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FOXBOROUGH — With Drake Maye and the Patriots starters getting the night off, Tommy DeVito stepped into the spotlight for Thursday’s preseason opener against the Colts.
DeVito shined in the first half, while rookie Behren Morton took over in the third quarter and went 7-of-13 for 66 yards in his debut.
New England was in control for most of the evening, but a late 61-yard field goal from Colts kicker Spencer Shrader tied the game at 13-13. With 13 seconds remaining, Andy Borregales missed a potential game-winner from 49 yards. The Patriots kicker was just 2-for-5 on the evening and there was no overtime.
Here’s everything you need to know from the preseason opener:
Man of the match: DeVito
Maye’s understudy delivered a quality evening of work, going 13-of-22 for 138 yards and tossing a touchdown pass to Kyle Williams (more on that in a moment).
DeVito’s stat line could have been better if not for a couple drops from second-string wideouts and a pair of big plays being called back due to penalties. Playing behind a backup offensive line, the quarterback Mike Vrabel calls “Two Chains” was decisive with the football and only took one sack.
It looks like the Patriots have found their backup quarterback.
Play of the day: Vrabel
After Patriots linebacker K.J. Britt forced a second quarter fumble but Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson was ruled down by contact, Mike Vrabel embraced his inner tee-shirt cannon and launched his challenge flag into the stratosphere.
Following replay review, it was New England’s ball (and a hilarious highlight).
Quote of the night:
Tommy DeVito, on the fans that congregated in a “tarps off” section, where they removed their shirts and waved them in the air for much of the fourth quarter:
“The crowd was a lot of fun. I don’t know what the heck went on in that little student section, if you want to call it that. I felt like I was in college again. But that was awesome. They were rowdy. It was a lot of fun.”
NOTES
Vrabel: Gonzo’s absence injury-based
As Christian Gonzalez is in the midst of a high-profile contract negotiation, Mike Vrabel clarified the cornerback’s absence from Tuesday’s joint practice with the Colts on the 98.5 pregame show.
“Everybody that was healthy practiced. Those guys, we didn’t deem them healthy enough to go out there and participate,” Vrabel said. “When they’re ready, they’ll be back out there.”
Gonzalez wasn’t ready on Thursday night, as he didn’t suit up.
Plenty of run for backup receivers
With A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, and Pop Douglas given the night off, there were lots of reps to go around for wideouts further down the depth chart.
Kyle Williams caught the first touchdown of the game, shaking Colts cornerback Jonathan Edwards with a nifty release at the line of scrimmage and hauling in a 12-yard touchdown pass from DeVito. He added another 25-yard explosive reception late in the second quarter.
Mack Hollins suited up and made his presence felt, catching two passes for 24 yards from DeVito and drawing a pass interference flag. Kayshon Boutte started the game but wasn’t targeted, while Efton Chism caught three passes for 20 yards.
Borregales’ misses loom large
On a night where points were at a premium, Borregales’ three missed field goals hamstrung the Patriots. In addition to the potential game-winner from 49 yards, Borregales missed a 55-yarder and a 56-yarder
Vrabel expressed confidence in the second-year competition, but didn’t rule out bringing in competition at some point.
“We’re going to have misses. We’re going to have mistakes,” Vrabel said. “In everything we do, we just need to be able to come back. We need to be able to bounce back, and we need to be able to answer. Guys are going to drop a pass. Guys are going to miss a block. We’re going to miss a kick.
“But you just have to not let those things pile up, and Andy’s been really good with that, and I would anticipate him getting back to work and really starting to focus, and maybe it was a footwork thing or trying to overswing. But I have confidence in Andy. I just, you want to be able to make those, and I think we got in a position to win the football game, and you want to be able to make them.”
Strong night for Jam
Terrell Jennings landed on injured reserve Thursday, so New England’s No. 3 running back spot is wide open.
Jam Miller put his best foot forward against the Colts, carrying the ball 15 times for 55 yards (3.9 yard average).
“Jam was great again,” DeVito said. “Another rookie that’s stepping up to the plate, whether it’s in pass protection or running the ball. He’s confident in the huddle. ...He lowers his pads. He’ll lay the boom on somebody. Some one that has a little shiftiness. I’m ready to see some more.”
Lan Larison, who is also vying for the third running back spot, finished with one yard on seven carries.
Ben Brown gets banged up
The Patriots interior offensive line depth took a hit late in the first quarter, as Ben Brown needed to be helped off the field. He went to the locker room and didn’t return.
Brown started the game at center and is New England’s only established backup at the three interior spots. The issue was amplified in the fourth quarter when Brown’s replacement, Andrew Rupcich, went down holding his knee.
In the locker room after the game, Brown downplayed the injury but still had a limp.
Slop fest for Indy
The Patriots defense forced four turnovers in the first 32 minutes of the game. Cornerback Kindle Vildor intercepted Anthony Richardson, safety John Saunders picked Riley Leonard off, and the Patriots recovered a pair of fumbles — one of which was highly questionable but unreviewed.
Quick hitters
- First-rounder Caleb Lomu wiped out a 24-yard completion to fellow rookie Eli Raridon with an ineligible man downfield penalty.
- Tackle James Hudson took the biggest play of the night off the board with an ineligible man flag of his own. Tommy DeVito took a wicked shot to deliver a 48-yard completion to wideout Cameron Dormer, but it didn’t stand due to the flag.
- It won’t show up in the box score, but on Vildor’s interception, second-round pick Gabe Jacas bull-rushed a Colts tackle into Richardson’s space, perhaps altering the throw.
More Patriots Content
- 7 takeaways from Patriots preseason opener against Indianapolis Colts
- Patriots place RB favored to make roster on injured reserve
- 5 things to watch in Patriots preseason opener vs. Colts
- Did Christian Gonzalez just draw a line in the sand with the Patriots? | Karen Guregian
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