While at times the sentiment will ring hollow, Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen has been taking the blame for a lot of the things that went wrong in Week 4. Indy lost by a touchdown, which made what happened even worse. The Colts could easily be 4-0.
In the days after the game, a lot of discussion was centered on wide receiver Adonai Mitchell dropping the ball before he entered the end zone, costing the team six points (and seven with the extra point, of course). But Mitchell's play didn't directly lose the game for Indy.
Instead, something defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo did lost the game. Steichen oversees the entire team, of course, but his focus is the offense. Anarumo's job is to make sure the defense is on point. He was the one who allowed only 10 players to be on the field on the decisive play.
Indianapolis Colts' Shane Steichen takes the blame for something Lou Anarumo is at fault for
With less than two minutes left, the Los Angeles Rams took over on their own 12-yard line. A field goal might have won the game for them, but they didn't have to wait for that. Instead, it took just one play for Matthew Stafford to complete a pass to wide receiver Tutu Atwell that went 88 yards for a touchdown.
Indy was supposed to have 11 players on the field, but they never did. They started the play with 10, plus cornerback Mekhi Blackmon fell down on the play. Anarumo allowing LA to snap the ball while the Colts only had 10 players is inexcusable.
Steichen took the blame, saying he should have noticed how many Indianapolis players were on the field and called a timeout. But his move would only have been reactionary to Anarumo's defensive play call. The defensive coordinator should have known Indy had only 10 players before the head coach noticed.
A lesser person as head coach might have just said, when asked about how many Indianapolis players were on the field, "You have to go ask the defensive coordinator that question." It would have been a jerk move, but it would also have been a factual one. Steichen did not do that.
Anarumo did take responsibility on Tuesday for the breakdown, but only to a degree. He said that even with 10 players, the Rams' play might have happened. In other words, he was at fault, but not really, in his view.
Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo says he takes responsibility for having 10 men on the field on the game-winning TD. He added that the play might still have happened w 10 because Atwell was being single covered and the absent 11th defender was intended to double Puka Nacua
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) September 30, 2025
Lou Anarumo has been a defensive coordinator in the NFL for eight seasons. Not calling a timeout on the Rams' touchdown pass was a rookie mistake. The highest an Anarumo-led defense has ranked in yards allowed is 16th. Only once has one of his defenses ranked higher than 17th in points allowed over a full season.
The Indianapolis Colts currently rank 12th in points allowed per game, but Indy has faced a couple of terrible offenses. Lou Anarumo was probably a bad hire as DC, and fans just haven't seen it yet, except for one crucial play at the end of Week 4.