The Indianapolis Colts traveled to Jacksonville in Week 6 and suffered another embarrassing loss to the Jaguars. Here’s what went wrong for Indy.
By Jaleel Grandberry
The nightmares in Jacksonville continue for the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts haven’t been able to pick up a win on the road against the Jaguars since 2014, and that didn’t change on Sunday. Indianapolis suffered yet another embarrassing loss in Jacksonville, losing 37-20, and falling to 3-3.
The Week 6 matchup was a big game for both teams, because they both entered with a 3-2 record and the winner of the game would have sole possession of the AFC South lead. It was the Jaguars that left with that designation, as they completed a sweep over the Colts.
The first game back in Week 1 was competitive; Indy lost 31-21. This time around, the outcome was much more embarrassing for the Colts. Let’s take a look at three things that went wrong in this blowout loss.
3) Defense couldn’t keep it close for Colts
It’s fair to say that Indy’s defense didn’t get much help from the offense on Sunday, but the defense didn’t have their best day either. The Jaguars put up almost 40 points. Sure, Indy’s offense turned the ball over a lot, putting the defense in tough positions, but the defense didn’t offer too much resistance.
Jacksonville finished the game with 233 total yards, 148 passing and 85 rushing. The Jaguars’ stats aren’t as explosive as the score would suggest, and that speaks to the field position game determined by turnovers. Still, when an offense is struggling like the Colts did on Sunday, the defense has to be able to pick them up and give them a chance to figure things out. That means forcing teams to settle for three points and generating turnovers.
Indy didn’t really do either. The defense had just one takeaway, and on the two first-half turnovers that Indy’s offense had, the defense allowed the Jaguars to turn both into touchdowns. But the defense wasn’t Indianapolis’ biggest problem at all.
2) Gardner Minshew struggled at quarterback for the Colts
While everyone was sad that Anthony Richardson would be sidelined for a while, there was a sense of comfort in the fact that Indy has one of the NFL’s best backup quarterbacks in Gardner Minshew. Unfortunately, Minshew didn’t play like one of the league’s best backup quarterbacks on Sunday.
He did start the game great, completing his first nine passes, as he led the Colts on a 16-play, 65-yard drive that resulted in three points. Things went downhill from there. Minshew made bad passes and bad decisions, delivering a performance that has fans worried about how he’ll do under center for how ever long Anthony Richardson is sidelined.
Minshew finished the game with 33-of-55 passes completed for 329 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. He was also sacked three times, as he was never really able to get the offense rolling. With Anthony Richardson possibly sidelined for the remainder of the year, Minshew will have to be better for the Colts, or this season could quickly turn disastrous.
1) Colts didn’t establish the run game
Shane Steichen being a first-year head coach has rarely been pointed out throughout the first six weeks, because he hasn’t given much reason to question any of his calls or tactics. However, that changed on Sunday. Steichen, the offensive play caller, decided to make the Colts a passing offense against the Jaguars. That decision didn’t really pay off.
At halftime, Indianapolis had dropped back to pass 27 times, and had only handed the ball to the running backs eight times. Jonathan Taylor had four carries and Zack Moss had four. It wasn’t like Indy was struggling to run the ball, though, because Taylor had 15 yards on those four carriers and Moss had 14. That’s just under four yards a carry for each back.
Still, Steichen opted to pass the ball, a lot. That made Indianapolis one dimensional offensively, and as the lead grew for Jacksonville, the Jaguars were able to sit back and wait on the passes from Minshew. In the end, Minshew passed 55 times, and was sacked on three other dropbacks. Moss finished with seven carries for 21 yards, and Taylor had eight carries for 19 yards.
It’s hard to understand why the Colts wouldn’t want to lean on this elite backfield, arguably the best backfield in the NFL. Moving forward, the offense needs to go through the run game. The offensive line has been playing great and Taylor and Moss are two really good running backs. Once they get rolling, things will be much easier for Gardner Minshew and the offense.
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