Indy Fast Five - The First Five
by JAMoney14 | 4 years ago | 0 Comments
Welcome once again to the Indy Fast Five.
This time, we're focusing in on the first five games of the Red Zone Season. Season 62 has been a wild ride. We've seen the Jets overcome the odds to start 3-0 only to falter in their last two. We've seen the Chargers emerge as serious contenders in a loaded AFC West. We've seen Tennessee-- no, actually f*ck those guys... - We've seen the Patriots become the underdog hero story of the league. We've even seen the NFC.
But you're not here to read about any of that. You're here to click one time, scan through for mentions of your team, and then click back out. This is a Colts article!
Let's get right to it.
1. @ Jacksonville: 42 - 20 W
Game 1 against Jacksonville turned out to be what most thought it would be. It was a turnover prone Jaguars team turning it over. However, that doesn't tell the whole story. The run game ran into unexpected struggles from the start, leading to a very bad game on the ground that just barely cracked 15 rush attempts. Rivers and company were great in limited action, but the defense, aside from forcing turnovers, could not stop a thing, leading to being out done in possession twice over. Our next meeting with Jacksonville will be in week 17. They are yet to prove they are a threat to the Colts dominance.
2. vs Minnesota: 6 - 27 W
Ah yes, the Vikings. As of this article, the Vikings have started at a slow 1-3 with a league worst offense and an absolutely miserable showing from Kirk Cousins so far. Those familiar with this front office will know that is putting a smile on their face. For this game, the possession times weren't the issue. There were hangups on offens that you would not expect in such a lopsided contest. For the first time in the season, the rushing attack looked like we thought it would. That combined with another very efficient Philip Rivers, who was delivering dimes like he has done into his wife for the last 19 years, led to a perfect W that pushed us to 2-0.
3. vs New York Jets: 24 - 17 L
The Jets, as mentioned earlier, stormed off to a 3-0 start. Unfortunately, we were the victims in their third victory. This was the game where Rivers displayed his first signs of age. Despite starting 10/10 and looking like an MVP candidate, Rivers threw 2 interceptions, including a bad one in the endzone to end the game, looking for AJ Green. This game was a clash of styles and much like the entirety of the Mojica/Chapstick rivalry, the aggressive style in New York was too much for our boys in blue. Our first loss was a very close one with easily defined weaknesses. With a gotcha-game against the Bears and coach J.MeHoff up next, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to bounce back.
4. @ Chicago: 14 - 29 L
Traveling to Chicago, most expected a blowout win in Indy. Much like we've seen all season long, however, expectations should be thrown out the window for now. The defensive backfield of Chicago caused some of the worst fits in Red Zone history in this one, intercepting Philip Rivers 3 times in the first half alone, before adding 2 more in the half from rookie QB Jacob Eason and 2 more for good measure in the second half. I don't believe much else needs to be said about this game. Mitchell Trubisky was solid at managing the game and did enough to ensure his team could pick up the win. This was another showing for Indy that proved they have a long way to go running the football. With a quarter of the season in the books, the Colts stood at 2-2 with more questions than answers.
5. @ Cleveland: 28 - 24 W
We finally take you to tonight's game that just ended around 30 minutes ago. The story was going to be how Philip Rivers held up after 5 interceptions in 2 games. Much like the Jets game, Rivers was impecable in the first half, even tossing a beautiful strike in the back of the endzone to TY Hilton. Eventually, Rivers tested his look downfield and was intercepted by rookie Grant Delpit. This caused issues for the comfortability of the Colts offense, stifling them for a few possessions, including a possession that was pushed backwards and led to a blocked punt for a touchdown by the Browns. The defense of the Colts maintained their bend-but-don't-break style, which once again worked out. Not one, but two red zone interceptions intended from the man who embodies Brown, Odell Beckham Jr., were pivotal in the victory.
Offensive Takeaaways:
The number 1 takeaway is... well, takeaways. With a coaching staff that has valued ball possession more than anything in their storied careers, it's surprising to see the last 3 games go the way they have. That could be a byproduct of the fact that the run game has not been able to really get going the way it usually does for coach Chapstick have led to the early woes. The season is still early. With 11 games to play in a fairly easy (yet unpredictable) schedule, there's plenty of time to establish the identity expected out of this team.
Defensive Takeaways:
The defensive backfield has played much better than anticipated, namely Rock Ya-Sin and Julian "Gruden" Blackmon. The rookie safety has been a playmaker all over the field. Despite rookie mistakes in wrapping up, he has proven to be a fixture in this defense. The pass rush has been limited, which was expected as the season began. Justin Houston has played below expectations, but is expected to bounce back as the season moves forward and he's able to shake off the early year rust. DeForrest Buckner has been worth every penny, blowing up goal line plays and short yardage runs in spades. Standing at 3-2, the Colts can thank the quick reactions of their defense for getting them the 3 wins they have, especially in week 5 in Cleveland.
Next up is Cincinnati. 11 straight wins are on the way.