Patriots’ O-Line Woes, In-Game Adjustment Had Colts Salivating

FOXBORO, Mass. — DeForest Buckner and the Indianapolis Colts entered Week 9 with the understanding the New England Patriots would be working with a patchwork offensive line at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.

“We knew they were down some O-lineman, obviously, and we had to take advantage of that,” Buckner told NESN.com in the Colts’ locker room after the Patriots earned a 26-3 win.

But that group, already missing starting center David Andrews and tackle Marcus Cannon while being forced to start Yodny Cajuste, received another in-game tweak as head coach Bill Belichick plugged Isaiah Wynn at left guard in place of rookie first-round pick Cole Strange. Seeing those sorts of adjustments — or “trying to find answers,” as Buckner put it — had the Colts’ defensive front salivating at the opportunity to get after quarterback Mac Jones.

“It definitely brings some confidence, obviously, to the D-line,” Buckner said. “Just being able to continue to get after him all game, like I said, we need to make more plays to get the ball away.”

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Buckner and the Indianapolis defensive front came away with four sacks and seven quarterback hits on Jones. The Colts compiled eight tackles for loss while allowing a mere 3.3 yards per play. The Patriots’ offense scored one touchdown in the contest and that was after a game-altering blocked punt by the special teams unit set New England up at the Indianapolis 2-yard line in the second quarter.

“I feel like we had a good game plan going against their offense and, obviously for the most part, did pretty good job,” Buckner said.

Fortunately for the Patriots, the Colts’ offense was even worse. And a number of Indianapolis’ problems also were rooted in their abysmal offensive line play, allowing nine sacks on second-year quarterback Sam Ehlinger. Colts All-Pro offensive guard Quenton Williams didn’t take too kindly to the performance.

With the loss, the Colts dropped to 3-4-1 with the Week 9 loss with the Tennessee Titans sitting atop the AFC South standings.