The Colts got completely annihilated last night in New Orleans, and their defense looked like Swiss cheese.
It was one of the worst showings on national television that I can remember. Only the 2014 AFC Championship game was worse in my memory. Getting blown out 34-7 on Monday Night Football is embarrassing. The defense is a big reason why they got destroyed. Here is how each unit graded out.
Drew Brees had all the time in the world to throw the football all night long. The defensive line couldn’t get any pressure on him at all, and he carved them up in response. Justin Houston has been brilliant most of the season, but he was nowhere to be found last night.
The Saints also ran for 117 yards in this game. The defensive line got pushed around all night no matter what the play call was. It was embarrassing to watch this unit be virtually non-existent during an entire game on national television.
Darius Leonard led the team with 12 tackles, but it didn’t really make any difference. The linebackers got burned over the middle in zone coverage in the first half, and then gashed up the middle in the run game in the second half. They were the best of a bad defense.
This is the second week in a row where the secondary has gotten destroyed. Over the last two weeks, they have allowed 763 yards through the air. Last night, Brees threw ONE incompletion. One single miss. Michael Thomas got anything he wanted, catching 12 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown.
I’m not entirely sure what needs to be done with the secondary, but something has to change. They have been abysmal the last two months or so and have completely collapsed. Their first draft choice Rock Ya-Sin has had a bad rookie year, and Khari Willis has been exposed too.
The defense as a whole needs a big evaluation in the offseason. They have to get more guys who can rush the passer on this team, otherwise the secondary will continue to get destroyed.