The Indianapolis Colts got their first win of the season at home on Sunday, besting the Vikings 28-11.
The Colts showed the NFL they aren’t going to be put down by an embarrassing loss to the Jaguars. Indianapolis responded by getting a win and holding the Vikings to 11 points while forcing three turnovers.
On offense, Indy scored 28 points, and Jonathan Taylor was one of the highlights of the day as he took the starting role by the bull horns. Another rookie to shine was Julian Blackmon as he made sure the receivers knew he was there, delivering hard hits and breaking up passes.
While there were many good talking points to elaborate on, we can’t overlook a number of aspects that need improvement or could adversely affect the team moving forward. The Colts experience red zone gaffes again and TY Hilton dropped another key pass. But the worst part of the day was Parris Campbell going down with a nasty knee injury, which we can only hope isn’t season-ending.
Here are three things we learned from the Colts 28-11 victory over the Vikings.
Mo Alie-Cox caught five passes for 111 yards and was consistently getting open against safeties and linebackers. He got the starting nod as Jack Doyle was ruled out with a knee injury.
With Campbell going down, the Colts could look to the tight end position as even more of a key component of the passing game. Frank Reich has made the tight end a big part of the Colts offense since he’s been in Indianapolis, going back to Eric Ebron’s 2018 season with Andrew Luck.
Doyle’s been the go-to target since, but Alie-Cox proved he’s capable of being a starter and not just a run-blocker. Schemed or not, the Vikings couldn’t cover the tight end position on Sunday. Eric Kendricks was running all over the field trying to keep up with Alie-Cox and he couldn’t do it.
He also made multiple blocks, sealing the outside for Taylor. Initially only used as a run-blocker, Alie-Cox needs to be more heavily incorporated into the passing game.
The Colts running game is the biggest strength of this offense. Indianapolis dominated in the trenches, specifically on the offensive side. The best offensive line in the league proved it was just that.
Taylor gained 101 yards on 26 carries and fought for a touchdown. Opening holes all day and paving the way for 150 total rushing yards, the Colts line was a force to be reckoned with.
In the passing game, Rivers threw the ball for 214 yards with a touchdown and a pick. While those stats aren’t sexy, he had plenty of time to throw the ball. The line gave up just two sacks for 11 yards, but we already knew the pass protection and aerial attack were a strength after the performance in Week 1.
In Week 2, we learned the running game was the reason the Colts won, and it needs to be the focal point for the rest of the way. When Indy can set the tone up front, control the pace of the game, and open up opportunities for pass plays deep down field, it’ll be that much more difficult for opposing defenses to stop the offense.
The Colts’ young secondary was an issue last week as Garnder Minshew looked like Peyton Manning in his prime, shredding Indy for three touchdowns on an absurd 19-of-20 passing.
This week, however, the Colts forced three turnovers and gave the offense the ball back in key situations. Darius Leonard made sure this defensive unit was poised and ready to make plays while staying focused.
Blackmon played particularly well, breaking up two passes and logging a couple of tackles in his debut. He was all over the field and made big hits, forcing drops and preventing big passes. Khari Willis was another safety who played very well, logging an interception that set up the Colts’ offense with a short field before halftime. He also broke up two passes and recorded three solo tackles.
Kenny Moore broke up two passes, registered six tackles and had himself a pick. The offseason addition from Cleveland, T.J. Carrie, broke up a couple passes as well, posted two tackles and recorded an interception. Even Xavier Rhodes came to play!
Fans seem to be forgetting that the secondary should be just fine in 2020. The team made plenty of additions that stand to improve last year’s subpar unit and, remember, the Colts only allowed 173 passing yards last week. If not for some untimely turnovers, that initial panic never happens. Get excited about these guys in the defensive backfield moving forward.
Colts: DeForest Buckner crushes Vikings lineman with monster hit
Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner crushed a Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman with a monster hit. Mercy.