Despite a fourth-quarter comeback effort, the New England Patriots suffered a Week 15 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts dominated through the first three quarters, leading 20-0. New England rallied to score 17 points but fell short due to turnovers.

Jonathan Taylor clinched the game with a 67-yard touchdown run, showing why he is in the MVP conversation. The Patriots turned the ball over multiple times, which is a big reason why they were unable to come out on top. This loss makes the AFC race even tighter, and New England will need to bounce back next week.

That being said, here are three Patriots Week 15 takeaways from their disappointing loss to the Colts.

New England Patriots Week 15 Takeaways vs. Indianapolis Colts

3. Patriots won't be the one seed in the AFC

The race for the top seed in the AFC has gone back and forth all season, and the Patriots had a great shot at it entering Week 15. However, their loss to the Colts has put the Kansas City Chiefs ahead with a one-game lead.

The Patriots have two tough games remaining on their schedule against the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins. They do have what should be an easy game against the Jacksonville Jaguars as well.

Even if New England wins out, the Chiefs hold control of the one seed if they go undefeated down the stretch. The inconsistency offensively led to the Patriots' loss to the Colts. Indianapolis looks to be a playoff team, and New England will need to figure out how to beat teams of this caliber moving forward.

Live and breathe the NFL?

🚨 Get viral NFL graphics, memes, rumors and trending news delivered right to your inbox with the Clutch Newsletter.

2. The run defense needs to be better

In the playoffs, having a run game to slow things down is vital. The Colts have one of the best rushing attacks in the league with Jonathan Taylor, and the Patriots were unable to contain it. Taylor rushed for 170 yards and a touchdown, with some big runs coming down the stretch.

The Patriots will need to improve their run defense as the playoff approaches if they want to make a deep run. While their lack of offense was a big issue in this game, the inability to stop the run will prevent them from reaching their max potential.

Bill Belichick is known for having elite defenses, and it will be up to him to run a scheme to stop opposing rushing attacks moving forward.

1. Mac Jones isn't ready to make a Super Bowl run

Rookie quarterback Mac Jones has impressed this season as he has helped lead the Patriots to a 9-5 record. While he has been great, he is still inexperienced and is not ready to take this team to the Super Bowl. This was evident in the loss to the Colts as he threw two interceptions, including one in the redzone.

Jones still projects to be a good NFL player and could lead the Patriots to the Super Bowl in the future, but it is difficult to do it in his rookie season. In NFL history, no rookie starting quarterback has even made it to Super Bowl.

This year will be essential for his growth in the future as he will get his first playoff experience. Patrick Mahomes made it to the AFC Championship game in his first season starting and has made it to back-to-back Super Bowls since. It would be hard to replicate that success, but this shows that getting experience can lead to success.

The Patriots came away with a disappointing loss against the Colts, and they will need to bounce back next week against their division rival in the Bills.