As the 2021 NFL season reaches the home stretch, the AFC playoff race is up for grabs.
At the top of the conference sit the Chiefs at 10-4, with the Patriots (9-4) and Titans (9-4), right behind. The race for the seventh and final playoff spot is equally tight, with five teams sitting at 7-6, including the Colts, who will take on the Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday night.
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The Patriots have been one of the hottest teams in the league, having won their last seven games. Their run has largely been on the back of their defense, which ranks first in the league in scoring defense and third in total defense. But the offense has also played well.
Rookie Mac Jones is completing over 70 percent of his passes and has a 2:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, which has helped New England post the seventh-best third-down numbers and fifth-best fourth-down numbers in the NFL.
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The Patriots are going up against a Colts team that has won four of its last five thanks in large part to the play of Carson Wentz and Jonathan Taylor. Wentz has 22 touchdowns to just five interceptions for the season; Taylor, with his 1,348 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns, is an NFL MVP candidate. The Colts are third in scoring offense on the strength of their ground game.
This battle of strength vs. strength figures to be competitive. It is a must-win for both teams as they try to improve their playoff standings.
Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights throughout Colts vs. Patriots on Saturday night. Follow below for compete results from the NFL Week 15 game.
MORE: Watch Patriots vs. Colts live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
Colts vs. Patriots score
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | F | |
| Colts | 14 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
| Patriots | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 17 |
Colts vs. Patriots live updates, highlights from NFL Saturday game
Final: Colts 27, Patriots 17
11:11 p.m.: The game ends as Mac Jones’ pass 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 pass falls incomplete and stops the clock. Second-and-10 from the 50 with 1:27 left in the game and no timeouts for 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 17 with 2:01 left but no timeouts for New England.
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.
10:56 p.m.: N’Keal Harry hauls in a 43-yarder plus a roughing the passer penalty and now it’s first-and-10 for the Patriots from the Colts 7.
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 8:57 left in the game.
10:34 p.m.: An impressive play call on fourth lets the Pats convert and then on first down, there’s a nice toss to the running back in the backfield for the Pats and they peel off 18 yards on a pass to Bourne. First-and-10 from the 4.
10:32 p.m.: On third-and-1, the Patriots are stopped for a loss 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 cross midfield in the process.
10:23 p.m.: INTERCEPTION PATRIOTS. Wentz throws his first pick of the game and New England takes right back over at their 47.
10:23 p.m.: TY Hilton with his first impact play of the game. This one is a 19-yard pass by Wentz and the Colts are quickly at their 46.
10:18 p.m.: 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.
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 across 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 missed 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 tossed 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 impressive leaping grab but they spot him a yard short on third-and-11.
9:49 p.m.: 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.
9:40 p.m.: After winning the toss 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 Darius Leonard at the 6 and that’s where the Colts will take over with 1:47 left in the first half.
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 pass over the head of Mo Alie-Cox in the end zone. Field goal unit comes out.
9:04 p.m.: With the Colts looking at second-and-3 from the New England 13, the Patriots call a timeout.
9:01 p.m.: Wentz hits Zach Pascal in triple coverage for 32 yards and a big gain. Now at the New England 32.
9:00 p.m.: Wentz runs the QB sneak successfully on fourth-and-1. Colts now nearing midfield at their own 44.
8:58 p.m.: The Colts’ first drive of the second quarter looks a lot like their ones in the first — with a handoff to Jonathan Taylor. This one goes four 4.
8:54 p.m.: The Pats’ opening drive of the second quarter goes three-and-out and they send it away. Indianapolis takes over at its 37.
End first quarter: Indianapolis 14, New England 0
8:46 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN COLTS. The Colts block the punt and return it for the score as they take a two-score lead with time running out in the quarter. Colts 14, Patriots 0 as it’s EJ Speed’s second blocked punt returned for a TD this season.
8:44 p.m.: Another good tackle for loss by Indianapolis. Second one on this drive. Quickly third-and-9 and Mac Jones’ pass to Jakobi Meyers downfield is dropped. The Pats will punt it away.
8:42 p.m.: New England converts on third down as he hits Jakobi Meyers for the first.
8:36 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN COLTS. Nyheim Hines hits paydirt and hauls in an 8-yard touchdown pass on an impressive playcall by Frank Reich. Colts 7, Patriots 0 with 3:53 left in the first.
8:35 p.m.: Five straight runs for Jonathan Taylor on this drive, and he’s up to 25 yards on the drive. It’s now second-and-5 from the New England 16.
8:32 p.m.: Ashton Dulin takes it for 37 yards all the way down to the New England 41 and then Jonathan Taylor takes it to the 11 and Indianapolis is marching quickly on the ground. First-and-10 from the 30 for the Colts.
8:28 p.m.: On third-and-15, DeForest Buckner comes in and gets the sack of Mac Jones. Fourth-and-30 now for the Pats from their 32 and they’ll punt it away.
8:27 p.m.: After two quick penalties, it’s quickly second-and-19 from New England’s 43 for the Patriots.
8:25 p.m.: Mac Jones takes off and runs with it for 12 yards as the Patriots cross midfield to the Colts’ 48.
8:21 p.m.: New England converts on its first third down attempt of the game. This one is a strike to Jakobi Meyers for 10 yards. Now first-and-10 for the Pats from their own 40.
8:19 p.m.: Almost a disaster for the Patriots as the punt is knocked out on the return but it goes out of bounds and limits the damage. They’ll start at their own 22.
8:18 p.m.: On third-and-4, Carson Wentz tries to hit Michael Pittman Jr. downfield, who was wide open, but he overthrows it. Indianapolis punts.
8:18 p.m.: The first flag of the game comes in and is against the Colts for ineligible man downfield. Pats decline it and it’s now third-and-4 for Indy.
8:16 p.m.: The Patriots win the toss and defer. The Colts will start with the ball at their own 26.
Colts vs. Patriots start time
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 18
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Patriots vs. Colts will kick off at 8:15 p.m. from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
How to watch NFL Saturday game in Week 15
- TV channel (national): NFL Network
- TV channel (Boston): WBZ
- TV channel (Indianapolis): WXIN
- Live stream: NFL Network App, fuboTV
Patriots vs. Colts will air nationally on NFL Network. Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen will call the game from the booth, while Pam Oliver and Kristina Pink will report from the sidelines.
The Pats’ local radio broadcast can be heard on SiriusXM channel 226, while the Colts’ broadcast will air on channel 225.
In Canada, viewers can watch Patriots vs. Colts on DAZN, which includes every NFL game.
NFL schedule Week 15
National telecasts are in bold.
Thursday, Dec. 16
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Chiefs 34, Chargers 28 | 8:20 p.m. | Fox, NFL Network, fuboTV |
Saturday, Dec. 18
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Patriots at Colts | 8:15 p.m. | NFL Network, fuboTV |
Sunday, Dec. 19
| Game | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Panthers at Bills | 1 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV |
| Cardinals at Lions | 1 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV |
| Jets at Dolphins | 1 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Cowboys at Giants | 1 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV |
| Titans at Steelers | 1 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Texans at Jaguars | 1 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Bengals at Broncos | 4:05 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Falcons at 49ers | 4:05 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Packers at Ravens | 4:25 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV |
| Saints at Buccaneers | 8:20 p.m. | NBC, fuboTV |
Monday, Dec. 20
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Raiders at Browns | 5 p.m. | NFL Network, fuboTV |
| Vikings at Bears | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV |