In the NFL, the tides of change swirl constantly. The Indianapolis Colts’ defense, oft the butt of jokes, shut down the hipster’s choice Tennessee Titans for the bulk of Sunday’s 24-17 win.
On a day when Indianapolis celebrated the tenth anniversary of their Super Bowl XLI victory, the only member of that team still in a blue uniform led a surprising charge on the defensive side of the ball. Robert Mathis chipped into a five sack effort that defied all logic and form prior to the game.
The Colts’ rapid first half of clinical offense and quickfire defense was enough, and a late Titans rally came up short. The Colts move to 5-5, the Titans to 5-6. The AFC South will be a close finish, but you’d be hard pressed to find an analyst suggesting that the division will go to a team that didn’t grace Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday.
Andrew Luck and Marcus Mariota could be top ten QBs
Did you pre-heat the oven? Because this take will need 20 minutes at Gas Mark 5, turning regularly. Hold your heat detectors though, and hear me out. After a poor start to the season from Mariota, the second year player has looked lethal in an offense with a vibrant running game. With that run game stifled on Sunday, Mariota very nearly got it done of his own accord. An arm that appears to be adjusting to life in the NFL by the down, the former Oregon Duck could end the season being considered as a top ten quarterback.
Also, if you think Andrew Luck isn’t a top ten NFL quarterback, that’ll be 10 minutes in an 800W microwave, a stir, then 5 more minutes.
The Colts run defense deserves respect
Limiting DeMarco Murray to 70 yards on 21 carries is dreamland for Colts’ defensive coordinator Ted Monachino. Good performances from D’Qwell Jackson, Erik Walden, Art Jones, and David Parry were all instrumental in the suppression of Tennessee’s go-to offensive drive.
The Titans' defense is susceptible to a trick play
Dick LeBeau, by and large, has produced a defense good enough to take the Titans to the playoffs. However, the unit could not have looked more confused as Frank Gore took a snap out of the wildcat, pitched it back to Luck, and then found Gore again in more open space than a vast Indiana cornfield to set up one of Indianapolis’ three scores.
Adam Vinatieri misses (finally)
As Adam Vinatieri’s second quarter 42 yard field goal attempt sailed wide right, thus came to an end a slice of NFL history. The 43 year old had kicked a record 44 consecutive field goals without missing. His last miss? September 21st 2015. Back then, Leicester were just having a good run of form in the Premier League, and people thought Jeb Bush was the firm favourite to win the Republican Presidential nomination.
Colts: playoff bound?
After leaving Wembley in September having seen the Colts lose to the hapless Jaguars, I said goodbye to the playoffs. At 1-3, it seemed impossible that this dysfunctional mess would challenge the post-season. However, a pair of impressive performances and whispers of ‘January’ are floating around this bizarre team of footballing purgatory.