Week 1, 2021 NFL Season -- #INDvNE
Gillette Stadium -- Foxborough, MA
NBC -- 8:20 PM ET
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IND - 7 / 10 / 6 / 3 // 26
NE - 10 / 2 / 14 / 3 // 29
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Fields, McDaniels earn first win together over rival Fromm, Colts
New England couldn't have had a worst start or end to the first half of football in the post Tom Brady and Bill Belichick era. A kickoff return for six on the very first play of the season. An Antonio Brown 91-yard touchdown run with 15 seconds left in the half.
But when it mattered the most, the Patriot Way revealed its true colors.
Jake Fromm's two-minute offense was ended when Isaiah Simmons intercepted Fromm with 1:12 left in the game to seal the 29-26 win for the Patriots on Thursday night.
Simmons was infamously drafted with the 9th pick after New England traded up in the draft and passed on Jake Fromm, which many suspected New England traded up to get.
New England relied on it's running game, scoring a touchdown to open the half thanks to newly re-signed running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn and then running the ball nine straight times on their next drive which ended with Justin Fields' first touchdown pass being a lucky one. On fourth and goal from the six-yard line, New England went for it down 23-18.
Fields targeted Henry Ruggs III across the middle but the ball bounced off a Colts' helmet and right into the arms of Jonnu Smith. Fields also scored earlier in the game on a scramble on the first offensive drive for the Patriots.
The rookie completed 19 of 31 passes for 168 yards with a touchdown and an interception. His interception came on a play where he scrambled to the right, leaving a clean pocket and then threw up a jump ball to Smith which was intercepted. Fields finished second on the team with 99 yards rushing.
Sony Michel rushed for 144 yards while D'Eriq King added 73 yards on the ground. New England will need to rely on the duo after James White left the game with a rib injury in the first quarter. Since the start of last season, White has suffered four different injuries.
Antonio Brown made his return to Foxborough after being released by the Patriots back in 2019 and then missing all of 2020 with an Achilles injury promptly after the Colts signed him. Brown had two catches for 82 yards and rushed for 90 yards on the ground due to screens that were called backward passes. Brown was also stopped in the backfield for a safety during a jet sweep play.
It seemed fitting that Josh McDaniels first win as a Patriot coach came against the team he spurned to return to the Patriots. McDaniels was hired and announced as Colts head coach before reneging on his acceptance and returning to New England as offensive coordinator under then-head coach Bill Belichick.
Scoring Summary
Quarter 1
14:49 (IND) K. Hill, returned kickoff 97 Yds
9:54 (NE) J. Fields, 8 Yd run
0:00 (NE) R. Blankenship, 37 Yd FG
Quarter 2
9:25 (IND) S. Gostkowski, 42 Yd FG
1:18 (NE) Team Safety
0:15 (IND) A. Brown, 91 Yd run
Quarter 3
8:56 (NE) K. Vaughn, 1 Yd run (2pt-failed)
8:46 (IND) A. Brown 75 Yd pass from J. Fromm (2pt-failed)
1:15 (NE) J. Smith 6 Yd pass from J. Fields (2pt)
Quarter 4
9:23 (NE) R. Blankenship, 31 Yd FG
4:33 (IND) S. Gostkowski, 33 Yd FG
Player Stats
New England Patriots (1-0)
Justin Fields, QB: 19 of 31, 168 yards, touchdown, interception, 7 carries, 99 yards, fumble.
Sony Michel, HB: 24 carries, 144 yards.
D'Eriq King, HB: 11 carries, 73 yards.
N'Keal Harry, WR: 5 receptions, 77 yards.
Henry Ruggs III, WR: 4 receptions, 26 yards.
Jarvis Landry, WR: 3 receptions, 18 yards.
Jonnu Smith, TE: 3 receptions, 16 yards, touchdown.
James Wiggins, S: 7 tackles, forced fumble.
Isaiah Simmons, LB: 3 tackles, interception.
Stephon Gilmore, CB: 3 tackles, interception.
Chase Winovich, DE: 2 tackles, 2 sacks.
Indianapolis Colts (0-1)
Jake Fromm, QB: 17 of 23, 257 yards, touchdown, 2 interceptions.
Nyheim Hines, HB: 11 carries, 77 yards, 2 fumbles.
T.Y. Hilton, WR: 3 receptions, 54 yards.
Jack Doyle, TE: 3 receptions, 43 yards.
Antonio Brown WR: 2 receptions, 82 yards, touchdown.
Pierre Desir, CB: 14 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, interception.
Amari Burney, OLB: 14 tackles, 2 tackles for loss.
Darius Leonard, OLB: 11 tackles, 3 tackles for loss.
Justin Houston, OLB: 8 tackles, 3 tackles for loss.
Dean Lowry, DE: 5 tackles, 2 sacks.