The Colts didn’t look very good in week 1. But they turned things around on Sunday against Washington. Could that be a sign of things to come?
As luck threw an interception in the third quarter (his second of the game), it felt like the Colts script was about to repeat itself. The story of finding ways to lose leads in the second half was going to continue for Indianapolis. But, as we saw this Sunday, these Colts are different. Luck’s second interception would only result in a field goal, and the Colts would preserve their lead in Washington.
It’s possible that the Redskins may not have been as good as their week 1 win may have indicated, and it is also possible that this game could be an asterisk in this season. But even if both those statements are true, there is a distinct difference with this 2018 Indianapolis Colts football team, and it’s one that everybody is going to like.
The difference seems to be quite simple, the Colts got their groove back. Maybe it was the new coaching staff, or maybe it was the return of Luck, but watching these guys on the field feels a lot more… fun, if you want to say it like that. Guys like Pierre Desir and Kenny Moore, both of whom had their fair share of issues last year, displayed a confidence and mentality that just wasn’t there a year ago. Speaking of confidence, we can only imagine how Darius Leonard is feeling right now. The second round pick out of South Carolina State is going to be a gem, and we all got our first taste of what he has to offer.
Ultimately this game was a team win, plain and simple. The Colts looked good in all facets of the game, and even when Washington brought it to within 5, you still felt confident in the Colts to pull it out. And that’s something I don’t think we could have said throughout all of last season.
I think the difference that I’m trying to get at can best be summarized by a tweet that Safety Malik Hooker posted after the game. He referred to this game as “Jus The Beginning Of Something Special”. These guys can sense a difference, they can sense a new culture starting to form in Indianapolis.
It was tough to see Chuck Pagano go after last season, but it appears as though it was more necessary than we originally thought. Frank Reich is establishing a new culture here at Indianapolis, and Sunday in Washington was just the beginning.