Stephen Holder, ESPND24. December 2023, 6:35 p.m. ET
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- Stephen joined ESPN in 2022, covering the Indianapolis Colts and the NFL as a whole. Stephen placed first in column writing in the 2015 Indiana Associated Press Media Editors competition and was previously a top 10 winner in explanatory journalism in the national Associated Press Sports Editors competition. He has been covering the NFL since 2005, covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2005 to 2013 and the Colts since 2013. He previously worked for the Miami Herald, the Tampa Bay Times, the Indianapolis Star and The Athletic.
ATLANTA – The Indianapolis Colts had everything going on before Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons.
They had momentum – and promising playoff odds – after last week's three-point win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, which gave the Colts five wins in their last six games.
But a listless and listless 29-10 loss to the Falcons on Sunday leaves Indianapolis with little room for error as it tries to reach the postseason.
The disappointing attempt prompted a candid speech in the locker room from quarterback Gardner Minshew, who tried to rouse his teammates after they perhaps took Atlanta too lightly.
“You start counting wins, you start calculating the schedule, and you look around and you think, ‘Well, they lost to Carolina; We beat the Steelers,'” Minshew later said. “You know what? You have to earn it now. And if you take this lightly, you might end up not getting a new one [chance].”
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The news was well received.
“I feel like Gardner said it perfectly,” linebacker and defensive captain Zaire Franklin said. “Don’t take it for granted. If you find yourself in a situation in December where you can compete for a playoff spot and play meaningful football, don't take it for granted. Don’t feel like you’re beating a team on paper just because.” [we’re] should be better. It's hard to win in this league. Unfortunately, today was a lesson.
This is a lesson that many players on the roster should already know. The Colts were infamously eliminated from the playoffs in 2021 after losing a game in Week 18 to the Jaguars, who entered the game with two wins, had lost their last eight games and suffered a 40-point loss to New England.
On Sunday, the Colts showed nuances of their performance on that fateful day. After an effortless touchdown drive on their first possession, the Colts were outscored 29-3.
Against Atlanta, few of the Colts' strengths were on display. Defensively, they entered the game with 25 sacks in the last six games and recorded a takeaway in 19 straight games (the longest active streak in the NFL). The day ended without a turnover and just a single sack from new Falcons starting quarterback Taylor Heinicke.
Offensively, the running game faltered after the first drive, despite the return of star running back Jonathan Taylor, who was limited to 43 yards on 18 carries. And without No. 1 receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (concussion), the passing game was anemic.
Minshew managed just 20 of 37 attempts under constant pressure.
The longer the game went on, the more the Colts disintegrated.
“It wasn’t us,” coach Shane Steichen said. “You don’t want to see it. You have to stop the bleeding. It starts with me moving forward. We have to correct this.”