Taking care of the football is always important, regardless of who the opponent is. But this week, against the takeaway-heavy Buffalo defense, it was paramount for the Indianapolis Colts.
However, ball security was optional on Sunday, particularly for Joe Flacco.
In a game against a high-scoring Buffalo offense, the Colts’ defense did its best to keep the contest within reach. But as is often the case, the turnovers were way too much to overcome.
Flacco would finish the game throwing three interceptions. One of which was returned for a touchdown. The two others then led to a field goal and another touchdown for the Bills.
Then there was the Flacco fumble with the Colts’ on the cusp of field goal range at the Buffalo 38-yard line. In addition to those four giveaways, there were another two or three passes that could have been intercepted as well.
Together, that is 17 points that the Buffalo Bills earned off of turnovers from Flacco and the Indianapolis offense.
Overall, Flacco would finish the game completing 26-of-35 passes for 272 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. But even with the three interceptions, that stat line still feels misleading.
Of Flacco’s total passing yards, 70 came on the final drive when the came was put away and Buffalo was giving the Colts all the space they needed underneath. And while fairly efficient, completing 74 percent of his throws, the passing game never had any sort of rhythm.
In the last two games with Flacco at the helm, he is now responsible for six turnovers, with the offense responsible for 26 total points during that span.
The Colts find themselves in an awful spot. They benched Anthony Richardson after just 10 career starts in favor of Flacco because he gave the the best chance to win, as Shane Steichen put it. But now at 4-6, the long-term and short-term viability of this team is one major question mark following another disappointing offensive performance.