Towards all odds, the Indianapolis Colts (1-1-1) acquired their first win of the season in a 20-17 upset victory over the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (2-1) at Lucas Oil Stadium.
It was a implausible outing for the protection—the type that presents some hope for the remainder of the season. Nevertheless, the offensive line remains to be struggling at an more and more alarming charge.
The rookies got here up huge, and the Colts confirmed they will nonetheless get the job performed as underdogs.
Listed here are the studs and duds from the surprising 20-17 win in Week 3:
STUD: DE Yannick Ngakoue
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The Colts’ move rush as an entire was on level towards the Chiefs offensive line. The whole beginning 4 for the Colts had a robust recreation. Ngakoue lastly confirmed us why the Colts traded for him this offseason. Despite the fact that he completed with one sack, he logged two quarterback hits and a sort out for loss and was consistently making use of strain from the sting. It was a really encouraging outing after a gradual begin to the season.
DUD: LT Matt Pryor
AP Photograph/Gary McCullough
The experiment with Pryor at left sort out has not gone properly. That’s placing it properly. Pryor appears to be like misplaced in all phases of move safety. Even when he’s getting assist with chips, he’s nonetheless permitting strain. The communication on stunts merely isn’t there, and the offensive line as an entire appears to do not know how you can slide in the direction of a blitz. The Colts want rookie Bernhard Raimann to get wholesome as a result of this offense can’t final with Pryor at left sort out.
STUD: TE Jelani Woods
AP Photograph/AJ Mast
The rookie tight finish solely had two receptions on the day, however each of them had been extraordinarily impactful. Woods acquired the celebration began by scoring the primary landing of the sport after the Chiefs muffed a punt within the first quarter. Then, Woods made a ravishing contested catch with 24 seconds remaining to present the Colts the lead and eventual win.
DUD: RT Braden Smith
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Yup, we’re sticking with the offensive line. Smith was practically simply as unhealthy as Pryor on the opposite aspect of the ball. One of many highest-paid offensive tackles within the league, Smith hasn’t seemed like himself going all the way in which again to the beginning of the 2020 season. All day lengthy, he struggled in move safety on the sting and saved Matt Ryan below strain.
STUD: WR Alec Pierce
Syndication: The Indianapolis Star
The rookies had been out in full power Sunday. Pierce solely had three receptions, however they had been huge ones. His first reception was a 17-yard acquire, the longest for the Colts on the day on the time. Then, he had a ravishing 30-yard catch down the sideline when the Colts had been at their very own one-yard line. Later within the recreation on the ultimate drive for the Colts, Pierce had a 14-yard catch to get the Colts into the crimson zone. That helped arrange Woods’ go-ahead landing. It was a robust outing for the rookie.
DUD: RG Danny Pinter
AP Photograph/AJ Mast
That is how unhealthy the Colts offensive line was. Pinter doesn’t look snug in any respect whether or not he’s run blocking or in move safety. He’s nonetheless growing as a participant, however he’s a legal responsibility for the Colts at proper guard proper now in each phases of the sport.
STUD: DT Grover Stewart
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What extra can we are saying about this man? Stewart has developed into an elite inside defensive lineman. He’s one of many largest explanation why the Colts have an elite run protection to start the season. He could have recorded solely two tackles, however he was consistently blowing up run performs and holding the Chiefs from operating the soccer.
