And you can actually sack or touch their QB without awarding them a first down

Relax Colts fans. After this loss, the Colts are 8 and 3. There are only 3 teams in the ENTIRE NFL with a better record. Hopefully, Steichen learns from this experience, how to deal with blitzes. When things go your way, you don't really learn much, the learning comes from failure, from defeat. I believe the Colts can learn a shitload from this game. I know; I believe this because I want to find the silver lining, but I find it hard to believe the coaching staff won't put their heads together and come up with solutions. It's important for them to play well in their next two games. The Texans and the Jaguars are nipping at their tails. Win these next two games and I think we're in. Lose them and ... well, this board will be chaos.

Hang in there Colts fans, there's turbulence ahead.

I would not point the blame to Wads/Gardner. It seemed every big play by them was made to a guy being covered by Franklin. They dude could not cover a paraplegic. Need an upgrade there most importantly. Then we need a good replacement for Buckner, as he is on the back end of his career. I probably think we need to make a swing at his replacement in the second round this next draft, and get Franklin's replacement in the third. Get line depth and safety depth in the later rounds.

I think we win ugly both games against HOU, and split with the Jags, as we always lose in Fagsville.

My thoughts:

1. Keeping the Chefs to 1 TD in their house was tough. Credit where it is due.
2. Why is our pass D the weakness. We have stud players, right?
3. Dead horse but, we have arguably the best back in the league and we put the game on Jones to sustain or even start game winning drives. RUN THE BALL. Don't quit on the run because of a negative play.
4. Not blocking repeated stunts is getting old.
5. Play calling in relation to clock management was terrible. Make them use their TOs and take time off of the clock for Pete's sake!
6. Man that D-line misses Buckner.
7. How many of us knew the game was over when they drove to force OT?
8. then how many knew the game was over after the first Colts drive of OT?
9. This team is not a real contender until we put teams away and keep them there.

My thoughts:

IMO, the job of any NFL defense it to keep the opposing team from scoring over 20 points no matter who they are. If you are balanced team, you have to assume that your offense can score 3 TDs in a game to win. Our offence did not.

On our final four drives when we went 3-and-out each time and started still ahead by 11 points, we went:

Drive # 1 = JT run / Pass / Pass / Punt (4th quarter)
Drive # 2 = Pass / Pass / Pass / Punt (4th quarter)
Drive # 3 = Pass / Pass / Pass / Punt (4th qurarter)
Drive # 4 = Pass / JT run / JT run / Punt (Overtime)

Sure, in the end you say we called 3 run plays and 9 pass plays so the balance was okay, but, IMO, that imbalance early (1 run, 9 pass plays), when you have a 2 score lead AND NEEDED TO BLEED THE CLOCK, is why the Colts lost.

If there were one thing I would change about our HC, is that he devolves when the chips are down to the pass. We were ahead, we knew their QB is all-world and we were not able to design concept runs that could gain first downs and bleed the clock.

IMO, this loss is on the offense as I think the defense did their job against the best player in the NFL on their home field in a "must win" game for them and our offense did not perform.

And I think most of that did not perform is on our coach lacking of knowing what type of plays to call in the right situations. Everyone is calling him a genius for some really good play designs and calls but I think he trys to get way too cute when what he needs to do is RUN THE BALL.
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I finally got to watch a full game this year.
I was amazed at how little pressure we put on the opposing QB
I believe Jones only completed 4 passes in second 1/2?
We have 1 really good LBer and 1 terrible LBer.
We covered well at times which was obvious with how little pressure we put on their QB.
Why in the hell don’t we utilize a dump pass to JT when they’re sending 5 or 6 the whole second 1/2?
When you’re at 3rd and one to win the game why do you run a play where the JT gets the ball late from Jones and ends up hesitating? Straight up need a quick hitter there behind Q.
So much wrong with Steichens play calling and clock management in the second half.

This team is cooked. Done. Can easily end up 10-7 and playing as a wildcard in the playoffs, or even out of the playoffs in a logjam for the final wildcard spot.

Can't handle the blitz and now its on film against multiple teams. We have a coach that won't scheme away from it, refuses to run the ball, repeatedly says "its on me" but never changes anything. Forget JT in the conversation for MVP. He'll average 12 touches a game from here on out. Everything that succeeded early season is on tape and isn't working anymore, and Steichen will continue to panic in the 2nd half and forget about the run game.

The secondary is better but with Defo out, the pass rush and run D are not getting home, and covering the short middle is terrible. Mahomes had the middle open all game. LBs are terrible in coverage.

The Texans game will be tough, if for no other reason than their defense is really good, and defense travels.

In fact, all 4 remaining division games will be close, hard fought games, I’m fairly certain of that. I see those games much the same as I saw the Falcons game, toss up games that will come down to the end.

Obviously I hope I’m wrong but I don’t think I am.

Running was futile. Save for one big run, Taylor was a gaining right around 2 yards per carry.