Colts take care of business, set game of the year

1. Everything Happens Next Sunday

Source: Getty

It all takes place next Sunday: With Sunday’s win, the Colts also beat the Texans in next weekend’s final game of the season, and are once again in the running for a playoff berth unless the Bengals (4:25 p.m. Sunday) tie Indianapolis at one game. ” will be maintained. It’s the last playoff spot and the only two teams with the same record (Bengals win via head-to-head tiebreaker). By defeating the Raiders, the Colts further strengthened their potentially important conference record tiebreaker and earned a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Raiders. And it was needed, as the Texans, Jaguars, and Bills each won games with 1:00 to play. The win stops the Colts’ margin of error from shrinking and opens up an epic season finale next weekend inside Lucas Oil Stadium. If we win, we’ll be dancing come playoff time. Losing that will probably mean another year of watching the postseason from the couch. The Texans looked strong in Sunday’s home win against the Titans with CJ Stroud back under center, but they suffered some notable injuries. With Stroud and the Texans coming to town for a playoff spot, the Colts will face their starting QB for the first time in over a month with the rights to host a playoff game against the AFC South likely not being sold. , how would you deal with it? No matter what happens, it’s still impressive that this situation continues for the 2023 Colts.

2. Youth movements in secondary education pass the test

Source: Getty

Youth movements in secondary education pass the test: Chris Ballard made it clear this offseason that he is happy to work on the youth movement in the secondary in preparation for the 2023 campaign. The youngster’s athleticism took to another level on Sunday, with Julian Blackmon (IR, shoulder) and Kenny Moore (back, absent from Friday’s practice) both missing their first game of the season. The Colts, missing two all-important communicators and solid players, two rookie cornerbacks (Jaylon Jones and JuJu Brents), a second-year safety (Nick Cross), and a former safety/2023 They had a two-starting secondary who moved to linebacker in 2016/returned to safety in 2023. Last 48 Hours (Ronnie Harrison Jr.) The nickel cornerback is Chris Lammons, who entered Sunday having played a total of 32 defensive snaps over the past four seasons. The young defensive backs’ play on Sunday wasn’t perfect, but there were plenty of very competitive moments where they fought for the ball all over the field. That group was key in holding the Raiders to just three points, even though Las Vegas had four drives into Indy territory by the half. They bounced back from their poor play and weren’t hit deep. It was a job well done considering the young man who was there Sunday and was a big factor in the Colts playing in their favor for almost the entire game.

3. Minshew the Creator

Source: Getty

Creator Minshew: The Colts got some great playmaking from Gardner Minshew on Sunday. It’s a word he hasn’t used much this season, but Minshew made some big plays, some in overtime, others hanging in the pocket and getting accurate balls down the field. On all three of Indy’s first scoring drives, it was Minshew who got things moving. The first went to the top right of the pocket and found Josh Downs 50 yards, which led to a lead-off drive TD. Late in the first half, it was Minshew who bounced back from Alec Pearce’s absence and drilled a nice deep ball into a 3 at No. 14.^rd-and-1, for TD; And in the third quarter, Shane Steichen scored four points.^th-and-1, despite Maxx Crosby hitting the quarterback in the face, Minshew gave Michael Pittman Jr. a key conversion chance that led to a field goal. The Colts had to overcome poor field position and another egregious special teams mistake (EJ Speed ​​running into the punter), and Minshew did much of that.

4. Alec Pearce is doing his best.

Source: Getty

Alec Pearce is all in: The Colts’ 14-3 halftime cushion was a bit deceptive in that the Raiders actually controlled field position, but the Colts made the biggest splash play of the first half. in 3^rdJust in front of midfield, Shane Steichen put in a jumbo package. Gardner Minshew’s play-action fake coupled with Alec Pierce’s deep post gave the Colts a shot at the deep ball threat. And after Minshew removed Pierce early in the game, No. 10 stood in the pocket under pressure and sent a great ball to No. 14 for a big touchdown. While the Raiders had trouble finishing drives with short yards, the Colts struck gold with this deep shot. The play was a much-needed injection of life after the Colts went on three consecutive drives with just one first down. And it was yet another reminder of why Pierce needs to take multiple shots throughout the game.

5. Run Game, Matt Gay Icing It

Source: Getty

Run game, Matt Gay ice it: To end this game, the Colts had to go back to relying on their run game. While Jonathan Taylor didn’t reach 100 yards (he’s reached 100 yards just once in the last 19 games), JT also contributed to the Colts’ success on the ice with some great spells from Trey Sermon.Taylor finished the afternoon with 96 yards on 21 carries, but appeared briefly in the medical tent on four carries.^th quarter. Sermon then came on and ran for 27 yards and a field goal to extend the Colts’ lead to 10 points. With JT hobbled late, the Colts broke through on two big Raiders penalties, one of which gave Matt Gay another chance after missing 50 yards. Gay, who had some issues late in the season, put the nail in his coffin by converting from 45 yards. In the first half Sunday, the Colts took long stretches away from Taylor and the run game. But he returned there in the second half, having to travel through multiple time zones in a short week and rely on the Raiders’ defense.

6. Quick hitter

Source: Getty

quick hitter

-Injury Report: The following Colts were inactive Sunday: CB-Kenny Moore (hip), RB-Zack Moss (arm), LB-Cam McGlone (illness), S-Henry Black, DT-Adetomiwa Adeboah, OL-Jack Anderson. The following players were injured and did not return.

–Key statistics: The Colts led for 57:11 of the available 60 minutes Sunday.

–what’s next: The Colts (9-7) close out the 2023 regular season with a close game against the Houston Texans (9-7). The time for that game next week will be announced late Sunday.