A huge mistake by the Patriots’ special teams gave a gift to the Colts late in the second quarter tonight.
With the Patriots at their own 44-yard line, long snapper Danny Aiken launched the ball way, way over the head of punter Ryan Allen, and the ball rolled all the way down to the 2-yard line. Allen tried to pick up the ball and do something with it, but he was hit and fumbled, and the ball was knocked through the end zone for a safety.
It was a downright weird play, a terrible snap by Aiken and also a risky move by Allen, who would have been better off just picking the ball up and running through the end zone for a safety. The Patriots would have been worse off if the Colts had recovered Allen’s fumble.
Allen was hurt on the play, and although he did stay in for the free kick after the safety, he then went to the locker room. Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski may need to punt for the rest of the game.
Although that safety was the play that will have everyone talking at halftime, Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount is stealing the show with three touchdown runs, tying him for the second most touchdowns for any player in any game in NFL postseason history. Blount’s goal-line prowess has the Patriots up 21-12.