FOXBOROUGH, Mass – The New England Patriots were inches away from having a prime chance to tie the game up in the final seconds. But things just didn't go their way. 

On a key 4th-and-4 within the last seconds of the game, Mac Jones connected with Mike Gesicki, but the tight end was immediately swallowed up by the Miami Dolphins defense. However, instead of going down, he sent the ball backward to Cole Strange, and the 6-foot-5, 305 pound offensive lineman attempted to power past the defensive line and get the first down. 

While it was originally ruled as a first-down, the play was then reviewed and it was determined that Strange's knee went down just short of the line resulting in a turnover on downs. 

“I caught it, I ran it, and I didn’t get it,” Strange said about the play after the game. “There’s not that much to it.”

Gesicki was the who had the idea to throw it to Strange prior to being brought down, and the tight end took us through his thought process following the game. 

“Yeah, it was obviously fourth-and-three, and I caught the ball," Gesicki said. "I felt like I came back to it, so I had a feeling I was short. I also was on their sideline and heard people cheering as if it was short, so right then and there, I was like, ‘I can’t go down with the ball.’ I knew if I could toss it back to somebody, and I just saw one of the biggest people on the field in our offensive line, and it ended up being Cole [Strange]. I threw it to him, and I thought we had it, but unfortunately, we didn’t.”

Jones first connected with Gesicki on a short route and just had to watch to see if he could remain on the field with the offense. He was asked what he saw on that final play, and provided some detail. 

"Yeah, I think the biggest thing is just go through my reads and execute the play. When it's fourth down, you know, everyone is trying to throw beyond the sticks. But we had two option routes on that play and just tried to make a play. But, yeah, just didn't go our way."

Everyone held their breath as the officials reviewed that play, but when the call was reversed the Patriots fate was sealed. 

"Yeah, you should talk to the officials," Belichick said. "I'm sure they'll do a pool report on that."

The Dolphins took a knee on their final play, with the game ending in a 24-17 win for Miami. 

Patriots captain told Brenden Schooler he was going to block the field goal prior to the play

That play left quite an impression.

Featured Image via Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports