INDIANAPOLIS -- Jonathan Taylor ran for 170 yards and scored on a 67-yarder with 2:01 left to help the Indianapolis Colts seal a 27-17 victory over the New England Patriots on Saturday night.
The Colts (8-6) solidified their playoff hopes by winning for the fifth time in six games -- and ending an eight-game losing streak to the rival Patriots (9-5).
Taylor has run for a touchdown in 11 consecutive games to tie Hall of Famer Lenny Moore for the longest streak in franchise history.
"It was really just accepting the challenge, knowing it was going to be dogfight, knowing everything had to be earned," Taylor said. "When you do that, that's winning half the battle."
New England had won seven in a row and started the weekend in the top spot of the AFC playoff chase. But the Patriots could not overcome a 20-0 deficit because of too many uncharacteristic mistakes, including Taylor's game-saving run.
The game had a little bit of everything -- drama, physical play, shouting matches, even a fight that led to the ejections of Patriots safety Kyle Dugger and Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr.
But Indy won this one by stealing a page out of Bill Belichick's playbook -- using the ground game to chew up the clock and closing it out with a back-breaking play in the waning minutes. It was Indy's first win over New England since 2009.
And yet, it didn't have to be this close.
The Colts and Taylor sent an early message by starting their second series with seven consecutive running plays before Taylor took a direct snap, handed off to Carson Wentz and then Wentz flipped the ball to Nyheim Hines for an 8-yard scoring pass and a 7-0 lead.
Matthew Adams followed that by blocking Jake Bailey's punt that E.J. Speed recovered in the end zone for a 14-0 lead -- New England's largest deficit since a Week 3 loss to New Orleans.
"It seems like they just had good force on the play," New England special teams star Matthew Slater said. "That's tough when you give up plays like that, it's going to be hard to win. We spotted a team 20 points at their place. Good luck trying to win. There's no excuse to play like that."
The Colts added a 25-yard field goal before halftime and another early in the third quarter to make it 20-0.
Rookie quarterback Mac Jones finally got the Patriots righted in the fourth quarter. He threw a 12-yard TD pass from Jones to Hunter Henry (Pulaski Academy, Arkansas Razorbacks) and after Nick Folk's short field goal made it 20-10, Jones hooked up with Henry for a 7-yard scoring pass with 2:21 left.
Two plays later, Taylor eluded one tackle and sprinted to the front corner of the end zone.
Jones was 26 of 45 with 299 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions as he fell to 6-1 on the road this season .
Wentz was 5 of 12 with 57 yards with 1 TD and 1 interception as the Colts rushed for 226 yards on 39 carries.
Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Darius Leonard (53) celebrates alongside teammate Nyheim Hines (21) after intercepting a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches from the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Zach Pascal (14) is knocked out of bounds by New England Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson after catching a pass during the first half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Indianapolis Colts running back Nyheim Hines, center, scores between New England Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson (27) and middle linebacker Kyle Van Noy (53) during the first half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Indianapolis Colts' Matthew Adams, right, blocks a punt by New England Patriots punter Jake Bailey (7) during the first half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Indianapolis. The Colts' E.J. Speed ran the ball back for a touchdown. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)