On November 7, 2022, after a 3-5-1 start to the 2022 season, Frank Reich was fired as the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. This was the first time that Jim Irsay as owner of the Colts had ever fired a head coach during the season. Now, nearly one year later on Sunday, Frank Reich, now the head coach of the Carolina Panthers faced his old team for the first time.
The Colts arrived in Charlotte looking to break a three-game losing streak. With the offense sputtering, the Colts defense completely showed out this game, leading to the Panthers punting 3 times in the first quarter.
With the Colts leading the Panthers 13-3 late in the second quarter, Panthers QB Bryce Young attempted a short pass to RB Chuba Hubbard. Colts CB Kenny Moore intercepted the pass and ran it back 49 yards for a Colts touchdown! The Colts took a 20-3 lead into halftime.
The Colts received the second half kickoff and the offense sputtered yet again, only managing to run 7 plays for minus 6 yards before punting the ball back to the Panthers. Young led the Panthers on a 16 play, 77-yard drive that ended with a 5-yard TD pass to Panthers’ receiver DJ Chark, cutting the Colts lead to 20-10. The Colts offense then only managed an 8-play drive for 25 yards resulting in a punt.
As a season ticket holder and longtime fan of the Colts, I was nervous! I had friends over to watch the game and we were all nervous. This game looked eerily similar to previous games this season when the Colts would build a lead only to give up that lead and lose the game. Would the Colts answer this time?
On 3rd and 11 at the Panthers own 16-yard line, Young threw a deep pass to TE Hayden Hurst for a gain of 48 yards. I’m thinking here we go again, but on a short pass from Young intended for RB Myles Sanders, Kenny Moore intercepted the pass and ran it back 66 yards for another Colts TD essentially icing the game for the Colts!
Moore’s two pick-sixes accounted for 14 of the 27 points scored by the Colts. Moore also set a Colts record with two pick-sixes in one game.
Three-game skid broken, and the Colts go to a record of 4-5. The Colts, and yours truly, will head to Frankfurt, Germany, to take on the New England Patriots on Sunday.
