Indianapolis, IN
The Colts Could Learn a Lot from the Jaguars
This weekend, the Jacksonville Jaguars fell within the divisional spherical of the playoffs to the mighty Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, 27-20. It could have been an exit from the postseason, however the Jaguars have had an unbelievable turnaround orchestrated by head coach Doug Pederson following a disastrous, City Meyer-led 2021 season, with the identical quarterback in Trevor Lawrence.
Nonetheless, the Jaguars’ season can also be a lesson to the Indianapolis Colts on how badly the latter should nail the top coach-to-rookie quarterback connection within the 2023 offseason. In the event that they botch this, you may be capable to give the AFC South to Lawrence, Pederson, and Co. for the foreseeable future.
The Jaguars had a drama-filled 2021 season with the hapless management of then-head coach Meyer, however the Colts additionally endured one thing related in 2022 with the fixed accidents, adjustments at quarterback, head coach, and coordinator, and the meddling of a (rightfully) pissed off proprietor Jim Irsay, so their tales aren’t so completely different.
Nonetheless, Indianapolis has an opportunity to keep away from losing the rookie season of their future star, as that is what occurred with Lawrence. It may be completely different, and it may be profitable immediately to set them up for achievement throughout the AFC South division.
The Tennessee Titans are displaying indicators of a shaky workforce, fumbling the prospect to get into the postseason by ending 7-10 with seven straight losses to complete the 2022 marketing campaign.
The Houston Texans are additionally in re-build mode and might be naming their subsequent signal-caller, just like the Colts.
Proper now, the AFC South runs by way of Jacksonville, however the Colts have the most effective likelihood to vary that. All of it begins and ends with the chief on each headsets and carrying a helmet.
There may be plenty of unbelievable quarterback expertise coming into the 2023 NFL Draft. Individuals have talked about there isn’t the “generational” expertise, however there are true passers, huge operating threats, and cerebral gun-slingers that might very nicely play at a excessive degree.
Now, accomplice that with the ridiculously in depth 14 complete (13 remaining) candidates the Colts have interviewed for head coach and you’ve got a visual scoop on an Indianapolis workforce that’s taking its future very significantly.
Observe Horseshoe Huddle on Fb and Twitter.
Indianapolis, IN
What we learned from Giants' 45-33 win over Colts
We all know that general manager Joe Schoen wanted to move up in last year’s NFL draft to take a top quarterback and failed. That was bad luck for him, at the time. What ended up happening is that LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers fell into his lap at No. 6. The football gods were looking down on the Giants.
Nabers has been the best of the rookie wideouts this year and has given the Giants a ray of hope for the future. Even though he’s missed games due to injury and has played through pain much of the year, Nabers has displayed exceptional all-around playmaking ability all over the field, giving the Giants the explosive, versatile player they so desperately needed.
“That’s why we drafted him, where we drafted him,” said Daboll. “I’ve been asked about it since training camp and I think the response has been, ‘He’s a pretty good football player.’ He missed two games and he’s battling through, I’d say, a pretty good injury with his toe. So, I think between him and (Tyrone) Tracy, for those guys to do it in a season like this with a variety of quarterbacks, I think that’s pretty impressive. They are the right kind of guys.”
Indianapolis, IN
Pat McAfee eviscerates Indianapolis Colts franchise, Anthony Richardson, says he won't renew season tickets
Pat McAfee did not hold back when asked about his thoughts about the Indianapolis Colts after being eliminated from playoff contention. On X (formerly Twitter), the former Colts punter responded to a fan who wanted McAfee to talk about the Colts on his show Monday.
“I’ve said what I believed to be the truth about the team.. & a bunch of ‘Colts fans’ on the internet were trying to get me booed out of the city.. Current players, who have won nothing during their entire tenures, started using me and my face to try and paint me as the enemy in the city I’ve committed my life to,” McAfee wrote. “And in the end… everything went.. just like I f***ing said it would In the biggest moments everybody with a brain knew they’d crack.. and they did.”
McAfee went on to talk about Joe Flacco giving the Colts a better chance to win than Anthony Richardson. “When I said Joe Flacco gives us a better chance to win than AR immediately after the tap out.. I would’ve said whatever backup QB we had on the roster. That can’t be what the face of your team is doing.. just can’t be.. and to a bigger aspect of it all, somehow AR thought it was ok to do that. That’s a locker room issue.. that’s a culture issue.. thats an indicator of a loser attitude radiating thru a building that was built by greats.”
Pat McAfee continues rant against Colts
McAfee also said he’s not renewing his season tickets next year. “As a multiple year season ticket holder (not renewing).. and someone who has actively, daily, attempted to be an additive to this beautiful city. I hope they become a good franchise again.. this city deserves it.. the OGs in the Colts building deserve it (equipment managers, trainers, ticketing, PR, sales).. and on the flip side the players/coaches in that building deserve whatever happens to them. Your unwarranted arrogance, laziness, and lack of professionalism has lead you to ANOTHER early vacation… which is probably what most of you entitled bums have been hoping for.”
On Sunday, the Colts lost to the New York Giants 45-33. Their record is now 7-9 on the year and will miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. Richardson, who did not play on Sunday due to multiple injuries, has thrown eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions with a 61.6 passer rating in 11 games. He is execpted to be the team’s starting QB in 2025.
Indianapolis, IN
Colts’ Taylor after elimination: Raise the standard
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Indianapolis Colts will miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season after what players characterized as an embarrassing loss to the New York Giants on Sunday.
The 45-33 loss to a Giants team that entered the game with the NFL’s worst record should prompt a re-evaluation from all of the team’s players and staff, running back Jonathan Taylor said.
The Colts allowed the most points in any meeting with the Giants since 1950 and gave up a season-high point total. That left many Colts stunned and silent.
But not Taylor.
“I think the standard has to be raised,” he said after a 125-yard rushing performance. “The playoffs have to be the standard. Those teams that get in year in and year out, that’s their standard. That’s the bottom floor. It’s like, ‘Listen, we’ve got to get in. And they know it’s tough but they say, ‘Hey, we’re going to fight, scratch and claw to make sure every year that is the standard that you uphold.’
“For us, 2020 was the last time we got in. We’ve got to get in. You’ve got to get in order to establish that standard. Like, ‘Listen, the Indianapolis Colts’ standard is the playoffs.’”
Indianapolis (7-9) entered the game with realistic playoff hopes after the Denver Broncos’ loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday. The Colts needed a win against the Giants and a win over the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 18 and a bit of help elsewhere to clinch the AFC’s final playoff berth.
But Sunday’s loss meant they failed to check the most important box in their playoff scenarios. The Colts have not won a playoff game since 2018 and have not managed an AFC South championship since 2014, when they advanced to the conference championship game.
Sunday’s loss was the third time in four seasons the Colts had a must-win situation in the final weeks of a season and fell short. In 2021, the Colts inexplicably lost to the 2-win Jaguars in Week 18 when facing a win-and-in scenario.
Last season, the Colts played a home game against the Houston Texans in the season finale that would determine the division champion. Indianapolis lost that game, too.
Receiver Michael Pittman Jr. went to the postseason as a rookie in 2020 and hasn’t been back since, offering a hard-learned lesson.
“It’s frustrating, especially when my first year we actually did make it and I just thought, ‘Hey, every year, we’re going to do this,’” he said. “And I quickly have been humbled. We’ve just got to do something different. I don’t know what that is.”
The Colts watched Giants rookie receiver Malik Nabers put on a dominant performance, with seven catches for 171 yards and touchdowns of 31 and 59 yards. All told, the Giants put together six plays of 30 yards or longer.
Entering the game, New York had just nine such plays in its previous 15 contests.
“Embarrassing,” linebacker Zaire Franklin called it. “It’s disappointing. Just flat out beat. What we put out defensively is just beyond acceptable.”
Now, the Colts face questions about what comes next. They brought back their roster nearly entirely intact from last season’s 9-8 team, banking on a slew of veteran re-signings in hopes of taking the next step.
Instead, they’ll finish with fewer wins and, arguably, took a step back. What will all of it mean for the roster, coach Shane Steichen, quarterback Anthony Richardson and eighth-year general manager Chris Ballard?
“Every year, every team is different,” Taylor said. “Next week, that’ll be the last time that all 53 guys are in that locker room.
“That’s the reality of the business. But when you have a season and it doesn’t turn out how you want, it could be more changes than usual.”
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