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Colts’ Defense Surging

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Colts’ Defense Surging


The Indianapolis Colts’ fanbase was in near unanimous agreement that Defensive Coordinator Gus Bradley had to be fired at the end of the season following the team’s 37-34 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in week five. Amid the Colts’ own offensive turmoil in the month since that game, Bradley has quietly figured out a winning formula with his defense since that disaster.

The Colts’ defense has been on a steady roll these past four games, ranking as the 8th-best defense in terms of EPA/play, the 9th-best defense in drop back EPA, and the 10th-best defense in rush EPA. While it could be easy to attribute this success to games against Will Levis and Tyler Huntley, the Colts also managed to hold the Minnesota Vikings and the Houston Texans below their usual offensive averages in EPA/play (and rank 6th in EPA/play in general as a defense the past two weeks).

There are a lot of contributing factors to the Colts’ defensive rebound over the past month. It helps to have back-to-back get-right games against vulnerable offenses like the Tennessee Titans and the Miami Dolphins to kick off the stretch, and the momentum built up from those games has carried over into big contests against playoff-bound opponents.

Another factor that has contributed to the Colts’ success has been the return of DeForest Buckner to the lineup. Buckner has been back in the lineup for the Colts’ last two outings, logging four hurries, three quarterback hits, and two sacks since returning to the field. His elite presence on the interior has paved the way for the rest of the Colts’ defensive line returning to their early season expectations.

The final massive factor in this defensive growth in none other than Gus Bradley himself. Once the old dog that would never learn a new trick, Bradley has changed this defense up a good bit in recent weeks. A man known for his lack of aggression and for sitting back in cover three all day long has shifted to more of a blitz-heavy cover two defense in recent weeks.

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This shift for the Colts’ defense is eerily similar to the style of play that Matt Eberflus once deployed in his time as the Colts’ defensive coordinator. Sit back in cover two shells, eliminate the vertical passing game, pressure the quarterback, and force turnovers. The Colts have forced seven turnovers in their past four games and they lead the league in fumbles recovered as a defense with nine this season.

The smartest aspect of this adjustment for Bradley is playing to the strengths of his linebacker group. Zaire Franklin and E.J. Speed are fine run chasers that can ROBOT back against play-action, but they are at their best playing downhill and attacking what is in front of them. This blitz-heavy, cover-two approach from Bradley has allowed the Colts’ linebacker duo (along with Grant Stuard in base sets) to be in attack mode on passing downs and get after opposing quarterbacks.

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Even when the Colts are getting into some cover three looks, the secondary has shown fantastic growth this season in their zone recognition and assignment integrity. Nick Cross has developed some pretty good instincts this year and Jaylon Jones (despite the rough game on Sunday night) has flashed playmaking ability.

This interception by Cross might be one of the more instinctual plays in zone coverage from a Colts’ player the past few seasons.

There are even more wrinkles that Bradley has thrown in this season to hide the flaws of this defensive group, including mixing in three safety sets on passing downs to get more coverage players on the field. This unit still has some issues to iron out, but Bradley has done a good job adjusting to his personnel and finding an answer in this past month of play.

There is work to be done with this defense overall. Run defense is a bit leaky and some of the middle passing windows are far too uncontested for opposing offenses. That being said, there has at least been steady improvement on that side of the ball from the coaching staff and from the players on the field, something that can’t be said for the Colts’ offense in this past month of play.

Bradley may be the odd man out after the season, but he deserves credit for adjusting the defense after the Jacksonville disaster. His unit has been playing fast, hungry, and forcing turnovers in recent weeks, which has given the Colts’ offense a chance to win games. This is winning-caliber defense from Bradley of late, now it’s on Shane Steichen and the Colts’ offense to return the favor going forward.

Need your fill on daily Colts’ content? Head over to the Locked On Colts’ YouTube channel where Jake Arthur and Zach Hicks hit on all the major topics surrounding this team. Hit that subscribe button while you are there!

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Indianapolis, IN

NFL Week 18 predictions, picks: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts

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NFL Week 18 predictions, picks: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts


The Indianapolis Colts complete their season when the Jacksonville Jaguars visit in NFL Week 18.

The Colts (8-9) were eliminated from playoff contention last weekend in a 45-33 loss to the New York Giants. The Jaguars (4-12) have one win outside the AFC South. Jacksonville got its first win of the season in Week 5, 37-34 over Indianapolis.

Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (back, foot) may return after missing the Giants game. Mac Jones has led Jacksonville in the wake of a Trevor Lawrence shoulder injury.

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The Jaguars enter the finale with the No. 5 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, though there are five 4-12 teams. The Colts stand 12th in the draft order, but there are two other 7-9 teams.

Want more Colts coverage? Nate Atkins, Joel A. Erickson and Gregg Doyel track the team, and sign up for IndyStar’s Colts newsletter.

NFL Week 18 picks, predictions: Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Gregg Doyel, IndyStar: What’s the point?

“The Colts will win, unless it’s the Jaguars. Like it matters.”

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Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk: Colts 23-10

“How bad are the Colts? Lose this one, and the answer is, ‘Pretty bad.’”

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Colts 27-14

“This is a game featuring two teams playing for nothing. The Colts were awful in losing to the Giants last week. Jacksonville beat the Titans, but big deal. When two bad teams play with nothing at stake, take the home team. Colts win it.”

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Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report: Colts 30-21

“Snapping a three-game skid against a division rival may not be enough to save anyone, but the Colts have clearly reached a crossroads where owner Jim Irsay could go in any direction. General manager Chris Ballard, members of the coaching staff and plenty of the roster need this victory to try and somewhat calm the waters. Desperation is a powerful incentive.”

Tom Blair, NFL.com: Colts 24-21

“This one has caused me more stress than I thought it would. I almost went with the Jaguars, entranced by their steady-eddy mediocrity behind Mac Jones, and indeed could still swap in an entire blurb here justifying that choice. Over the past five games, Jacksonville has basically performed at replacement level, going 2-3 while generating yardage and point differentials close to zero (plus-39 and minus-4, respectively). Jones and Co. don’t get too high, they don’t get too low and they seem to always be within one score of winning. We can’t say the same for Indy, especially if Joe Flacco (who is 0-3 with a TD-to-INT ratio of 4:6 over his past three games) ends up starting again for Anthony Richardson. This is about where I was going to originally end my take — until I thought longer about the lift Jonathan Taylor (who missed Flacco’s narrow loss to Jacksonville in Week 5) can provide, and further weighed the likelihood that the Jaguars can sweep a second AFC South opponent (after going 2-0 against Tennessee) with a win on the road. So instead, I have talked myself into backing a messy former fringe contender by writing way too many words about a Week 18 game between two sub-.500 teams.”

Bill Bender, Sporting News: Colts 31-22

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“The Colts were eliminated from playoff contention after a shocking loss to the Giants in Week 17. The Jaguars are in contention for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Is a Week 18 shootout between Mac Jones and Joe Flacco just what we needed? The Colts have won five of the past six home meetings.”

Marcus Mosher, 33rd Team: Colts 24-17

“It’s impossible to know how (the Colts) will play in Week 18 after such a massive disappointment. But the Jacksonville Jaguars are far from a juggernaut with Mac Jones as the quarterback. Take the Colts to have some pride and get a win in Week 18, but don’t expect this to be a pretty victory, either.”

Pro Football Network: 2 picks for the Colts, 3 for the Jaguars

“It’ll be interesting to see Shane Steichen’s reception from fans Sunday after the Colts’ playoff hopes died in North Jersey last week. The Jaguars are playing for draft positioning in what could be head coach Doug Pederson’s final game.”

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Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Colts 15-11

“The Colts keep finding ways to lose playoff-implication games, and it doesn’t get any more embarrassing than allowing 45 points to the Giants. It’s the third time in four years the Colts have lost a game that could have propelled them into the postseason.”

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts preview NFL Week 18

The Jaguars have worst time of possession in the NFL (26:52), have the fewest takeaways (9) and allow the most passing yards (257.7).

Mac Jones has completed 65.7% of his passes for 1,447 yards, 7 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Tank Bigsby has 727 rushing yards (4.7 yards per) with 6 TDs. Rookie Brian Thomas Jr. has been Jacksonville’s breakout player, with 80 catches for 1,179 yards (14.7 per), 10 TDs and 16 catches of 20+ yards.

Devin Loyd has 107 tackles, Travon Walker 9.5 sacks and Montaric Brown 8 passes defended. Cam Little is 24-of-26 on field goals, with a long of 59 yards.

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Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars preview NFL Week 18

The Colts are a top-10 rushing team (134 yards per game, No. 8) but struggle passing (56.2% completions, 32nd; 19 interceptions, 31st). Indianapolis allows 69.8% completions (32nd).

Anthony Richardson has completed 47.7% of his passes for 1,814 yards, 8 touchdowns and 14 interceptions; he has run for 499 yards (5.8 per) and 6 TDs. Joe Flacco has completed 66.8% of his throws for 1,497 yards, 11 TDs and 7 INTs.

Jonathan Taylor has 1,254 rushing yards (4.7 per) with 10 TDs and 11 carries of 20+ yards. Alec Pierce averages 21.9 yards per catch, with 6 TDs and 12 receptions of 20+ yards. Michael Pittman Jr. has 63 catches (11.7 yards per) and 3 TDs.

Zaire Franklin has 165 tackles, 10 for a loss. Kwity Paye has 7 sacks. Kenny Moore II has 3 interceptions, and Jaylon Jones has 12 passes defended. Matt Gay is 27-of-32 on field goals, perfect inside 50 yards, but 3-of-8 on tries of 50+.

Colts-Jaguars betting odds

via BetMGM

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Favorite: Colts by 5 points

Colts are 9-7 against the spread; the Jaguars are 8-7-1 ATS.

Over/under: 44 total points

Eight Colts games have gone over, seven under, and one was a push; eight Jaguars games have gone over, eight under.

Moneyline: Colts -225, Jaguars +185

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When do the Colts play the Jaguars in NFL Week 18?

1 p.m. ET Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

How to watch Colts vs Jaguars in NFL Week 18

Fox, with Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Brady Quinn (analysis) and Sarah Kustok (sideline reporting).

How to stream, watch Jaguars-Colts game for NFL Week 18

The Colts-Jaguars matchup will stream on the Fox Sports app at 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. The app is available in the Apple App Store or on Google Play. Fans can also download NFL+ in the Apple App Store or on Google Play.

How to listen to NFL Week 18 Jaguars-Colts game on radio, streaming

Radio: 93.5, 97.1, 107.5 FM in Indianapolis, with Matt Taylor (play-by-play), Rick Venturi (analysis) and Larra Overton (sideline reporting)

Streaming: SiriusXM Channels 228 and 813

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What a deal!: Watch Colts-Titans on Fubo

Colts-Jaguars common opponents

The Colts (5-6) beat the Bears, the Titans twice, Jets and Patriots. They lost to the Texans twice, Packers, Vikings, Bills and Lions.

The Jaguars (3-9) beat the Patriots and the Titans twice. They lost to the Dolphins, Bills, Texans twice, Bears, Packers, Vikings, Lions and Jets.

The Jaguars beat the Colts 37-34 in Jacksonville on Oct. 6.

Colts-Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium

At Lucas Oil Stadium: Tickets start at $9 on StubHub

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Colts 2024 schedule

all times ET

Sept. 8: Texans 29, Colts 27

Sept. 15: Packers 16, Colts 10

Sept. 22: Colts 21, Bears 16

Sept. 29: Colts 27, Steelers 24

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Oct. 6: Jaguars 37, Colts 34

Oct. 13: Colts 20, Titans 17

Oct. 20: Colts 16, Dolphins 10

Oct. 27: Texans 23, Colts 20

Nov. 3: Vikings 21, Colts 13

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Nov. 10: Bills 30, Colts 20

Nov. 17: Colts 28, Jets 27

Nov. 24: Lions 24, Colts 6

Dec. 1: Colts 25, Patriots 24

Dec. 15: Broncos 31, Colts 13

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Dec. 22: Colts 38, Titans 30

Dec. 29: Giants 45, Colts 33

Jan. 5: vs. Jacksonville, 1 p.m., Fox



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Snow tonight, more potent system arrives Sunday | Jan 2, 2025

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Snow tonight, more potent system arrives Sunday | Jan 2, 2025


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – We are eyeing a couple of systems that will bring us some snow throughout the next few days. Colder conditions this weekend with our first accumulating snow likely later in the weekend.

TODAY: Partly to mostly cloudy skies expected during the day. Clouds will increase later this afternoon ahead of our next system. This will be a quick moving clipper system that will bring us a little bit of some light snow later on this evening. High temperatures today will be into the mid-30s which is right around normal for this time of the year.

TONIGHT: Light snow develops overnight tonight and some locations especially north of Indianapolis may see one possibly up to 2 in of snowfall. Here in central Indiana into the city we will probably pick up maybe around an inch. Low temperatures will fall into the lower twenties.

TOMORROW: We may see a few slick spots early on your Friday morning. With the snowfall and temperatures being below freezing. Look for dry conditions for the afternoon on Friday, maybe a little bit of sunshine but cold. High temperatures only into the middle 20s. 

This weekend it will remain cold with high temperatures only in the 20s for both Saturday and Sunday .

All eyes will be on a system which will be more potent than the one we see later tonight. This one could bring us some significant snowfall accumulation and maybe even a little ice accumulation possible in southern Indiana. Right now the heaviest snow looks to be across parts of the I-70 corridor and the ice accumulation looks farther southward right along the Ohio River. Timing looks to be during the day on Sunday overnight and may linger into early Monday morning. This will create some rough travel conditions Sunday night and also into early Monday.

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7 DAY EXTENDED FORECAST: Snow will continue heading into the first part of Monday. Winds will be brisk as well and temperatures will stay into the upper twenties .

Partly cloudy skies on Tuesday with those high temperatures continuing into the twenties. We may see temperatures fall even more on Wednesday with highs into the teens.



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Jimmy Carter inspires Indianapolis couple to do more for others

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Jimmy Carter inspires Indianapolis couple to do more for others


Many people spent New Year’s Day paying their respects to former President Jimmy Carter.  They placed flowers and notes near the sign of the Carter Center.

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FOX 5 Atlanta met a couple who called him a true inspiration.

“He’s just a fantastic humanitarian and just an inspiration to all of us,” said Tony May.

Tony and Flory May said they were inspired by former President Jimmy Carter to practice kindness and get involved.

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Tony says he’s a presidential history buff and knows a lot about the Carter presidency, as well as all he accomplished after leaving office.

“The work he did around the world, securing fair elections and getting vaccines delivered,” Tony listed. “His post-presidency is one of the best of any of the presidents.”

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Tony and his wife, Flory, are from Indianapolis. While passing through Atlanta, they knew they had to stop at the Carter Center to pay their respects.

Tony and Flory May said they were inspired by former President Jimmy Carter to practice kindness and get involved.

Tony says the former president inspired him to do better in life.

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“I started a mental health fund, and it’s part of just trying to help people be better, be kind,” said Tony.

The May family also worked on Habitat for Humanity homes after hearing the former president and his wife talk about the organization.

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“We took the kids out and started on some builds, not knowing the process, got to see some of the homeowners and did several builds over the summer and got to see two of the homeowners take ownership,” said Flory May.

Tony and Flory May said they were inspired by former President Jimmy Carter to practice kindness and get involved.

Jimmy Carter once said, “I have one life and one chance to make it count for something. My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I can, whenever I can, for as long as I can.”  Those words have stuck with Tony May.

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“To me, that’s what I’m trying to live by,” said Tony. “Do whatever I can. I have a lot to do, and I use him as my inspiration.”

Jimmy Carter funeral plans, schedule of events announced

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The Source: This is an original article reported by FOX 5 Atlanta’s Denise Dillon from the Carter Center.

Jimmy CarterHeartwarming NewsAtlantaNews



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