Despite being decimated with injuries, the Indianapolis Colts patchwork secondary wasn’t the problem for the team against the Denver Broncos. It was Andrew Luck and the offense directly delivering points off turnovers to an opportunistic Denver defense.
With the Indianapolis Colts falling 34-20 to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, the team once again allowed 30+ points for a consecutive week in another loss.
Only this time around, it wasn’t the defense’s fault.
Playing with a practice squad level secondary, the Colts defense did enough–holding the Denver Broncos offense purely to four field goals and a touchdown (i.e. 19 points).
The Colts were already without starting cornerbacks Vontae Davis (ankle) and Patrick Robinson (concussion) entering the game and would later lose both nickelback Darius Butler (hamstring) and safety Clayton Geathers (foot) to injuries during the course of the contest.
Not to mention, a clearly banged up veteran Antonio Cromartie, who was already battling a hamstring injury prior, was forced to leave with a shoulder injury before returning later in the game.
However, largely using cornerbacks Rashaan Melvin and Darryl Morris–defensive backs signed to the team just days before the regular season opener, the Colts secondary battled, scrapped, and ultimately held their own.
What the Colts needed was Andrew Luck to play like the superstar quarterback he was just a week prior, when he threw for 4 touchdowns to 0 interceptions–looking cool, calm, and collected in the pocket without forcing throws.
Instead, Luck wasn’t the same quarterback on Sunday–clearly off on most of his throws and later forcing the issue.
In Luck’s defense though, he was under consistent duress facing a ferocious Denver Broncos pass rush all afternoon, while his receivers struggled getting separation against a stingy secondary–with Donte Moncrief lost to injury, T.Y. Hilton and Phillip Dorsett combined for just 5 receptions for 71 receiving yards.
However, the Colts defense did enough and placed the Colts offense in a position to succeed–even later win the game.
Down only 13-16, on 3rd and 15 with 13:52 left in the 4th quarter, Luck forced an errant throw in coverage, which Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib intercepted and took 46 yards the other way for the touchdown:
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/777640367155843072
Something that Colts head coach Chuck Pagano knows simply cannot happen going forward:
"Sep 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib (21) pulls in a pass intended for Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Phillip Dorsett (15) in the second half at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.The Broncos defeated the Colts 34-20. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports“To be sitting there in the 4th quarter, and it’s a 3 point game,” said Pagano following his team’s disappointing loss. “I know Andrew (Luck) would love to have it back. We’d all love to have it back. You got to take care of the football in that situation. If we don’t have the first down, we don’t have the first down. It’s 3rd down, and if we punt the football, it’s a 3 point game. It is what it is.”"
However, to their credit, Luck and the Colts offense showed resiliency–later orchestrating a 5:28 drive in the middle of the 4th quarter that was capped off by an incredible, 7-yard touchdown reception with running back Frank Gore tip-toeing and stretching along the sideline for the score.
The Colts were only down 20-23 following the scoring drive, and a possession later, the banged up Colts defense somehow held the Broncos offense to a field goal, 20-26.
With 1:51 left in the 4th quarter, the Colts had the ball in their best player’s hands, Andrew Luck, with a chance to win the game with a touchdown.
That’s all you can ask for.
Yet, the Colts offense once again reared it’s ugly turnover prone head.
Luck was strip-sacked just one play into the drive, as Denver superstar pass rusher Von Miller blew past starting right tackle Joe Reitz and forced the fumble. Again, the opportunistic Broncos defense scooped up the football, as pass rusher Shane Ray took it 15 yards to the house:
https://twitter.com/NFLUK/status/777829828368019456
Now down 34-20, ball game.
The Colts offense directly gave up 15 points off turnovers (following a successful two point conversion). While football isn’t quite as simple, if you theoretically take those 15 points off the board, the Colts outscore the Broncos 20-19:
"“You can’t turn the football over,” added Pagano. “You can’t have pick sixes and strip-sack fumbles returned for touchdowns. It’s too hard to overcome.”"
Unfortunately, the Colts learned the “hard way” and now start their season 0-2 for the 3rd consecutive season.