The Indianapolis Colts had no business risking a loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona was without its starting quarterback, Kyler Murray, and lost its top running back early in the season. Indy was facing long-term backup Jacoby Brissett and should have been able to limit the Cards to 20 points, at most.
But just as quarterback Daniel Jones gives, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo gives away. Indy is capable of making a playoff run. The AFC South is not that good overall. Indianapolis is probably going to win both games against the Tennessee Titans, and maybe against the Houtson Texans.
But the team's ceiling is limited because of Anarumo. He undervalues the middle linebackers because his scheme (in his mind) doesn't need off-ball linebackers to be great. Anarumo makes them worse, especially in coverage.
Lou Anarumo almost snatches a loss from the jaws of victory for the Indianapolis Colts
The Cardinals figured this out early in the second half, as they came out of halftime down 14-10, and immediately started exposing the middle of the field on the Colts' defense. Brissett kept completing pass after pass over the middle, picking up first downs, and leading his team to points.
Anarumo did the worst thing that a coordinator can do. Or, more specifically, what a coordinator can't do. He didn't adapt to what Arizona was doing, or was incapable of adjusting.
The same thing happened for years while Anarumo was the defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals before Indianapolis hired him this past offseason. Cincy was fine with Anarumo leaving because he wasn't a good DC for them. He isn't a good DC for the Colts, either.
Thankfully, head coach Shane Steichen and his offense are covering up Anarumo's sins. Daniel Jones is playing MVP-caliber football and will need to continue to do so. Allowing 27 points to such a weakened Cardinals offense is unforgivable.
To allow the Cardinals to pick up much more than 50 percent of their third downs is the same. It isn't like Indianapolis is going to fire Lou Anarumo. The team can't do that while it continues to win games because the offense is so good. But late in the same, when games really matter, Anarumo is going to prove his worth, which is worthless.
Did the Indianapolis Colts win in Week 6? Yes. They did so giving up 27 points to the Cardinals, who had only scored that much once before this season. Arizona also had 400 total yards and was nine of 14 on third downs. That's not winning football by Anarumo's unit.