Perhaps it’s being jaded from recent late season franchise collapses, but the Indianapolis Colts continue to fade at the wrong time—having now lost 3 of their last 4 games with a 20-16 home loss on Sunday to the Houston Texans.
The Colts are now tied atop the AFC South with the suddenly surging Jacksonville Jaguars, who have won three straight, and still have to play them twice to end the season, as well as Houston on the road one more time.
Here are a few of my quick takeaways:
- The Texans’ elite defense was as good as advertised, limiting the Colts offense to 16 total points, and although it should’ve been 17 points had it not been for a missed Michael Badgley extra point, it felt like outside of a few Alec Pierce and Josh Downs big catches, Indianapolis lacked explosive play ability. The Texans pressured Jones all afternoon, and Indianapolis has to score more than 16-17 points offensively in order to win in the modern day NFL for what was the league’s highest scoring offense entering the day. Yes, even against the Texans.
- Daniel Jones has clearly lost some of his early season shine. Jones’ line on the day, completing 14 of 27 pass attempts for 201 total passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, and 0 interceptions wasn’t bad by any means and was a workmanlike effort given he was playing through a fractured fibula. However, it sure feels like the Colts are a lot less dynamic at the position than they felt during that hot stretch of the season earlier. The Texans kept Jones in the pocket and pressured him, and it sure feels like his sudden lack of mobility has also negatively impacted the dynamic ability of the Colts once incredibly formidable ground game with star workhorse Jonathan Taylor, who’s recently been largely bottled up by opposing defenses. The Colts have lost those games with the two seemingly going hand-in-hand.
- Alec Pierce continues to be a priority free agent re-signing for the Colts this upcoming offseason. His ability to separate downfield, high point the football, and make leaping contested catches is an incredibly special skill-set. His 19-yard touchdown reception midway through the 2nd quarter was a thing of beauty.
- Wideout Josh Downs had a very up-and-Downs day, with a few great diving snags—only to have a very frustrating 3rd and 8 drop later in the game that killed the Colts offensive momentum.
- Colts rookie tight end Tyler Warren had a pretty quiet game with 3 receptions for 22 total receiving yards collectively, but kudos to him likely playing through an illness, and collecting the Colts 2nd touchdown of the game with a 12-yard touchdown reception late in the 3rd quarter. According to the Colts Matt Conti, Warren passed former local standout Ken Dilger for the most rookie touchdown receptions in franchise history and now only trails the legendary John Mackey, who had 7 touchdown in his pro debut back in 1963.
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