What a difference a month makes!!!
After finishing October 1-4, the Indianapolis Colts finished November 3-0 after beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-20 in Lucas Oil Stadium. This is the Colts first 3-game winning streak since November 2021.
The Colts are now above .500 for the first time since week 5, when they sat at a record of 2-1.
Calling Shane Steichen aggressive is an understatement…
Colts Head Coach Shane Steichen has been aggressive on 4th downs, but he seemed to kick it up a notch coming off the bye week.
The Colts were 3 of 4 on 4th down attempts against the Buccaneers. Down 20-10 early in the 4th quarter, the Buccaneers went on a 10-play, 60-yard drive resulting in a 23-yard touchdown pass from QB Baker Mayfield to WR Mike Evans. With the Colts now nursing a 3-point lead and momentum waining, the offense stalled. Faced with 4th and 1 on the Buccaneers 49 yard line, Steichen decided to go for it.
The Colts lined up in a 2 tight end formation and no wide receivers. Even Colts LB Zaire Franklin got in on the action, lining up as a fullback and taking his first offensive snap as a pro.
The Buccaneers defense, expecting a running play, aggressively crashed down on the Colts offensive line. TE Mo-Allie Cox slipped behind the Buccaneers defense and QB Gardner Minshew found him for a 30-yard gain. Jonathan Taylor capped the drive with his 2nd rushing TD of the day.
Bend-but-don’t-break defense…
The Buccaneers came into this game dead-last in rushing, but RB Rachad White was able to rush for 100 yards at 6.7 yards per carry. WR Mike Evans also had his way with the Colts secondary. But the Colts defense sacked Mayfield 6 times, forced an interception, and a timely strip-sack by DE Samson Ebukam clinched the game for the Colts.
Pittman, Jr and Taylor lead the way…
Colts WR Micheal Pittman, Jr had a monster game hauling in 10 of 13 passes for 107 yard. If Pittman, Jr hasn’t cemented himself as a top 5 receiver this season, I don’t know what else he needs to do. Maybe he needs to throw a touchdown? He’s in a contract year and stands to receive a huge payday.
Colts RB Jonathan Taylor continues to show he was worth his new contract. Taylor rushed 15 times for 91 yards (6.1 yards per carry) and 2 touchdowns.
What’s next?
With the Houston Texans and the Buffalo Bills both losing today, the Colts are currently the 7th seed in the AFC Playoff Picture with 6 games remaining.
The Colts (6-5) will travel to Nashville to play the Titans (4-7) with a season sweep of the Titans in mind.
