Category: Colts Wire Features

Which Saints must the Colts game plan for in Week 15?

These Saints must be in the gameplan in Week 15.

The Indianapolis Colts, currently sitting at 6-7, travel to “The Big Easy” to take on the 10-3 Saints on Monday Night Football. New Orleans is coming off a tough loss in what was perhaps the game of the year last week against San Francisco where they lost in the final minute of the game 48-46.

Colts fans have a special type of resentment towards the Saints. The obvious reasoning behind it would be the Super Bowl in 2010 where the Saints beat the Colts 31-17. The game was filled with high-powered passing offenses, an onside kick to start the second half, and the haunting Tracy Porter pick-six that sealed the win for New Orleans.

The Saints have already clinched the NFC South while the Colts are fighting for their lives in the AFC playoff race. If the Colts want to avenge that brutal Super Bowl loss and have a last-ditch effort to save their season, here are seven Saints the Colts must gameplan for in Week 15 in order to pull off the upset:

QB Drew Brees

Another piece of distain comes from Drew Brees breaking Peyton Manning’s regular season records for passing yards and passes completed. Monday night Brees has a chance to break yet another record held by Manning. Currently, Peyton sits at 539 passing touchdowns while Brees is closely behind him with 537.

You have to respect Brees and what he has been able to accomplish throughout his career. This season he missed five games with a broken thumb but has come back strong with 1,072 passing yards and 12 touchdowns over the last four games.

Getting after Brees and forcing him to move out of the pocket will be huge for the Colts pass rush led by Justin Houston. If Brees has all day to throw, it will be a long game for the Colts defense.

LB Demario Davis

Davis has revitalized his career after coming to New Orleans last season. He leads the team in tackles in 2019 with 95 total on the year. Contributing to his impressive stat sheet are also three sacks, 9.5 tackles for a loss, and an interception.

Davis is a talented linebacker with great pass rushing and run stopping abilities. The Saints love to send a combination of players on blitzes so it will be crucial for the Colts offensive line to pick up Davis and others coming off the edge and up the middle.

RB Alvin Kamara

Kamara’s season has seen limited production due to injury, but he is not to be underestimated. The third-year running back out of Tennessee took the league by storm his rookie year in 2017 and has been adjusting to team’s gameplans for him. He currently has 612 yards and one touchdown on the ground so far this season.

Where Kamara gets dangerous is in the pass game. He is a very talented receiver and has a great connection with Drew Brees. He has 68 receptions for 462 yards and a touchdown through the air as well. Stopping this dual-threat target will be huge in slowing down this Saints offense.

CB Marshon Lattimore

Another player who took the league by storm in his 2017 rookie campaign was Lattimore. He and Kamara took home the Defensive and Offensive Rookie of the Year awards that year respectively. Lattimore is considered one of the best shutdown corners in the league.

He has only one interception on the season but when teams purposefully do not throw to your side, that is expected. If T.Y. Hilton is still not healthy enough to go Monday night, look for Lattimore to be on Zach Pascal down the field. He is not impossible to beat, but Jacoby Brissett has to be careful when throwing to the talented corner.

WR Michael Thomas

His Twitter handle “@Cantguardmike” says it all. Thomas is one of the best, if not the best receiver in the game currently. His size and speed makes him a matchup problem for just about anyone in the league and his impressive season has landed him in the MVP conversation.

So far on the year, Thomas has 121 catches for 1,424 yards, both of which lead the league for all receivers. He has also found the endzone eight times this year and he and Drew Brees have been clicking as of late.

Pierre Desir will likely be on Thomas but he will need some help over the top, possibly from Malik Hooker or Khari Willis. Stopping Thomas from catching everything thrown to him should help slow own this aggressive Saints pass game.

DE Cameron Jordan

The Colts have faced some good pass rushers this season (Von Miller, T.J. Watt, Yannick Ngakoue) but Jordan is by far the biggest challenge they will face up front in 2019. With 46 total tackles, one fumble recovery, and 13.5 sacks, Jordan is an absolute monster off the edge.

He typically lines up on the right side which will be a matchup problem for Braden Smith and Mark Glowinski on that side of the line. Look for the Colts to either run to the side Jordan is not on or pull Quenton Nelson to that side to try and move the ball on the ground.

Safety Marcus Williams

Williams is a very talented safety but makes mistakes in big moments. Last week against San Francisco he grabbed a hold of George Kittle’s face mask and gave the 49ers 15 extra yards which put them into easy field goal range to win the game. You may also remember Williams botched the coverage that led to the Stefon Diggs “Minnesota Miracle.”

With four interceptions on the year and 53 total tackles, Williams is having a great year. This Saints secondary has really stepped up this season and can cover just about anyone down the field. Williams is very skilled, but attacking him and getting him frustrated will be vital for the Colts passing game that is limited already due to receiver injuries.

3 Colts to watch over the final 3 games

Keep an eye on these Colts in the final three games.

The Indianapolis Colts’ chances of making the playoffs are slim-to-none, so with three games left in the season, it’s time to start evaluating this roster for what should be one of the most important offseasons in the team’s history.

With the Colts having really nothing to play for these final three games, it gives the Colts a chance to play young guys or possible diamond-in-the-rough type of players that could really stand out these last three games. Think of the rest of the season as a glorified preseason game that counts.

There are a few players that the Colts front office and Colts fans should watch out for these final three games, because if they play well, they could end up starting, or competing for a starting position next season.

Here are a few players to watch as the Colts’ 2019 season comes to an end:

Colts Buccaneers Football
AP Photo/Jason Behnken

WR Zach Pascal

This is a guy I have been hyping up since the middle of the season and over the past two weeks, he has turned in two solid performances.

Pascal the past two games has put up 12 catches, 183 receiving yards, and one touchdown. Over the season and a reminder, Pascal didn’t catch a pass until week 3, he leads all Colts receivers in catches, yards and touchdowns.

Without T.Y. Hilton, Chester Rogers and Parris Campbell for the rest of the year, Pascal should be in line to be the number one receiver the rest of the way. Let’s see if he can take advantage of the opportunity given to him.

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Where do the Colts sit in AFC South entering Week 15?

A look at the AFC South with three games left.

The Indianapolis Colts season is just about over in terms of the importance of the games with just three contests remaining entering their Week 15 matchup with the New Orleans Saints.

As the Colts prepare for the primetime showdown on Monday night, the hopes of making the playoffs are essentially gone as Indy has a 2% chance of making the postseason. A loss against the Saints on Monday night will officially end the season—though most are already looking toward what the offseason might bring.

With three games remaining, the AFC South continues to be a tight race with two teams at the top. Here’s a look at the standings entering Week 15:

1. Houston Texans (8-5)

With a chance to keep their separation atop the division, the Texans blew it big time. At home against the Denver Broncos, the Texans got blown out 38-17. It was much worse before the Texans got a pair of touchdowns in garbage time.

The Texans hold the division lead due to their 3-1 division record but they are on the road against the Titans in Week 15.

2. Tennessee Titans (8-5)

The Titans have been surging ever since Ryan Tannehill took over under center. The offense is much better, and they have a legitimate shot at taking the division from the Texans. They are coming off of a dominating 42-21 win over the Raiders.

The Titans have a crucial home game against the Titans in Week 15—one that could determine the fate of the AFC South champion.

3. Indianapolis Colts (6-7)

After starting 5-2, the Colts have lost five of their last six games. That includes the 38-35 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Jacoby Brissett had a solid game, but it wasn’t enough to keep up with the high-flying Bucs offense.

The Colts visit the Saints on Monday Night Football in Week 15. If they lose, they are officially knocked out of playoff contention.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9)

When it rains, it pours. This has been a lost season for the Jaguars, who took a 45-10 beating at home against the Los Angeles Chargers. The defense has regressed massively since the Jalen Ramsey trade, and Gardner Minshew hasn’t been able to bring any juice to a lifeless offense.

The Jaguars are on the road against the Raiders in Week 15.

Colts playoff chances end with loss vs. Saints

Playoff chances officially over with a loss in Week 15.

Though it is a moot point, the Indianapolis Colts are still technically in the playoff race with three games remaining. That could all officially end on Monday night against the New Orleans Saints in Week 15.

The Colts, currently holding the No. 10 seed in the AFC, will officially be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss against the Saints at the Mercedez-Benz Superdome on Monday Night Football.

Not that anyone truly believes the Colts are going to get some magical help over the final three games that vaults Indy into the playoffs, it will become official with a loss.

The Colts are in a bad way right now. They’ve lost five of their last six games after starting the season 5-2 with the potential to take the division. Now, they are left wondering who the future of the quarterback position will be and what other moves they need to make to get back into contention.

The Saints will undoubtedly be favored at home in primetime. They are one of the best teams in the NFL and have a legitimate shot at making the Super Bowl this season.

In the highly-likely even the Colts miss out on the playoffs, they will have done so in four out of the last five seasons.

Most of the fanbase is already looking toward the 2020 NFL draft and the upcoming free agency class.

It will all become official with a loss on the road in Week 15.

Colts should move on from Adam Vinatieri this offseason

Colts shouldn’t re-sign Adam Vinatieri.

Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri has been in the league longer than a handful of players have been alive and even though he’s battling a season-ending injury, there’s a chance he might want to continue playing.

After the Colts placed Vinatieri on the injured reserve list, the 46-year-old has a decision to make about his future. He can hang it up and retire as the greatest kicker of all time. Or he can try to recover from knee surgery to return in 2020.

Regardless of what Vinatieri decides to do, the Colts should move on and find a new kicker.

First, Vinatieri’s career accomplishments should be acknowledged. He’s the greatest kicker of all-time—recording the most points scored and field goals made in a career. He leaves behind a legacy of consistency that might not ever be seen again.

He’s a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer and a guarantee to be in the Colts Ring of Honor.

However, his struggles in 2019 are exactly why the Colts should move on. Battling injuries throughout the season and recording what was his worst campaign by far, Vinatieri was a part of the reason the Colts find themselves out of the playoff race.

It’s harsh but true. If the Colts had a more consistent kicker—one that didn’t miss 14 kicks in 12 games—there is a high chance they would still be competing for a playoff spot with three games remaining. His 14 missed kicks are the third-most in a season ever.

The good thing is, the Colts don’t have to worry about a contract. Seeing as Vinatieri was on a one-year deal, there are no obligations for the Colts to have him on the roster unless general manager Chris Ballard believes it is the right move for the team, which would be a questionable move, to say the least.

Finding a consistent kicker isn’t an easy thing to do. Only a handful of teams truly have a kicker they can rely upon week in and week out. The Colts used to be that kind of team. Now, they aren’t.

It will be an interesting situation to watch this offseason, but if the Colts truly want to be competitive in 2020, the plans shouldn’t include re-signing Vinatieri.

Stock up, stock down in Colts’ loss to Bucs

Stock report from the Week 14 loss.

Losers in five of their last six games, the Indianapolis Colts (6-7) have seen their season go from being a potential division winner to out of the playoffs in the matter of a month and a half.

Sunday’s 38-35 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7) all but closed the casket on the Colts’ season—if they lose in Week 15 to the New Orleans Saints, it is officially over.

Here is the stock up, stock down from Sunday’s loss:

AP Photo/Chris O’Meara

Stock Up: WR Marcus Johnson

The Colts have been seriously plagued with injuries at the wide receiver position this season. That said, there have been some intriguing instances when it comes to players stepping up when needed most. The latest player to do so was Johnson.

Leading the team with 105 receiving yards, Johnson got his day started on Jacoby Brissett’s first pass, beating broken coverage for a 46-yard touchdown bomb early in the first quarter.

The Colts have always liked Johnson and he’s proving to be a quality depth piece in the wide receiver room.

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5 takeaways from Colts’ 38-35 loss vs. Buccaneers

Takeaways from the Week 14 loss.

Well, it was fun while it lasted. As the Indianapolis Colts (6-7) entered Sunday’s game, their dimming playoff hopes were depended on their efforts to win out and receive much help along the way. While one of their main competitors did lose at home, the Colts couldn’t help themselves as they ultimately lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 38-35.

It was another week consisting of blown second-half leads and costly mistakes as the Colts fell below .500, for just the second time this season. With only three games remaining, this AFC South competitor now has a 2% chance of making the playoffs and will need even more help in order to do so.

Here are five takeaways from the Colts’ Week 14 loss:

AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio

Leonard possibly had the best game of his career

I know this headline can be considered a little crazy since linebacker Darius Leonard has had plenty of memorable performances, but I don’t believe it is far fetched. The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year made history in Sunday’s game while also taking it over at times.

For the first time in his pro-playing career, Leonard came up with multiple interceptions and returned one for a touchdown, his first pick-six ever. Lastly, the man who’s better known as “Maniac” entered his name in the record books. Since 1982, Leonard is the one and only defensive player who has recorded 10+ sacks and over five interceptions in his first 25 career games.

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AFC playoff picture: How Colts’ loss to Bucs impacts standings

A look at the AFC playoff picture.

The Indianapolis Colts (6-7) suffered their fifth loss in the last six games when they fell 38-35 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7) on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.

The Big Picture

Though the Colts entered this matchup with already-slim chances of making the playoffs, this loss likely buries any realistic chance of getting in. There are still ways it could happen, especially after the Texans lost to the Broncos.

But the Colts are now the No. 10 seed in the AFC playoff race and are two games behind the final wild-card spot with three games to go. It’s a tough road, especially with the New Orleans Saints on deck for the Colts in Week 15.

This Week’s Talking Point

With the Colts likely missing out on the postseason, there will be discussions about the offseason and where the organization must go from here. We will discuss the upcoming game with the Saints, but the focus of the offseason must become more prevalent with three games remaining.

The Colts have many decisions to make this offseason. Whether it is in regards to potential extensions, the future of the quarterback position and whether they need to actually spend in free agency. This offseason will be crucial to instilling the confidence back in the fan base.

We’ll Also Discuss

What the Colts need to do against the Saints to stay competitive in a game in which they are likely big underdogs. Though winning will hurt the draft stock, the Colts aren’t going to simply lay down. We will discuss the game plan for the Monday night matchup and where they go from there.

AFC playoff picture

1. Baltimore Ravens (11-2)
2. New England Patriots (10-3)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-4)
4. Houston Texans (8-5)
5. Buffalo Bills (9-4)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5)
In the hunt
7. Tennessee Titans (8-5)
8. Cleveland Browns (6-7)
9. Oakland Raiders (6-7)
10. Indianapolis Colts (6-7)

Colts’ snap counts in 38-35 loss to Bucs

A look at the snap counts from Week 14.

The Indianapolis Colts (6-7) were defeated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7) on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium in what was the most thrilling game for the former this season.

It ended in a loss, though, much in part due to another fourth-quarter collapse. That is certainly becoming a trend, especially since the Colts held a 14-point lead midway through the third quarter.

As we move past the high-scoring loss, here’s a look at the offensive snap counts on Sunday:

There aren’t many surprises here. Wide receivers Zach Pascal and Marcus Johnson led the way in both production and snaps. Pascal played 100% of the snaps for the second-straight game.

In the backfield, the game script called for more of Nyheim Hines. He led the group in snaps while Marlon Mack led the backfield in carries and was able to salvage his day with a two-yard touchdown.

Rookie wide receiver Parris Campbell made his return from a hand fracture and played roughly half of the offensive snaps.

Here’s a look at the defensive and special teams snap counts:

With Kenny Moore out due to an ankle injury, Rolan Milligan played the most snaps in the slot. Whether that was for better or worse is up to interpretation, but it was odd to see rookie Marvell Tell get only two snaps on defense.

Fellow rookie defensive end Ben Banogu continues to be used solely in a situational role even with the pass rush still being inconsistent throughout the game.

Colts’ Chase McLaughlin discusses missed FG vs. Bucs

Chase McLaughlin made five of his six kicks on Sunday.

It has only been a few days that Chase McLaughlin has been the starting kicker for the Indianapolis Colts, but he got his first taste of game action in the 38-25 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Filling in for the injured Adam Vinatieri, McLaughlin was strong throughout the majority of the game—except when it came to a 47-yard attempt in the fourth quarter.

Hitting off the right goal post, McLaughlin missed his only kick on the day. The rookie explained what happened on the missed kick following the game.

“I played it exactly the way I wanted to. The wind just died a little bit on me and it happened to fade right instead of left.,” McLaughlin told reporters. “I played it exactly how I wanted to. I thought it was in right when it came off, I hit it the exact same way as the 50; going the same way earlier in the game, just got a little unlucky.”

Outside of the crucial missed kick, McLaughlin was smooth in his field-goal attempts and gave no doubt on the extra-point attempts. He wound up making two field goals while converting three extra points.

Missing a field goal and losing by three points are never two things that can be spun in a positive way. But head coach Frank Reich said after the game he came away impressed with his performance.

“I thought he did well, obviously that one kick was – the first kick, the 50-yarder was not an easy kick,” Reich said. “A little bit of a breeze in the face, but hit it well so I thought he looked good.”

It will be interesting to see what the Colts do. McLaughlin probably showed enough to warrant holding the job over Vinatieri. However, Vinatieri is likely to return to the starting role upon the conclusion of his knee injury—if that knee injury heals by the time the season is over.

Regardless, the missed field goal wound up having an impact on the outcome, but McLaughlin seemed to have impressed his head coach.