Colts Catastrophe

Colts Catastrophe

Lucas Oil Stadium, the site of the game
New England Patriots (4–0) Indianapolis Colts (3–2) 34 27 Head coach: Bill Belichick Head coach: Chuck Pagano
1 2 3 4 Total NE 7 13 7 7 34 IND 7 14 0 6 27
Date	October 18, 2015
Stadium	Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
Referee	Tony Corrente
Attendance	66,726
TV in the United States
Network	NBC
Announcers	Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth

The Colts Catastrophe was an unsuccessful National Football League (NFL) trick play attempted by the Indianapolis Colts against the New England Patriots on October 18, 2015. It occurred near the end of the third quarter in the teams' Week 6 game of the 2015 NFL season.^[1]

The play was called during a Colts' fourth down on their 37-yard line, with three yards needed for a new set of downs. A fake punt, it saw most of the Colts players (including punter Pat McAfee) move from their positions to line up on the other side of the field, leaving only upback Colt Anderson set to receive the ball from gunner Griff Whalen. With the Colts' unusual formation alerting the Patriots to the fake punt before the play began and Anderson virtually unprotected by his teammates, Anderson was almost immediately tackled for a loss after the ball was snapped and New England took over on downs. An illegal formation penalty was also called on the Colts, which the Patriots declined. The Patriots scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive, helping seal their eventual 34–27 victory.

According to McAfee, the play was intended to trick the Patriots into being penalized for having too many men on the field or going offside, which would have resulted in a Colts first down. McAfee said Indianapolis planned on letting the play clock run out after it failed to draw a New England penalty, but a "communications breakdown" led to the ball being snapped. It is regarded as one of the worst trick plays in NFL history due to its poor execution and outcome.