What is the story about?
The Indianapolis Colts narrowly fell 33-30 in overtime on the road in Arrowhead Stadium, after almost pulling off the surprising upset on Sunday Night Football.
Almost is only as good in horseshoes and hand grenades, and there are no moral victories—as the Colts fall to 0-2, but it was a much more spirited performance from Indianapolis than we saw during that Week 1 home dud.
I had to take an extra 24 hours last week to write about that clunker, but while this one still admittedly stings a lot right
now, given how close the Colts were to toppling Kansas City in a tough road environment on primetime, I was able to recover a lot quicker.
Perhaps, I’m just getting better used to the lengthy franchise disappointment.
Without further ado, let’s get to it!
Horsepower
- QB Daniel Jones: While Jones didn’t match Patrick Mahomes’ in this one, as not many NFL starting quarterbacks can, he was pretty good in this one—especially in his second game coming off a torn Achilles. The early interception arguably wasn’t his fault, as veteran Keenan Allen has to better fight for that football. Either way, Jones settled back in. He stood in the pocket and made some tough throws, and had even the biggest one of the night, a deep 48-yard pass to veteran wideout Laquon Treadwell that set up the Colts’ controversial game tying field goal in overtime.
- Jonathan Taylor: There’s not much else to say on the Colts star workhorse that hasn’t been already, as the future Hall of Fame running is one of the best to ever do it, and not only in Indianapolis speed blue. Taylor rushed for 92 total rushing yards on 24 carries (3.8 ypc. avg.) and 2 rushing TDs and once again, was the focal point of the Colts offense, despite the Chiefs best attempts to bottle him up. The Colts clearly rode on his back as much as they could offensively in a tough road game against a very good Chiefs defense.
- Colts Offensive Line: Not only did they pave the way for Taylor to have a big game on the ground as denoted, but they also largely kept Jones protected and upright. The Colts’ starting quarterback was just pressured on 27.3% of his dropbacks, which was the 5th lowest of all Week 2 starting NFL quarterbacks (via Next Gen Stats). In particular, Chiefs perennial All-Pro pass rushing defensive tackle Chris Jones had just one pressure on 23 total pass rushing snaps (4.3%).
- Spencer Shrader: The Colts returning kicker was a perfect 3 for 3 on primetime, including a pressure filled 38-yard field goal to initially tie it 30-30 in overtime. He also nailed all 3 of his extra point attempts.
Horseplay
- Laquon Treadwell: The well-traveled veteran wideout has been a great offseason story, fighting his way to a Colts’ final 53-man roster spot after being initially labeled a former first round bust. Treadwell finished with 3 catches for 61 total receiving yards, and his biggest, and most controversial, was his 48-yard deep reception which he bobbled, caught, and almost lost to a fumble to begin the Colts offensive OT drive. To be fair, Treadwell made the catch, but the fact that he had to bobble it, not only cost the Colts some additional yards, but his subsequent near-fumble (which was initially considered a fumble on the field before it was overturned by replay review that he was down by contact) slowed the Colts offensive momentum and didn’t allow Indianapolis to keep the gas pedal down. Instead of going no huddle, the Chiefs defense was allowed to catch its breath after replay review and better set its defense against Jonathan Taylor with a shorter field in the red zone. If Ashton Dulin was healthy, perhaps he would’ve had his number called over Treadwell.
- CB Justin Walley: Look, I’m not trying to kick a young defensive player, when they’re already down. After missing his entire rookie season, Walley is essentially a rookie with 2 career NFL starts under his belt. However, as opposing passers throw elsewhere from shutdown cornerback Sauce Gardner, they’re clearly looking to pick on the young slot cornerback Walley, who’s arguably not ready yet for the pro level. After a strong training camp showing from Walley, maybe we were led to believe that the Colts would miss longtime veteran standout slot cornerback Kenny Moore II less than we actually would. It wasn’t readily apparent in Colts camp, but Walley has seemed to struggle with speed and separation, as perhaps teammate slot Josh Downs wasn’t the best matchup to exploit his coverage deficiencies. At any rate, it’s a reason why I try to now temper expectations from the training camp buzz we hear from certain standout camp players on an annual basis. Not saying Walley can’t turn it around by any means, but it may take some patience, development, and some continued growing pains in coverage out there during the interim.
- Colts Linebackers: We’re getting to the point, where the general consensus seems to be that playing the Colts rookie linebacker pairing of CJ Allen and Bryce Boettcher can’t be worse than the rather poor play that Indianapolis has gotten from the incumbent staring linebacker duo of Akeem Davis-Gaither and Jaylon Carlies. Whether it’s failing to get off of blocks, missed tackles, or blowing their run defense/coverage assignments, it’s hard to stomach much more from this unit. Heck, there’s even been questions whether they’re fully hustling out there, which is completely under their control!
- Colts Defense: Lou Anarumo’s defense has surrendered over 500+ total offensive yards in back-to-back games, for the first time in franchise history. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for a whopping 382 passing yards and 3 passing touchdowns on primetime, while their running back Kenneth Walker had 117 total rushing yards. It’s hard for the Colts to try to focus on either shoring up their passing or run defense right now, because both stink. All three levels of their defense need improvement, even on their defensive line where Arden Key has struggled in run defense and journeyman veteran Jerry Tillery is playing meaningful defensive snaps. There’s a lot of work for Lou and his coaching staff right now, and I don’t envy them right now. Some of it is coaching, but it also goes hand-in-hand with weaker personnel.
- HC Shane Steichen: My issue is a lot less with the lack of going for it on 4th and 8 in overtime, down 30-27 in the KC red zone, but more with the called 2nd down run, where the Colts essentially ran Taylor into a brick wall again, versus the Chiefs defense that was clearly loading the box and teeing off on Taylor—after their similar 1st down run was already stifled. I don’t think the Colts would’ve converted that 4th and 8 regardless, given how shaky their offense looked collectively, and the bigger gripe is that the Colts didn’t go for it on 4th and 4 near midfield with about 35 seconds left in regulation. It’s a shorter distance to have to move the sticks and a longer field for the Chiefs to have to defend instead of within the red zone. Honestly, if the Colts couldn’t pick up 4 yards after three plays near the end of regulation, they didn’t deserve to win anyways, and I’d rather have them lose on their own terms than at the eventual hands of Mahomes & Co.
