Based on pure talent, the Indianapolis Colts are a playoff team.
Based on the individual stats from some of their standout players, the Colts should be one of the seven best teams in the AFC.
Jonathan Taylor could finish the year with 20 touchdowns and 2,000 yards from scrimmage. Carson Wentz has 21 TDs to just five interceptions, Darius Leonard generates a turnover in seemingly every game and DeForest Buckner is quietly turning in another Pro Bowl-level season.
Unfortunately for the Colts, though, all of that means nothing if you can’t close out games against playoff-caliber teams.
While fans have attributed those struggles to a refusal to commit to the run game, Leonard offered a refreshing perspective on what has become the biggest obstacle preventing Indy from reaching its full potential.
Colts' Darius Leonard on his team's inability to close out tight games (so far, they're 1-4 in one-score games):
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) December 2, 2021
"There is absolutely no way you win a ballgame with 5 turnovers and 2 PIs. No schemes (we need to change). We need to avoid turning the ball over and penalties."
Darius Leonard offered a different take on the Colts’ inability to close out one-score games.
"“Lets you know that you’re not far off,” Leonard said. “Have to make sure that we can’t be shooting ourselves in the foot. Going back to turnovers and penalties. Can’t have games like that. We have to step up when the game is on the line.”"
Finally, some accountability in the locker room.
That isn’t to say Frank Reich has been blameless this season. Up until recently, the Colts head coach was hesitant to treat Taylor like a workhorse running back, and it came back to haunt Indy in some games.
That said, not every loss is on the coaching staff. The Colts’ players have collectively failed to execute in high-leverage moments. Five turnovers, including four in the second half, isn’t going to cut it against most teams, let alone the defending champs, and Indy still only lost by seven points to Tampa Bay.
Dropped passes by Zach Pascal and Michael Pittman Jr. didn’t help matters, either. Neither did the pass interference penalties that helped put the Buccaneers in scoring position. These are avoidable mistakes, but each of them drove a nail in the Colts’ coffin last Sunday.
It’s awesome to see Taylor or Leonard produce a moment of individual brilliance. It’s also encouraging that the Colts have controlled the game script early on in games. However, all that will mean nothing if they don’t stop imploding in the second half of games against playoff-hopeful squads.
Frank Reich meeting the media. Says he has to do a better job of getting the #Colts ready to close out games against playoff contenders.
— George Bremer (@gmbremer) November 29, 2021
Encouraged by the offense scoring consistently for several weeks. Discouraged by the inability to hold big leads.
They can get away with that against the dregs of the league. But against the Rams, Ravens, Titans and Bucs? It’s no surprise they’re 0-4 in those one-score affairs.
The Colts’ only one-score win of the season came against Jacksonville three weeks ago when they didn’t commit a turnover.
Three of Indy’s remaining five games will come against teams that had winning records entering Week 13 (the Patriots, Cardinals and Raiders). Let’s hope Leonard and Co. are able to clean up their act, because the playoffs, though far from out of reach, will go down as a pipe dream if these trends continue.
3 things the Colts must do to avoid being upset by the Texans
The Indianapolis Colts take on the Houston Texans in Week 13 of the NFL season, although the Colts are favorited to win they must be focused to avoid upset.