It was not a great game for Indianapolis, but they got their first win of the season. The final score was 21-16 in favor of Indianapolis as they avoided the dreaded 0-3 start and would have essentially eliminated any playoff chance. Winning in this league is not easy and this week was no different. The defense was terrific, and the improvement was noticeable. However, the offense struggled on the shoulders of Anthony Richardson. They were bailed out by Jonathan Taylor as he continues to a strong start to his season.
Here are the weekly reactions to the pregame storylines we touched on before kickoff.
Pre-Game Analysis: Who Will Win The Line Of Scrimmage?
Post-Game Analysis: The Colts dominated both lines
Let’s start on the offensive side of the ball where the offensive line delivered another solid performance. The blocking was on point and Jonathan Taylor had another 100+ rushing yards. Even Trey Sermon got some action scoring on a red zone touchdown late in the game. Anthony Richardson was only sacked once and had plenty of time to make his reads, even though he did not always make the right one.
Defensively, the improvement was a night and day difference. They held the Bears ground game to 63 yards after nearly 500 total the past two weeks. The scheme was improved, and the execution was nearly flawless. This line performed even with DeForest Buckner on injured reserve. The standout moment however was the strip sack from Laiatu Latu that sealed the victory. The Colts struggled to have a “closer” last season and Latu was brought in for moments like this.
Pre-Game Analysis: The Return Of Josh Downs
Post-Game Analysis: The Passing Game Was A Non-Factor
Another inconsistent performance from Anthony Richardson, which in turn brought minimal impact from the pass catchers. If there was any real impact from the return of Josh Downs, it was the smaller role we saw from Adonai Mitchell. He only saw 7 snaps compared to the 32 snaps of Downs. I expected to see a ramp-up for Downs, but he was a full go and did not look to be on any type of snap count. With Richardson’s inconsistencies so far this season, getting Downs on the same page will be paramount to improving the collective offensive performance.
Pre-Game Analysis: Can The Team Clean Up Mistakes From The Last Two Weeks?
Post-Game Analysis: Overall better, but still much work to do offensively
We have already mentioned how the defense improved, and the offense seemed to regress a bit. This is still technically the extended rookie season for Anthony Richardson so the growing pains will continue. If he can continue to improve his accuracy and cut down on the turnovers, we can see all this talent start to flourish.
Something small but felt it was worth pointing out, the special teams had a great impact on this game. Punter Rigoberto Sanchez had five punts and placed all of them inside the 20-yard line and the coverage was terrific. The ability to flip the field and keep the pressure on Caleb Williams on the road was key to getting that first victory this season.
Nice play from Trevor Denbow#Colts#ForTheShoe#Bears#DaBears#CHIvsIND pic.twitter.com/d01qrkNnUm
— Stampede Blue (@StampedeBlue) September 22, 2024
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