The Indianapolis Colts and the Baltimore Ravens played one of the most dramatic games of the NFL season in Week 3. Throughout the game, there were moments were it seemed certain that the Ravens would win, that Indy would win, or that the game would end in a tie. Ultimately, it was the Colts that pulled out a 22-19 overtime victory.
Any time a team plays a game like that, there’s always some good and some bad, and that was certainly the case for Indianapolis on Sunday. Indy had its fair share of mistakes that definitely should’ve led to a loss. Fortunately, the production of some other players pulled through for Indy.
Let’s take a look at three players that helped win the game for Indianapolis on Sunday.
3. Matt Gay was clutch all day for the Colts
Let’s just get right to it. Matt Gay won the game for Indianapolis. In a game with Justin Tucker, the greatest kicker of all time, Gay was the best kicker in the game on Sunday. Gay was 1-of-1 on extra points, and he scored the rest of Indy’s points, going 5-for-5 on field goals.
The field goals weren’t the easiest to make either, though, Gay did make them look easy. They were from 31, 54, and three from 53 yards, including the game-winning kick in overtime. In the end, Matt Gay scored 16 of Indy’s 22 points and the game-winning points.
In the offseason, the Colts gave Gay the biggest free agency contract for a kicker in NFL history. The reason why is that Indianapolis was tired of having inconsistent kicking, and was willing to pay to change that. Sunday was an example of why having a consistent kicker is so beneficial.
2. Zack Moss continued to be a productive runner for Colts
Zack Moss returned to the lineup last week and was an immediate impact player, carrying the ball 18 times for 88 yards and one touchdown. In Week 3, Moss had an even better day, running the ball 30 times for 122 yards, and catching two passes for 23 yards and one touchdown.
Because of Moss, and the offensive line, the run game is alive and well in Indianapolis. The Colts couldn't even benefit from the quarterback run, as Anthony Richardson is still in concussion protocol, and they still ran the ball 35 times for 139 yards, four yards a carry.
With Moss running the ball as well as he is, things will get interesting in a week, when star running back Jonathan Taylor is eligible to be activated off the PUP list next Monday. Either Taylor will return to the lineup and the Colts will have one of the league’s best backfields, or Indy may be willing to part with Taylor, considering how well Zack Moss is running the ball.
The Colts have another week before they have to make a decision, which also means another week for Zack Moss to continue to dominate on the ground.
1. Kwity Paye and the pass rush was great against Lamar Jackson
Indy’s defensive front has been the most dominant thing for the team so far this season, and that continued on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. If a defense is going to contain the Ravens’ offense, they have to be able to stop the run and limit Lamar Jackson’s scrambles. Indy’s defensive line did one of those things on Sunday.
Led by Kwity Paye, the Colts sacked Lamar Jackson four times, with two being strip sacks. Paye, Samson Ebukam, Taven Bryan, and Zaire Franklin all had sacks, and the team had four additional quarterback hits. Jackson was consistently under pressure, and the defensive line made sure to be a factor in the game.
The most promising thing is that the Colts were often able to get pressure with just four men rushing. That means Indianapolis didn’t need to send blitz, something Gus Bradley rarely does anyway. The defensive line was just able to beat the man lined up across from them and take control of the game. As long as Indy can get to the quarterback with just four men rushing, the Colts defense should be good.