Beating Denver was not a work of art by any means. But it showed that the Colts have an important skill; they can grind out ugly wins.
The game wasn’t supposed to be that close. The Colts were supposed to blow the Broncos away. Denver had just traded one of their top receivers in Emmanuel Sanders, yet they moved the ball with consistency against a Colts defense that was finally healthy.
That same defense came up big late in the game though and helped seal up a 15-13 victory. Jacoby Brissett struggled at times, as did the wide receivers and offensive line. But they still came out with a win. What does that tell us about this team?
It tells us that this team doesn’t quit. They will fight until the end. They are capable of winning games even when they don’t play their best football. That is a very important skill, especially when the playoffs roll around. The Colts have shown that they are a tough football team.
There’s no doubt that the team will have to play better against better competition. They won’t be able to win a game against New England playing like they did against Denver. But they won’t play like that. We have learned that this team plays to the level of its competition.
Every single game this season has been a one-score game. That is a franchise record to start the season. In all seven games, the Colts have been in it. That’s also important for this team. They won’t get blown out. They are tough-minded and will keep themselves mentally tough.
Based on this win, they could have another one like this in one of their next three games. They play in Pittsburgh next week before getting the Dolphins and Jags at home. They very well could need another grind-it-out victory against one of those teams.