by Kevin Hickey
The Indianapolis Colts (2-1) fought and clawed their way to a 22-19 upset win over the Baltimore Ravens (2-1) on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.
In a game that featured several starters out due to injury and some ugly weather due to Tropical Storm Ophelia, the Colts stayed in the game after allowing an early touchdown in the first quarter.
With the win and the other losses within the division, the Colts are now in sole possession of first place in the AFC South.
Here’s our instant analysis of the Week 3 win for the Colts:
What went right
- K Matt Gay made history. He converted all five of his field-goal attempts, four of which came from over 50 yards. He’s the first kicker in NFL history to make four 50-yard field goals in one game.
- The Colts defense forced five three-and-outs, including one in overtime. They also had a turnover on downs in overtime.
- The front seven recorded six tackles for loss, four sacks, four quarterback hits and three forced fumbles.
- The defense held the Ravens offense to 6-of-16 on third downs, good for a 38% conversion rate.
What went wrong
- The offense was just 8-of-22 on third-down attempts, which was a 36% conversion rate.
- The defense could not contain Lamar Jackson on the ground. He took 14 carries for 101 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
- QB Gardner Minshew struggled to identify blitzes, especially when the Ravens would run fire zone concepts.
- On 84 offensive plays, the Colts averaged just 3.9 yards per play.
- WR Isaiah McKenzie made a crucial mistake calling a fair catch but letting the punt fall to the two-yard line. It resulted in a safety.
The Bottom Line
This Colts team showed incredible fight. Despite going down early, they continued to compete throughout the game, especially on the defensive side. They took advantage of their opportunities when Baltimore made mistakes, and the addition of Matt Gay made all the difference on Sunday. It’s clear this team wants to fight for its new head coach, and they are trending toward being a team that is going to exceed expectations.
Originally posted on coltswire.usatoday.com