Maye and Mayo analyze the Patriots’ red zone struggles in loss to the Colts originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

There were many reasons why the New England Patriots came up just short in their 25-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday’s Week 13 game at Gillette Stadium, and red zone issues should be at the top of the list list are available.

The Patriots had little trouble moving the ball against the Colts defense all game. They made six trips to the red zone, but only scored two touchdowns on those drives. And in a close game with a lot of lead changes, the difference between a field goal and a touchdown in just one drive could mean the difference between winning and losing.

What caused the Patriots to be unable to finish their drives in the red zone?

“I thought we ran the ball up pretty well until we got to the goal line,” Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye said in his postgame press conference. “I think I can maybe make some progress in the passing game. It was hard down there. It was tight. Narrow windows. Tight throws.”

“I have to give our guys a few chances. I think that’s probably the biggest thing. And penalty shootouts – I think one of them was a penalty shootout. From the 20th minute we scored another first-and-goal. That’s just not possible.” Settle for four field goals in the red zone and expect to win ballgames.

The case Maye is talking about happened in the first quarter on the team’s second drive. The Patriots marched to the 2-yard line, where running back Rhamondre Stevenson took a direct snap and ran right for a touchdown. However, the score was disallowed due to a holding penalty on offensive lineman Mike Onwenu. On the very next play, rookie left guard Layden Robinson was also penalized for holding.

So the Patriots went from the first-and-goal play at the 2-yard line to the first-and-goal play at the 22-yard line. They settled for a field goal on that drive. A touchdown probably would have changed the final result.

The game’s opening drive also ended with a Patriots field goal in the red zone. The drive stalled when Maye took a sack on third down, for which he took the blame.

“Yeah, I can’t take a sack,” said Maye. “Red zone sacks, especially when we have a chance to maybe get a few yards and get going. I don’t remember the game, but I’m thinking maybe – what direction did we go? We went in that direction. I think maybe.’ When I got to the back side, I just had to stay in the pocket and get back to the back side of the progression.

Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo pointed out that poor execution was at the root of the team’s problems in the red zone.

“I will go back and watch the film again. Ultimately it’s the execution at that point in the game,” Mayo said in his post-match press conference. He added: “We just need to improve implementation.”

The Patriots have the fourth-worst touchdown scoring rate in the red zone after Sunday. There are a lot of things this team needs to improve on this coming bye week, and red zone offense is certainly one of them. Mayo would be wise to devote plenty of practice time to improving this aspect of the team’s offense.

The Patriots have the second-toughest remaining schedule in the league. They won’t win any more games if they continue to settle for field goals inside the 20-yard line.