The Indianapolis Colts had no excuses for losing in Week 6, even though the team was missing tight end Tyler Warren and wide receiver Alec Pierce. The team's opponent, the Tennessee Titans, was simply atrocious. But head coach Shane Steichen and his team found a way to lose.
We shouldn't have had much to learn from the game. After all, Indy led 13-0 at halftime against a bad team. What's the worst that could have happened? Oh yeah...People will lose their jobs after allowing Tennessee to win 26-20.
There are no positives to take away from the game, really. Indianapolis should be a changed franchise next year with a different general manager and a different head coach. Maybe a different starting quarterback too.
Things we think we learned from the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6
The Indianapolis defense continues to play up or down to its level of competition
What makes games like Week 6 challenging for fans is that the Colts' defense obviously has some good parts, but the group is so inconsistent. Against decent to good offenses like the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, and Pittsburgh Steelers (when they play Indy), the defense looks bad.
Against offenses that are struggling, like the Houston Texans without Nico Collins in Week 3 and the Washington Commanders with a third-string quarterback in Week 4, the defense looks good. The group should, though. Talent is there, whether the team knows how to use it or not.
Indy will be tested in the next three games, and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's job might rely on how well the unit does against the Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Dallas Cowboys. Temporarily, at least. He is likely gone at least by the end of the season, just as the rest of the coaching staff is.
Daniel Jones is not good
Indianapolis should have won easily. In the first half, with Indy driving, Jones scrambled to his right but then threw a pass too high for wide receiver Josh Downs that was intercepted on a good play by Amani Hooker. Hooker's catch was good, but Jones' overthrow was the reason why it happened.
He threw another interception later, and could have had two more. It was another bad performance in a strong of bad performances.
The quarterback is nowhere near the form he was in the first half of last season, and he needs to tick up in form quite a bit for Indianapolis to win its next three games. Beating Tennessee is easy, but defeating Minnesota, Jacksonville, and Dallas won't be.
Deion Burks needs more playing time
The seventh-round selection in 2026 had only been targeted four times entering Week 6 and had just one catch for six yards. Against Tennessee, with Indy needing some wideout to step up to provide some explosiveness, Burks showed he could do that.
In the first half, he ran a perfect 7-route for a 36-yard gain and was simply quicker and faster than Tennessee's defensive backs. That can be replicated and should be for the rest of the season. He also had a nice run out of the backfield, showing that he has some good versatility.
The offensive line needs to be better in pass protection
Part of Daniel Jones' issues were because he was under pressure a lot from a defensive front that hasn't been overly good except against the run. Allowing multiple sacks and quarterback hits to a team as bad as Tennessee doesn't bode well for Week 7's game against the ultra-aggressive Vikings.
In the game, Jones was sacked six times and hit 11 times. That, like the loss itself, is inexcusable and the fanbase deserves changes to happen.
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