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5 key statistics that defined the Colts 2023 season

The Indianapolis Colts had an up-and-down season in 2023, and there are some enlightening metrics that demonstrate why.

By Vignesh Mulay

Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Indianpolis Colts
Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Indianpolis Colts / Lauren Leigh Bacho/GettyImages
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24.4 — Points allowed per game

While the Colts’ offensive resurgence was impressive, it may have been overshadowed by the disastrous play on the other side of the ball. Indianapolis finished the season with the 28th-ranked scoring defense. Incredibly, their actual performance may have been even worse than the numbers suggest given their opposition — seven of their games were against bottom-10 scoring offenses.

Indianapolis’ opponents routinely took advantage of an inconsistent pass rush, porous rush defense, and vulnerable secondary. The Colts were widely criticized for being outmaneuvered on the field and not being aggressive enough off of it. To address these issues, defensive coordinator Gus Bradley needs to reevaluate his scheme and GM Chris Ballard must consider changes in personnel.

Defensive struggles were oftentimes the deciding factor in the Colts’ close games. Losses against Los Angeles, Cleveland, and New Orleans could have been easily avoided if the defense had not crumbled. Even just marginal improvement could have radically changed the direction of Indianapolis’ 2023 season.

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