Stampede Blue
2-0 for the first time since 2009, and the Colts continue with their surprises. Andrew Luck could not do it in his entire career, and Daniel Jones has managed to do it in his first season in blue. I was not optimistic at all about the outlook for this year, but after just two games, I am ready to get hurt again.
In case you did not hear the announcers try and jinx Shrader, he is still perfect in his NFL career. He missed a 60-yarder wide right before a huge call against the Broncos for leverage gave him another shot from 45, perfectly inside his range. I was worried the previous miss, along with the massive pressure of the situation, would get to Shrader, but he remained cool and kicked it right down Broadway. Not only that, but he made all 5 of his field goals, and converted the two extra points. The Colts’ offense is moving the ball at will, but their inability to capitalize those yards on touchdowns is giving Shrader plenty of chances. It was between Shrader and Taylor, so why not both of them. Taylor gave us a vintage performance, and a revenge game after last year’s drop before reaching the end zone. He finished the game with over 200 all-purpose yards and a touchdown.
Howard was in a bad spot to be in, not having played football in over a year and being thrust into the starting lineup after both Charvarius Ward and Jaylon Jones were ruled out of the game with injuries. Sean Payton saw that too, and the Broncos’ passing offense started throwing the ball Howard’s way consistently, drawing flags left and right. As the game went on he settled down a bit, which is to be expected after such a long layoff. With Ward expected to be back next week the other cornerback spot alongside him will be between Howard and Blackmon.
Two games, two interceptions for new Colts’ safety Camryn Bynum, who celebrated like crazy on both of them. That play was huge not only because of the momentum shift, but it came at the perfect time when the Colts’ defense desperately needed a turnover. On a game that was decided by just a point, that interception negated the Broncos the chance to go for a field goal even if they failed to convert that third down.
I was screaming at the TV, and even more after Shrader initially missed the 60-yard field goal, which was evidently way outside of his comfort range. Colts had a 1st and 10 on the Broncos’ 43-yard line, and Steichen ran three consecutive inside zones. The first one got two yards, the next one got just...
