The Indianapolis Colts are on their biggest losing streak this season, as they ended the weekend with their third straight loss. While the team still has several playmakers, the offense has been in disarray since benching their franchise quarterback. Whether or not the Colts made the right decision to bench Anthony Richardson remains to be seen. However, this season is not over yet because this team still has much to play for.
There are not a lot of positives that can come from losing in the NFL. However, for the Colts, there might be an exception. Even though they are on the outside looking into the playoffs, the Colts still have a good football team. They also have been improving in some areas and creating opportunities for future endeavors. The bottom line is that the Indianapolis Colts have several positives from these three straight losses.
3 Positives from the Indianapolis Colts Third Straight Loss
The Defense Has Improved
One thing that has gone under the radar during this rough stretch has been the Colts defense. Earlier this season, Gus Bradley’s unit was under fire, and rightfully so. Through the first five games of the season, the Colts defense was one of the worst at stopping opposing offensive drives. In those first five games, the Colts gave up an average of 419 yards per game. They also struggled to stop the run, as teams averaged 157 rush yards per game. Needless to say, Bradley was on his way to ending his coaching career in Indianapolis until recently.
Over the last five games, the defense got healthier, and, therefore, their play improved. In this span, they have given up 354 yards per game, but the key has been their ability to create turnovers. The Colts forced nine turnovers over the last five games and rank eighth in the league at getting takeaways through 10 weeks. They are still struggling against the run, as they have allowed 133 yards per game on the ground. However, their ability to create turnovers, stall drives, and cut down on explosive plays has contributed to their improvement.
Anthony Richardson is Learning from the Bench
The decision to bench the franchise quarterback remains in question. However, the one positive from this decision is that Richardson will have the ability to learn from a veteran and mature into the playmaker the Colts want him to be. Even though Joe Flacco is not showing productivity on the field, there is still a lot to learn from a man of Flacco’s caliber. He has accomplished everything a quarterback would want to accomplish in the NFL. He won Comeback Player of the Year in 2023 and won a Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP in 2012. Lastly, Flacco knows what it’s like to get benched and lose his starting job. Who better could Richardson learn from than Flacco?
The question, though, is what does Flacco have to teach? Off of the field, Flacco can teach Richardson how to carry himself around the building and the locker room. He can teach Richardson how to address the press, speak with authority on his play, and advocate for his teammates. Oftentimes, the way that a player can control his emotions after adversity or even victory speaks volumes to his teammates. Also, the way that a quarterback carries himself in and out of the huddle, as well as on the sidelines, speaks volumes as well.
Flacco is the model player to embody this type of ability. Whether in victory or defeat, Flacco is steady and controls his emotions. Whether he throws an interception or a touchdown, Flacco’s demeanor is always on to the next play. When on the sidelines, Flacco is engaged and preparing for the task ahead. As a 39-year veteran, his intangible leadership could be instrumental to Richardson’s success.
Young Wide Receivers are Shining
Amongst all of the struggles on offense, the Colts have been steady with their young wide receivers. Their squad is already young, but two receivers, in particular, are outshining the rest as of late. Second-year slot receiver, Josh Downs has been one of the Colts more consistent pass catchers. He has already surpassed his touchdown total from last season with three. He is also on pace to surpass the amount of targets, receptions, yards, and first downs from last year as well. With Joe Flacco at quarterback, Downs has 29 receptions for 267 yards. Needless to say, he is one of Flacco’s favorite receivers.
Lastly, rookie receiver Adonai Mitchell has also been shining in recent games. With Flacco as his quarterback, he has 13 receptions for 140 yards. He is also coming off his best game of the season against the Buffalo Bills. In Sunday’s contest, he posted four receptions for 71 yards. He is still looking for his first NFL touchdown, but with Flacco at the helm, that might come sooner rather than later.
The Colts certainly have a lot to work on with their offense. However, they also have much to look forward to with their young franchise quarterback, young receivers, and improving defense.
Main Image: Marc Lebryk – USA Today Sports
