New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo stood up for Christian Barmore on the controversial no-call late in Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.
The veteran defensive tackle was seemingly held during the two-point conversion play when Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson snuck the ball into the end zone and mocked the Patriots in the process.
The play came at the end of an 80-yard touchdown drive that ultimately gave the Colts the 25-24 victory.
“I thought he got held. I watched the film, it’s pretty clear to me,” Mayo said on Monday, via ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “But it wasn’t called; there’s no excuses from me on that.”
The Patriots defense struggled on the day, giving up 144 yards on the ground to Richardson and Colts running back Jonathan Taylor.
The Patriots had several other miscues in the game, including a missed 25-yard field goal in the second quarter and a dropped pass near the goal line that turned into an interception.
The missed call on Barmore was one of many missed opportunities for the Patriots to come away with the win on Sunday.