As the Indianapolis Colts entered Week 4, we knew this game would be more difficult than before. If there was any criticism of the franchise’s strong start, it was the weak competition. Regardless of your opinion on this, it’s clear that this team is the best we have seen in the Shane Steichen era. Even with the loss this week by the final of 27-20, it’s clear this team is a contender.
While they looked like contenders, they are not free from criticism this week. It’s a wide-ranging spectrum that can go around. You cannot single out just one player this week. Sure, Adonai Mitchell showed two lapses in judgment that cost this team points. While his errors were a huge reason for the loss, the offensive line did not have its best day. We also saw likely the final stand of Colts veteran Xavien Howard after getting tormented by Puka Nacua.
Another major problem I felt was the defensive coaching staff’s inability to change the game plan, especially with Xavien Howard. While they did seem to get Johnathon Edwards an opportunity towards the end of Nacua, it was Howard who played 66 of 75 defensive snaps. It’s apparent that Howard has truly lost a step and has shown why he has been out of the league for the past two seasons. Let’s dive a little deeper into what we saw in the first loss of the Colts’ season.
Adonai Mitchell Errors
So, let’s get straight to the biggest errors we saw in this game. Of course, it starts with Adonai Mitchell. As mentioned above, there was plenty of blame to go around, but you must start with Mitchell. He had two major gaffes this week. The first one was the goal-line fumble, and the holding call on the Jonathan Taylor 53-yard TD rush that would have given the lead back to the Colts.
What made this sting so bad was the PTSD the fanbase had from Taylor making the same mistake from last year against Denver. What stood out to me was the missed opportunity it delivered to him. With Alec Pierce out this week, it was Mitchell who had all eyes on him. The catch he made was jaw-dropping, but he obviously did not finish the play. The holding play was evident, but Taylor likely would have beaten the corner with his speed. If he had not had the goal-line incident, the holding play would have been less of a topic.
For those who question why he has struggled to see the field more, this is your Exhibit A. The maturity factor was something that apparently dragged him down draft boards. The talent is there, but the intangibles continue to disappoint. Whether some internal benching will occur is yet to be seen. He should not be cut as some on social media have said, but hopefully, he can use this as a teaching moment.
Xavien Howard and Other Defensive Errors
You can easily single out Adonai Mitchell on offense, and on defense, it was Xavien Howard. The staff put Mooney Ward on Davante Adams and Xavien Howard on Puka Nacua. The box score for Nacua stood out against Howard: 13 receptions for 170 yards and one touchdown on fifteen targets. When targeting Howard, Matthew Stafford went 7-9 for 112 yards and 1 touchdown. They attacked him early and often, especially over the middle on the crossing routes.
It’s fair to ask the question of whether Howard has lost a step in his career. It’s evident that he is beginning the decline of his career now. We started to see the cracks this year, and now the red flags are fully up. I don’t see them changing his role until Jaylon Jones gets back. Hopefully, we can see a larger role for Jonathon Edwards or Mekhi Blackmon next week on the outside.
With the failures of Howard comes the blame to defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Yes, they failed on the Tutu Atwell touchdown with only 10 players on the field, and Blackmon tripped over his own feet. The long 96-yard drive was discouraging as well. This defense is not going to be perfect every single week. They are going to have missteps and growing pains, and this week was another one. Let’s not forget what we had last season with Gus Bradley. This defense is far superior to what they had last season, without question.
Some Positives
Plenty of negatives were discussed, but there were some positives we saw in the game. We look to another strong performance from Jonathan Taylor. Another nearly 100 yards of total offense, and they are beginning to trust him more in the passing game. He is still dangerous to break off a huge run or get a reception out in space and gain chunks. Also felt like Daniel Jones had a good, not great, showing this week. The final interception was more forced for an end-of-game situation, but he felt like he continued to impress as the leader of the football team. The scheme that Steichen has implemented with Jones and Taylor will continue to evolve.
On defense, it was another solid showing from Nick Cross, and we are beginning to see Laiatu Latu begin to separate himself as an elite pass rusher. He was a menace this week and caused disruption to Matthew Stafford all game long. The Colts’ weakness in defense so far this season has been the pass rush, so Latu reaching his potential will be crucial to this season’s defensive success. It was great to see Adetomiwa Adebawore get into meaningful action for the first time this season. Best showing from the Colts’ pass rush this season.
Let’s give credit to head coach Shane Steichen and his staff as well. Like the Denver game, this was a game where the team never gave up and fought to the end. Last season, this was a game where it could have gone off the rails much sooner. Even in defeat, this team showed they are, and will continue to be, a contender for not only the AFC South but for the AFC as well. This Colts squad is about as complete as we have seen in the Steichen era. A 3-1 start is great for any team, no matter the competition or how it was achieved. The Colts return home next week as they host the Las Vegas Raiders.
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