The Indianapolis Colts (6-6) are in the middle of a rut having lost four of their last five games, which includes the 31-17 home loss against the division-rival Tennessee Titans (7-5).
Despite holding a 17-7 lead early in the third quarter, the Colts collapsed with Jacoby Brissett throwing two crucial turnovers that resulted in 10 combined points for the Titans. The Colts also imploded on special teams as two of Adam Vinatieri’s field-goal attempts were blocked—one was taken for a touchdown to give the Titans the lead in the fourth quarter.
All of that combined with the recent slide the Colts have been in continued their declination in Touchdown Wire’s NFL power rankings. The loss moved the Colts down another two spots to No. 16.
16. Indianapolis Colts
(6-6. Last week: 14)
We all know that the Colts are short on explosive plays with Jacoby Brissett as their quarterback, and that continued in a 31-17 loss to the Titans in which Brissett completed just one pass in three attempts of 20 or more air yards. That was OK when Indianapolis took a 17-7 first-half lead, but when Ryan Tannehill got hot and Derrick Henry started running wild, the Colts, with most of Brissett’s primary targets injured, had no answer. Brissett, whose two interceptions matched his combined total for October and November, has been put in a position where he has to do more than he’s capable of doing, and though Indy’s defense is solid most weeks, they had few answers for the Titans on Sunday. Brissett may not be the long-term answer to replace Andrew Luck, but when the Colts are doing their offseason shopping, they’ll need to address several more deficient positions before that one.
Sitting third in the AFC South and holding the No. 9 seed in the AFC playoffs, the Colts are all but out of contention for a playoff spot. Should that likely scenario come to fruition, the Colts will have missed the playoffs in four out of the last five seasons.
Now, they have to turn their attention to visiting the sporadic Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who can put up 55 points on the board just as easily as they can implode for a quintet of turnovers.
Regardless, the Colts are sliding and it’s almost officially draft season in Indy.