on those touches, illustrating his constant value as a receiver. His 39-yard reception helped jump-start a touchdown drive to open the second half.
New England's running game is not as impressive as it appeared Sunday, as Indy's small front is a poor matchup against the Patriots' big personnel. Nevertheless, this was a frightening message to the league, showing how the Pats' schematic versatility on both sides of the ball allows them to combat nearly any team.
Grade: A+
Wide Receiver and Tight End
3 of 10
The Pats utilized a spread formation less than in previous weeks, and with just 30 passing attempts, this unit was quieter than it had been. However, against a Colts secondary that played physical press-man coverage for much of the night, the receivers did well to consistently get open and prevent the pressure from affecting the passing game.
Rob Gronkowski was quiet for much of the night, as Indy double-teamed the All-Pro tight end in the red zone. However, his 26-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter was a superhuman effort, a must-see play that was reminiscent of his runaway freight train score against Chicago. Gronk finished with 71 yards and that touchdown on four catches, as Brady was able to find him downfield whenever the Colts left him covered one-on-one.
Julian Edelman also gutted through an undisclosed injury that had him shuffling in and out of the lineup. Edelman continues to display a diverse array of routes, catching five passes for 50 yards. LaFell's three catches all came after halftime (they included two beautifully timed back-shoulder first-down receptions), while Tim Wright chipped in with his usual goal-line touchdown.
There's not much to dislike from this unit, though Brian Tyms' two targets resulted in a drop and an interception. Still, one suspects that the Pats could have aired the ball out more if they needed.
Grade: B+
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Offensive Line
4 of 10
This unit may have its share of ups and downs, but against an undersized front like Indianapolis, the offensive line can dominate. New England ran every one of its pet run concepts with ease, but the interior running game was particularly impressive, especially considering the issues the Patriots had had between the tackles against Denver two weeks ago.
Rookie Cameron Fleming played on over half the offensive snaps before departing late in the fourth with an apparent ankle injury. Fleming will not be a central part of the game plan every week, as he was on Sunday, but his strength, mobility and ability to seal the edge allows the Pats to unleash their full offensive spectrum on any given week.
Expect plenty of plus grades in pass protection when the final numbers are crunched. Though Indy got pressure on Brady's two picks—Sebastian Vollmer was particularly culpable on the first interception—the Colts rarely penetrated into New England's backfield, even when they blitzed. That's a testament to how well the chemistry of this starting five has progressed, as the miscommunication that plagued the offense in September have totally dissipated.
This group possesses a nice blend of power and mobility, as evidenced by their down blocks on Indy's linebackers and trap plays near the goal line. The O-line is more than adequate at this point and played a huge role in making Gray the star of the night.
Grade: A
Defensive Line
5 of 10
It's beginning to sound like a broken record, but so long as the Patriots defensive line is stout against the run, the coaching staff can scheme around the natural pass-rushing deficiencies stemming from Chandler Jones' absence.
Rob Ninkovich and Vince Wilfork were absolutely dominant in limiting Ahmad Bradshaw and Trent Richardson to four yards (!) on 14 carries. Colts rookie center Jonotthan Harrison received his baptism by fire on Sunday night against the indefatigable Wilfork. Ninkovich also tallied a pair of quarterback hits in addition to his usual stellar edge-setting.
With Casey Walker inactive (and trending downward in recent weeks), Chris Jones and Akeem Ayers got the majority of the snaps in New England's four-man front. Neither made a particularly impactful impression, though the defensive line as a whole did well in containing Luck in the pocket rather than allowing him to break plays down with a run.
Alan Branch and Dominique Easley also showed up when given sporadic snaps. Branch had three tackles while Easley recorded a QB hit, as both are essentially situational package-specific players at this point. One wonders if the Patriots would consider employing a more liberal substitution pattern near the end of the season to preserve Ninkovich and Wilfork, but in a big game like this, the workhorses were the primary factors in turning the Colts offense one-dimensional.
Grade: A
Linebacker
6 of 10
Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia continues to keep opposing quarterbacks off balance with the versatility of Dont'a Hightower and Jamie Collins. Both are absolutely indispensable to how the Pats game plan now, and though neither posts particularly flashy stats, the tape and metrics illustrate their importance to the defense.
The A-gap blitzes are becoming a staple of the defense; it seems as though the majority of third downs end with an interior pressure from the second level. The two combined for 14 tackles, two tackles for loss, a pass deflection and a quarterback hit. Collins in particular had a timely pressure on Luck during Indy's first scoring drive, forcing an incompletion and limiting the Colts to a field goal.
The tackling was also customarily solid, as it will be surprising if the postgame review credits many missed tackles. The coverage on Bradshaw was particularly excellent, as the explosive passing back had just seven yards on four catches.
If there's one downer, it's that both had some issues dropping into deep seam coverage. The Colts had some success with deep crossing routes, exploiting New England's increased zone coverage usage to pick up some big chunks in the first half. Hightower and Collins are going to have issues picking up receivers who are already at full speed, so it's clear that the zone pass-off communication needs more work.
But that's nitpicking at an otherwise excellent performance. As good as the Patriots secondary has been, Hightower and Collins ensure that New England's sub-package personnel is versatile enough to match up against the tight ends and running backs who can stymie most defenses.
Grade: A-
Secondary
7 of 10
As alluded to in the last slide, the Pats secondary had issues on deep crossing routes that weaved through multiple zones. That may simply be a byproduct of a man-coverage team venturing into unfamiliar territory, though, as the press coverage was largely excellent throughout the night.
Darrelle Revis and Kyle Arrington decisively won their one-on-one matchups. Revis and Arrington generally lined up against Reggie Wayne and T.Y. Hilton, respectively, and Indy's top two receivers combined for just eight catches, 115 yards and no touchdowns on 16 targets.
Though Wayne got loose a couple times, Revis and Arrington played a huge role in preventing Luck from ever developing a consistent offensive rhythm. The former also had a nice pass deflection in the second quarter that landed in Devin McCourty's mitts for an interception.
The fickle Brandon Browner was more down on Sunday, however, as he had issues jamming and covering double moves. Largely matched up against Coby Fleener, Browner played the largest role in allowing the tight end to accrue a career-high 144 receiving yards. Still, Browner was also fortunate not to concede a long touchdown to rookie Donte Moncrief after the rookie slipped past a jam attempt and got open deep.
Logan Ryan was also shaky in receiving snaps over Malcolm Butler as the dime back. Ryan appeared to have a miscommunication with Revis on a long Wayne reception in the first quarter, and he also missed a tackle that would have stopped the Colts on 4th-and-1. Indy would later score a touchdown that drive on an Anthony Castonzo reception.
Nevertheless, considering how the Colts have steamrolled over every secondary with their multifaceted weaponry, it was pleasing to see the Pats make their share of plays. Indy accumulated a fair amount of big plays, and perhaps Luck would have prevailed in a slugfest if his defense had better success stopping the run. Still, it is hard to grade harshly after limiting an elite offense to 20 points at home.
Grade: B
Special Teams
8 of 10
With how steadily each offense controlled the game, special teams did not make a particularly meaningful impact in this game. Still, the Pats were able to prevent the Colts from generating a big play from the third phase to catalyze a comeback, so the vibe surrounding this unit is positive overall.
After a stellar game against the Jets, the sheen has worn off the Danny Amendola experiment as a returner. Amendola totaled six yards on three punt returns, which included a questionable decision to field the ball at the five-yard line. He also had 21 yards on his lone kick return, though he was never going to get many opportunities there because of the dome setting and Pat McAfee's booming leg.
Stephen Gostkowski had a breezy day, hitting all six extra points, while Ryan Allen booted his lone punt 59 yards through the end zone. The kick coverage team did give up a 32-yard kickoff return to Dan "Boom" Herron, while Malcolm Butler committed a holding penalty on the punt coverage team.
Grade: A-
Coaching
9 of 10
Josh McDaniels again demonstrated his creativity with personnel in unleashing the jumbo "12" package with sixth offensive linemen Cameron Fleming as an eligible tight end. The grouping overwhelmed the Colts on the ground and gave Brady significantly more margin for error on a night when the Colts defensive backs stuck well in man coverage.
This was likely the best offensive balance the Patriots achieved all season, as Indy never got a bead on New England's play-calling or schematic patterns. Five of New England's drives went at least 68 yards, and the Patriots scored touchdowns on each of their final four drives (excluding the end-of-game kneeldown sequence).
That's not to say the play-calling was perfect. Brady's second interception came off a questionable play-action deep drop on 3rd-and-1, as there were multiple instances in the first half when McDaniels appeared to move away from the run too soon. However, he largely remedied that in the second half, and with 45 total rushes, one cannot accuse McDaniels of abandoning the run on Sunday.
Defensively, the decision to play zone on a fairly significant number of snaps seemed questionable, especially given the success Revis and Arrington had on the perimeter. But the well-timed blitzes continue to flummox opposing offenses, while the coaches continue to play with moveable chess pieces like Browner, Hightower and Collins.
Because Indy was never able to conjure an answer for New England's success on the ground, it's clear that Belichick won this coaching matchup. The staff continues to devise excellent game plans that take advantage of its versatile personnel, having combated a plethora of weapons over the past three games. Apart from a questionable decision to challenge a Fleener reception, this was a mostly flawless performance.
Grade: A
Final Grades
10 of 10
| Position Unit | Final Grade |
| QB | B- |
| RB | A+ |
| WR/TE | B+ |
| OL | A |
| DL | A |
| LB | A- |
| DB | B |
| ST | A- |
| Coaching | A |
| Cumulative Grade | A- |
It's tempting to give the Patriots an A, but given their lofty standards, it's almost an expectation that they execute as cleanly as they did against Indianapolis. It's puzzling that New England has been an underdog in each of their past two games, as the Pats are performing at a higher level than any other team in the league at the moment.
But Brady and Belichick like to suggest that the season does not truly start until after Thanksgiving, meaning that these 22-point victories over Denver and Indy are merely impressive tune-ups for the winter. The Patriots have done well to peak in December in recent seasons, and with four of their final six games against teams over .500, the Pats cannot afford a significant dip in form.
Nevertheless, New England is now a heavy favorite for the top seed in the AFC. Few could have envisioned the Patriots ascending to the NFL penthouse after September, but even fewer would suggest that the Pats are not the currently class of the AFC after their last two wins.
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