Disappointment appears to be the theme for the Indianapolis Colts through the first quarter of the season.
The crew got here out within the first half Sunday and didn’t look prepared for the second. The offense began with a Matt Ryan fumble and a three-and-out on their first two drives. The protection got here out wanting flat. Derrick Henry had his method with them, gashing them a number of occasions for chunk performs and ending drives with touchdowns.
The Tennessee Titans opened as much as a 24-3 with 7:40 left within the second quarter. It was a unique story for the Colts within the second half. The protection compelled three straight three-and-outs which gave the crew loads of alternatives to finish the comeback.
However, the offense fell flat on their face every time they crossed midfield. Indianapolis had all the probabilities to go win this sport they usually couldn’t get the job accomplished.
A fourth straight loss to a divisional rival makes this one laborious to swallow for the Colts. Listed below are my 5 takeaways from the matchup:
1
No reply for Derrick Henry within the first half
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The Colts seemed like that they had one of many higher run defenses within the NFL getting into Sunday however Derrick Henry didn’t care and simply took it to the unit to start out the sport. Henry had 99 dashing yards at halftime and the Titans averaged 7.0 yards per carry. The way in which that Indianapolis seemed within the first half was very underwhelming.
They had been lacking tackles and had been getting dominated within the trenches. It was minimal that they had been contacting Henry on the line of scrimmage. The second half was a lot better for Gus Bradley’s protection. The Colts held Henry to fifteen dashing yards within the ultimate two quarters.
General, Henry completed with 147 complete yards and two touchdowns. He accounted for 60.4% of the Tennessee offense. The protection did their half within the second half however they must get off to a greater begin within the first half.
2
Brutal day for the bottom sport
The Titans had been giving up 145.0 dashing yards per sport within the first three weeks of the season. This seemed like a juicy matchup for the Colts to get the dashing assault again on observe with Jonathan Taylor. Mike Vrabel made certain that wasn’t going to occur. His protection bought out to guarantee that Taylor wouldn’t have an effect on the sport.
Tennessee seemed prepared for each run by Taylor and their defensive entrance beat up on the Indianapolis offensive line. The operating backs had little or no to work with. Speeding lanes had been crammed up and the Titans did an excellent job at tackling right now. They’d 5 tackles for loss towards the Colts.
Frank Reich didn’t again down from his strategy and would proceed to run Taylor on the wall Tennessee had all day. The operating again completed with 20 dashing makes an attempt for 42 yards. It ended up being a tough ending for the star again.
On a third-and-short, Taylor fumbled the ball away throughout his effort to get the primary down. He would later get checked on the sideline due to an ankle harm. He was labeled as questionable however he seemed to be prepared to return in if he was wanted on the ultimate drive by the Indianapolis offense.
His harm shall be one thing to watch forward of the Thursday evening matchup towards the Denver Broncos. This marks three straight video games that the Colts don’t end with at the very least 100 dashing yards. I’d by no means thought I might see that from the offense heading into the season. Frank Reich has to determine methods to get Taylor and the bottom sport going.
3
Large day for the tight ends
There was one brilliant spot for the Colts’ offense and that was from the tight finish group. They obtained happening the primary landing drive on the finish of the primary half. Jelani Woods caught his one goal of the day and took it 33 yards to place the offense within the redzone. Matt Ryan would go on to attach with Mo-Alie Cox for the rating.
Alie-Cox ended up being the main receiver for Indianapolis. He caught six balls for 85 yards and two touchdowns. He had a protracted of 34 yards. However, it wasn’t simply the veteran making performs. Kylen Granson confirmed up right now.
He helped the offense hold shifting the chains all through the sport and had an incredible sideline catch. The second-year tight finish completed with 4 receptions for 62 yards on 4 targets. The three of them mixed for 50.5% of Ryan’s passing yards. The tight ends are imagined to be an intregal a part of Frank Reich’s offense so their efficiency is one thing the Colts have to construct upon.
4
Blended bag for the passing assault
It was an up-and-down day for Matt Ryan and the passing assault. Similar to the protection, the offense obtained off to a sluggish begin towards the Titans. It was began with one other Matt Ryan strip-sack fumble. Former Colt, Denico Autry, beat Quenton Nelson to break down on the quarterback and dislodged the ball upon influence. This gave Tennessee nice area place to get their first landing.
On the third drive, they began to look a lot better however that was rapidly lived when Indianapolis obtained the ball again down 17-3. Ryan’s first cross tried led to an interception. Teair Tart made an unbelievable athletic play by a defensive lineman. Not solely he tipped the ball, however he was capable of observe down it and are available down with the interception.
The Titans had been capable of as soon as once more covert a turnover right into a landing which made it a 24-3 sport. Then the Colts began to indicate life of their passing assault. The cross safety began to carry up and Ryan had time to choose aside the Tennessee protection.
Ryan discovered a rhythm and was capable of put collectively back-to-back landing drives between the top of the primary half and the third quarter. Issues had been wanting up for the offense however their ultimate three drives ended up in remorse.
After attending to the Tennessee 34-yard line, the Colts went backward due to one other Ryan strip-sack fumble. They did get well it however needed to punt. Indy was capable of hold it shifting on the following drive however Jonathan Taylor fumbled the ball on the Titans’ 23-yard line.
On their final drive of the sport, Ryan was capable of join with Alec Pierce on a 44-yard reception however the offense as soon as towards stalled throughout midfield. On third-and-13, Matt Pryor failed to choose up Denico Autry and he was capable of sack Ryan for an eight-yard loss.
This led to a missed 51-yard area purpose try by Chase McLaughlin and the Colts by no means obtained the ball again. Ryan ended his day going 27/37 for 356 yards, two touchdowns, an interception, and a misplaced fumble. Ryan’s turnovers and the struggles to complete drives with factors have been a significant downside to start out the season.
5
Seats are warming once more
There was numerous warmth coming for Chris Ballard and Frank Reich following the shutout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2. They had been capable of simmer these flames with the upset win over the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs however the embers had been lit once more with the loss to the Titans. Jim Irsay was adamant about how his crew wanted to lastly beat their divisional rival and he must be livid with their efficiency right now.
As I’ve alluded to earlier, this crew seemed unprepared to start out the sport and got here out flat. They didn’t look prepared for the second and let Tennessee push them round for the primary two quarters. The Colts understood their path to the postseason was to win the AFC South for the primary time since 2014 they usually now have an uphill battle to get it accomplished.
Not solely do they discover themselves with a 1-2-1 report, however they’re additionally 0-2-1 of their first three divisional video games. That is the fourth straight loss towards the Titans and Ryan Tannehill has a 5-1 towards Indianapolis as Tennessee’s quarterback.
The Colts as soon as once more must climb themselves out of a gap after the primary month of the NFL season. Frank Reich has accomplished it earlier than however this story is greater than only a development and if Indianapolis can’t get it accomplished then count on the noise of Reich’s and Ballard’s job safety to get louder with each loss.