The Colts are at home this week to take on the Jaguars in this week 18 match up. Get in on this open thread.
The Indianapolis Colts are at home to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars for their week eighteen game, Sunday at 1 p.m. EST.
Last week the Colts, led by Joe Flacco (26/38, 330 yards, 2 TD’s, 2 INT’s) eliminated themselves from playoff contention with an embarrassing 33-45 loss to the 2-win New York Giants.
Flacco and the offense was good a week ago. They scored 33 points (their third highest output of the 2024 season) and generally moved the ball well. Jonathan Taylor racked up another 125 yards and 2 touchdowns on 32 carries, while Alec Pierce caught 6 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown of his own.
The Gus Bradley led defense was another story. Before week 17 the Giants had not scored more than 29 points in a game, and that 29 point game came back in week five. Since that week five outburst the Giants averaged just under 13 (thirteen) points per game before facing Indy. And the Colts defense, in an elimination game, had zero answers for an offense that peaked on October 6th.
The players on defense looked completely defeated. They lacked effort. Jogging to the ball and outright quitting on live plays. Pro Bowler Zaire Franklin was credited for a tackle on this play:
This is actually embarrassing. Defense needs an overhaul.#Colts#ForTheShoe#Giants#INDvsNYG pic.twitter.com/SbePeAOa4I
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) December 29, 2024
What isn’t counted on this play are the extra 15 yards he allowed the receiver to get because he quit running to the ball before the receiver was down. And it’s not just Franklin, he’s just an easy target given his public persona and podcast platform. But at the same time, when you put yourself out there in such a public way, you’re inviting yourself to criticism and when the effort looks like that, the criticism is going to be very loud.
The criticism surrounding the entire team has been very loud as well. Rumors are swirling that major changes could be coming in this offseason. I believe that cleaning house would be a mistake. They drafted Richardson with a plan to develop him. Richardson routinely passes up open checkdowns to take low percentage deep shots. If Steichen can just convince him to take 4 or 5 of those a game, the offense will work far better and had he done that this year he would have completed just under 67% of his passes. Next season if you have a 23 year old with Richardson’s raw ability and potential upside completing more than 60% of his passes coupled with a nearly unstoppable QB/RB run game with he and Taylor, well that possibility (that seems like a very reasonable expectation for growth, that’s too enticing to pass up. And you can’t get rid of the people who brought him in. Steichen and Ballard should be given enough leash to see the Richardson experiment through. If it becomes clear that Richardson isn’t the guy you hoped he would be, then it’s time to do a hard reset.
But Gus Bradley? It’s not Gus’ fault some of those players stink. It is more Gus’ fault that some of those players are quitting on the field. “But the players…” I firmly believe you either coach things to happen or you allow them to as a coach and while they’re not coaching that effort, Gus is ultimately allowing it. I don’t have a problem with Gus’ system. I think Gus is a great communicator with the media. I like Gus. But his unit’s effort is unacceptable.
This week the Colts face a bad Jaguars team. They should win.
I wouldn’t bet on it.
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This is your week eighteen open thread so hang out here, chat, celebrate, commiserate, and argue in the comments! Go wild (within reason)!
Go Colts!