The Indianapolis Colts are 2-0, and there is much rejoicing. There should be, but let's pump the brakes a bit. The defense that looked so great in Week 1 was bailed out by a great offensive performance and a last-second penalty. They have to play better than this.
I had a distant relative, five times removed or whatever the terminology is supposed to be, who had quite the ascerbic tongue. Once, when served a particularly dry side dish at a restaurant, she remarked, "The cornbread leaves much to be desired."
Well, that describes the Colts' defense in Week 2. They had zero sacks and zero quarterback hits after practically annihilating the Miami Dolphins' offensive line last week.
Indianapolis Colts' Lou Anarumo's defense needs to step it back up
That doesn't mean the Colts didn't have some standout performers on the defensive side of the ball. Nick Cross was that guy versus the Broncos. His partner at safety, Cam Bynum, came up with a key interception to shut down a Denver drive in the fourth quarter. DeForest Buckner had five solo tackles, two of them for a loss. But three standouts don't equal a great team effort.
As good as the Colts looked in Week 1, they were just as shaky in Week 2. No, they weren't disastrous; far from it. It's not as if the Broncos rolled up a 50-spot on them. And they did force a punt on three of Denver's nine drives. Two of those drives were three-and outs. That, plus Bynum's interception, counts for great work.
But the defense also gave up four touchdowns on those nine drives. Denver only attempted one field goal, a very makeable 41-yarder that bounced off the right upright. If it hadn't been for a 15-yard facemask penalty on the Broncos' TE Adam Trautman, that drive might have ended very differently. Yes, Denver got the yardage back, plus a yard, but maybe they pick up that 15 yards on third and nine, instead of third and 24.
Zero sacks and zero QB hits are not a recipe for long-term success. Neither is counting on the team to get bailed out on another freak call, like they were Sunday. A similar defensive effort should be enough against division foe Tennessee. But as the road gets tougher, the defense needs to as well.