Colts hope emotional win helps inspire 2nd half charge

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts interim coach Jeff Saturday understood the low expectations.

No person gave him, or his crew, an opportunity. Saturday doesn’t anticipate a lot altering this weekend with Philadelphia coming to Indy for his first house sport as coach.

However after leaving Las Vegas with a win, the first-time NFL coach wasted no time delivering one other message on the crew flight house: Feelings alone gained’t get the Colts into the playoffs. Solely targeted gamers and training can shed the label of underdog.

“Execution, to me, is doing precisely what we’re coached to do, in order that if now we have to unravel issues midgame, we perceive the place everyone was speculated to be in order that we are able to make an adjustment,” Saturday stated lower than 24 hours after logging a 25-20 victory in his teaching debut. “From an emotional perspective, to me, emotion normally runs out about halfway via the primary quarter.”

By some means, regardless of a 3rd consecutive turbulent week in Indianapolis, Saturday pushed all the best buttons and the Colts responded with their most full sport all season.

They ran the ball successfully and created explosive performs on offense. Defensively, they held Josh Jacobs in verify and completed with a flurry — game-saving go breakups on the Raiders’ closing two performs. And collectively, they snapped a three-game dropping streak, a feat few thought attainable amid the nationwide debate over Saturday’s readiness for the job.

However with out the ingredient of shock, the emotional enhance from a midseason teaching change or the return of Matt Ryan to the beginning lineup, how can Indy (4-5-1) construct on this momentum?

By following the identical playbook Saturday employed final week — turning inward, ignoring exterior noise and difficult the Colts to satisfy their very own requirements.

Linebacker Zaire Franklin noticed Indy meet the problem final week, and he’s satisfied it can proceed to make a distinction over the ultimate seven video games, too.

“It was actually only a shift of a mindset and a refocus and, clearly, Jeff was the chief of that refocus,” Franklin stated. “It’s simply understanding that is our season, our crew, our story and our chapter to put in writing and we wish to do our half to verify now we have story.”

WHAT’S WORKING

Working sport. For the primary time because the season opener, league speeding champion Jonathan Taylor topped the 100-yard mark, scored a TD and ran successfully. Heck, even Ryan had a important 39-yard run, a profession lengthy. Saturday is aware of that is the blueprint to success for Indy.

WHAT NEEDS HELP

Takeaways. One 12 months after ending second within the league in turnovers pressured (33), Indy has struggled mightily. It has 9 takeaways via 10 video games, and Sunday, for the third time this season, produced none. It’s the one lacking part from an in any other case spectacular protection.

STOCK UP

Ryan. Just some weeks after it appeared as if his lengthy, illustrious NFL profession could be over, the 37-year-old made a comeback. He was so spectacular in apply that Saturday began him Sunday and Ryan delivered by going 21 of 28 for 222 yards, one TD and no turnovers for the second time this season. If he retains it up, Ryan might save Indy’s season and prolong his profession.

STOCK DOWN

Sam Ehlinger. Two-plus weeks after being named the beginning QB for the remainder of this season and simply days after Saturday stated he’d hold Ehlinger in that position. the second-year quarterback from Texas was benched. If Ryan continues enjoying properly, Ehlinger’s subsequent begin could also be a good distance off.

INJURIES

The Colts misplaced DE Kwity Paye once more because of an ankle damage. It’s unclear when Paye might return but when he’s out, his absence, coupled with three-time All-Professional LB Shaquille Leonard occurring injured reserve, will harm. Saturday stated Leonard desires one other medical opinion concerning the again and ankle accidents that disrupted his offseason and the beginning of this season. It’s unclear when Leonard will return.

KEY NUMBERS

1 — With rookie Bernhard Raimann at LT and Will Fries at RG, the Colts offensive line had its finest sport this season. Indy allowed just one quarterback hit Sunday, that being a sack, after yielding 35 sacks and 78 hits within the first 9 video games.

NEXT STEPS

Saturday’s teaching profession received off to one of the best begin attainable — beating one other struggling foe whereas giving followers hope for a turnaround. Replicating that feat in opposition to a foe with one of the best document in soccer would assist show crew proprietor Jim Irsay made the best name final week. That’s an enormous ask for an offense that has struggled with consistency all season. However one other robust sport from Taylor would give Indy its finest likelihood to drag one other shock.