What we can hope for is that what we saw from the Indianapolis Colts was nothing close to how the second half of the season will go. Shockingly, the main issue wasn't the defense, but the offense. Lou Anarumo's banged-up group was far from perfect, but it wasn't the reason Indy lost.
And let's be real: The final score of 27-20 was a lie. The Pittsburgh Steelers were in control of the game from the second quarter on. After leading entering the second quarter 7-0, Indianapolis was outscored 27-3. A late field goal by the Colts only made the game slightly less ugly.
But there were some positives to come out of the game for Indy. Maybe not offensively, as the unit turned the ball over five times (a sixth turnover occurred on a botched punt return), but a couple of defensive bright spots. One was edge rusher Laiatu Latu. The other was cornerback Jaylon Jones.
Jaylon Jones was a bright spot in the Week 9 darkness for the Indianapolis Colts
Jones was returning after missing nearly two months with a hamstring injury. One might have excused him for being a bit rusty, especially when covering Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf, who is big, fast, and strong. Instead, Jones played as if he hadn't missed any games this year.
Jones allowed Metcalf to have just two catches for six total yards. The only real impact Metcalf had on the game was when he recovered the Colts' desperation onside kick in the final seconds of the game. The third-year cornerback proved he could form one of the better cornerback duos in the NFL if he and Charvarius Ward can ever be healthy at the same time.
If the defense can be a tick better than it has been, and the offense reverts to its previous form, an Indianapolis Colts team that began the season 7-1 and looked like a real Super Bowl contender could cement that status the rest of the season.
Things won't be easy, of course. The Atlanta Falcons will be a feisty bunch in Berlin in Week 10, and after the bye week, Indianapolis will play the Kansas City Chiefs. The Indianapolis Colts still have to play the Jacksonville Jaguars twice and the Houston Texans twice, while also facing NFC West titans, the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.
Maybe the second half's difficulty will have the Colts even more prepared for the playoffs. One thing is certain: Jaylon Jones is going to help Indy steal some wins. The cornerback was elite in Week 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.