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Colts unforgivable goal line play calling took away all the momentum

By Thomas Carannante

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 09: Michael Pittman #11 of the Indianapolis Colts can't complete a touchdown pass during the first half of the AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at Bills Stadium on January 09, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 09: Michael Pittman #11 of the Indianapolis Colts can't complete a touchdown pass during the first half of the AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at Bills Stadium on January 09, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) /
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The Colts had the Bills right where they wanted them … and then blew it.

The Indianapolis Colts‘ defense has largely been getting the job done. With the way the Buffalo Bills have been playing the last six weeks, there’s only so much you can do. Keeping the offense in the game, however, is considered a success.

Ah, but the offense. Glad you asked. They’re fully blowing it because they’ve been unable to cash in on TWO golden opportunities now, but none was more glaring than right at the end of the first half.

Indy had a third and goal from the Bills’ one-yard line and opted to run a toss, which lost them two yards. Kick the field goal to go up six, right? That seems smart. Nope! How about go for it, run a play that takes way too long to develop, and then barely overthrow the intended receiver in the back of the end zone. Why would head coach Frank Reich sign off on this and risk killing all the team’s momentum? (He did.)

https://twitter.com/WatsonLaFlame/status/1347990073531375621?s=20

The Colts’ eight-play, 55-yard drive resulted in nothing. The Bills got the ball on their own three-yard line and drove 97 yards to score a touchdown before the half. Instead of 13-7, Colts, it was 14-10, Bills after two quarters. If that’s not coaching malpractice, we’re really not sure what is.

There are times to take risks … the time to do that is NOT when your defense is keeping one of the MVP frontrunners in check. Take the points and put pressure on the Bills.

And it’s all been downhill from there for Indy. Just take a look for yourself:

Then, to kick off the second half, the Colts orchestrated a 14-play, 60-yard drive, only for it to end with a missed 33-yard field goal by Rodrigo Blankenship. We’d venture to say those two goal line plays flipped the script and put Indianapolis out of whack. Now, the Bills are running QB draws with Allen and the defense can’t slow him down.

What was looking like a potential epic upset now feels like a heartbreaking loss and this one’s still got a full quarter left.

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