The Indianapolis Colts had it right where they wanted. The team had traveled to Kansas City and had an opportunity to put the Chiefs out of their misery this season. The team that had recently won three Super Bowls was 5-5 and couldn't win a close game. Now, they can.
The frustrating part for Colts fans is what the offense was trying to do. Instead of being the reason that the team won so much at the beginning of the season was the reason that Indy let a very winnable game slip away. Where did the use of Jonathan Taylor go, for instance?
Head coach Shane Steichen had seemingly found his way as a play-caller, and he finally had a quarterback in Daniel Jones who could run his system perfectly. But the key was Taylor. He made the passing game better, and teams worried more about the running back than the wide receiver.
Indianapolis Colts suffer a brutal loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12
But with a lead in the fourth quarter, Steichen chose to eschew handing the ball to Taylor. Indianapolis threw the ball eight straight times at one point. Counting the fourth quarter and overtime, a suddenly pass-heavy Colts team got no first downs in five drives. For an offense that was so brilliant through most of 10 games, the Chiefs shut them down.
Or, maybe, the Colts shut themselves down. Not using Jonathan Taylor, when he was seemingly healthy, is inexcusable. It is the kind of play-calling that could have Indy fans be nervous about how the outcome of the season might go. The team looked like a serious Super Bowl contender, but now there is a chance that...
Well, the team might not make the playoffs. Kansas City has a decent defense, but not a great one. The Colts' defense played well enough to win, but it isn't good enough to beat solid teams when the offense goes into a hole. The Indianapolis Colts have an upcoming schedule that will see the team take on some brutally great defenses.
Now, after losing to the Chiefs, Indianapolis is 8-3, and just one game better than the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South and two better than the Houston Texans. The Colts still have to play both teams twice. Add to that the team also faces the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, and the Colts could finish 9-8 or 8-9 again.