The Indianapolis Colts allowed 30 points to the division rival Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday after giving up 27 to Jacksonville earlier in the season. While the defense once again didn’t exactly look like world-beaters, there were several names who made their presence felt throughout the course of the afternoon.
Pierre Desir was having himself quite the start to Week 13’s contest. Early in the game Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles chucked a pass towards Marqise Lee on the sideline. Desir dove into the thick of the play, nearly making a one-handed interception and breaking up the completion. The play showed exactly why Desir has been the starting cornerback over second-round rookie Quincy Wilson. Unfortunately for Indianapolis and Desir, the fourth-year cornerback suffered a shoulder injury, ending his season and his chance for the Defensive Player of the Week award.
The loss of Desir thrust Wilson into the game and paired him with fellow rookie Nate Hairston. The quartet of Bortles, Lee, Dede Westbrook and Keelan Cole began to steadily and methodically brutalize the Colts’ secondary. Enter safety Matthias Farley.
The second-year product of Notre Dame was seemingly involved in every big play for the Colts defense. Farley was the team’s leading tackler with seven total tackles and played fairly well in pass coverage for the duration of the day.
One of the quiet surprises this season has been the steady play of Matthias Farley in the backend. I know Chris Ballard is high on him. Could join Geathers/Hooker and form a really sound safety unit for the future.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) December 3, 2017
Farley’s most notable plays included a huge hit on Bortles and a big-time stuff of a running play.
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The hit on Bortles came early in the game when the quarterback was in the process of scampering upfield towards the end zone. Farley met Bortles before he could make it out of bounds and punished him for the run with a brutal shot.
The big stop on the run play came much later in the game. Farley was able to shed a block and blow up what could have been a big play.
Indianapolis will need Farley to continue his strong play with injuries and inexperience running rampant in the secondary.