The whistle didn’t go the Patriots’ way on arguably the biggest play of the game Sunday.
New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo believes defensive tackle Christian Barmore was interfered with on the Indianapolis Colts’ game-winning two-point conversion at Gillette Stadium. Barmore initially pointed out the supposed infraction, and after watching the film Mayo agreed.
“Look, they didn’t call it,” Mayo said during a video conference Monday morning. “I thought he got held when I watched the film. I mean, it’s pretty clear to me. But it wasn’t called. So no excuses from me on that.”
Colts offensive tackle Matt Goncalves pulled Barmore below the waist after Barmore swam past him off the ball. Colts guard Quenton Nelson came in above the waist at the same time Goncalves grabbed at Barmore’s legs. Goncalves seemed to commit not one but two infractions on the play.
“Felt like I had good position. I felt like someone was holding my leg,” Barmore told ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “Quenton Nelson is a good player and he came and got me, but I felt like somebody was holding my leg. Real frustrating.”
Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson ultimately plunged across the goal line on the two-point attempt. It capped a 19-play, 80-yard march and granted Indianapolis a 25-24 win.