The Indianapolis Colts are now on a three-game losing streak after falling to the New Orleans Saints in a 38-27 game on Sunday.
It started off with everything going Indy’s way when they were able to take a 17-7 early in the second quarter. But after that point, the Saints took command of the game with an immediate touchdown response and then followed that up by outscoring the Colts 31-10 for the remainder of the contest.
The offense was inconsistent and the defense had their worst performance of the season. This game left a lot of warts for the Colts and showed they have much to improve on their roster.
Here are five takeaways from the loss:
1
The defense has depth problems at cornerback
With JuJu Brents missing this contest, the lack of depth in the cornerback room was on display today. In a surprise, Gus Bradley elected to play Tony Brown over Darrell Baker Jr. as the replacement for Brents. Which proved to be very costly for Indianapolis.
It became apparent that Brown wasn’t ready for the moment early when he had a poor tackle attempt that led to a Taysom Hill 20-yard touchdown run.
Taysom Hill runs 20 yards for the @Saints TD!
📺: #NOvsIND on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Quwvdzpx7G pic.twitter.com/EJGV7Kpela— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2023
On the following drive by the New Orleans offense, Rashid Shaheed breezed past Brown for an explosive 58-yard touchdown.
Rashid Shaheed takes the top off the defense!
📺: #NOvsIND on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Quwvdzpx7G pic.twitter.com/f7Od8aVi9V— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2023
Entering halftime, it was clear that Bradley should have made some personnel changes to his secondary, but he didn’t. Brown would go on to be involved in some crucial plays for the Indy defense.
On a play that would’ve set up a third-and-goal, he had a regrettable face mask penalty which set up a Hill one-yard touchdown run. Later in the fourth quarter, the defense was about to force a three-and-out, but on a third-and-14, Shaheed once again burned Brown for a 51-yard gain to close out the game for the Saints.
It wasn’t just the two Shaheed catches that he allowed big gains on as well.
Colts CB Tony Brown as the nearest defender today: 7 receptions allowed on 7 targets for 187 yards and a touchdown over 27 coverage snaps. Per @NextGenStats.
— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) October 29, 2023
My question for this defense is if Brown’s performance wasn’t enough to put in Baker Jr., then why do they have both corners on this roster? With the trade deadline on Tuesday, it would be wise for Chris Ballard to go after a young cornerback to add some help out on the boundary.
2
Gardner Minshew is a trip
The Gardner Minshew experience is eerily similar to the 2021 season with Carson Wentz. He has his moments where he can lead touchdown drives then will stall at times throughout games and have his moments where he turnovers the ball.
The first half was a strong start for Minshew. He was smart with the ball and took what the defense gave him. He got things kicked off by connecting with Michael Pittman Jr. for a touchdown on a fourth-and-inches.
4th-and-inches. Gardner Minshew connects with Michael Pittman Jr. to give the #Colts their first touchdown of the game.pic.twitter.com/y2CY3ejsCQ
— Cody Manning (@CodyTalksNFL) October 29, 2023
It was a different story in the second half. The offense went three-and-out on their first drive in the third quarter but got things on the second drive behind Zack Moss’ legs. A 41-yard run by Moss set up the offense at the New Orleans 37-yard line.
A couple of plays later, Minshew would sail a ball right into Paulson Adebo’s hands for an easy interception.
Second INT of the season for Paulson 🔒
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/w2lIZ6UUt2
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 29, 2023
That turnover led to seven points to give the Saints an eight-point lead. A notable stat that is connected to it is that the Colts have now lost 12 games in a row when they have committed at least one giveaway.
The Colts would follow that up with another three-and-out between the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth quarter. Indianapolis would show life early in the fourth when Minshew made a heck of a throw to connect with Drew Ogletree on a 33-yard touchdown.
Gardner Minshew connects with Drew Ogletree for a 33-yard touchdown for the #Coltspic.twitter.com/XnCwfWYLQ6
— Cody Manning (@CodyTalksNFL) October 29, 2023
Minshew finished the game completing 23-of-41 passes for 213 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. This loss isn’t on Minshew but the Colts are going to continue to struggle to win games if he continues to give the ball away. He has nine turnovers in the last three games.
3
Pass rush disappoints
The disappointing display by the Colts’ defense wasn’t all on Tony Brown, it also didn’t help that the defensive front was getting little to no pressure on Derek Carr throughout the afternoon. He was able to sit in the pocket and let his receivers get open against the struggling secondary.
The one time they got home paid off in the first half. DeForest Buckner beat his man to deliver a hit that knocked the ball out of Carr’s hands.
DeForest Buckner getting the strip-sack on Derek Carr, and Dayo Odeyingbo's effort gets the recovery for the #Colts defensepic.twitter.com/D8qgNZFdD8
— Cody Manning (@CodyTalksNFL) October 29, 2023
That turnover led to seven points but after that point, it was a clean day for Carr. Entering halftime, Buckner was responsible for the one sack and one QB hit for the defense. Indy would just register one more QB hit and failed to get a sack in the second half.
Buckner can only do so much as an interior pass rusher who faces double teams. Kwity Paye and Samson Ebukam were non-factors off the edge. The pair have to be more consistent in the pass rush department otherwise quarterbacks will continue to carve up the secondary as Carr did today.
4
Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss find success
The Saints entered this game with one of the tougher run defenses but that didn’t stop Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss from having a strong day on the ground. It was JT that kick-started the offense on their second drive of the game. After a 14-yard run, he took off for an explosive 42-yard run that put the offense in position to get their first touchdown of the game.
BIG run for Jonathan Taylor!
📺: #NOvsIND on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Quwvdzpx7G pic.twitter.com/ZPxRhz1sgG— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2023
Taylor averaged 8.5 YPC on 11 attempts in the first half but for some reason, he only had one rushing attempt in the second half. Shane Steichen told the media after the game that he had no physical issues that limited him.
It was very questionable that he wasn’t involved more in the second half but Moss was able to carry the load in his absence. His biggest play of the game came on a third-and-one and he took off for a 41-yard gain.
Zack Moss with a big gainer.
This guy almost didn't play today. The guy is hurt doing this. #Colts#ForTheShoe#Saints#NOvsIND pic.twitter.com/HsxqvxvvEc
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) October 29, 2023
JT ended his day with 97 total yards and Moss had 74 total yards plus a one-yard touchdown run.
Zack Moss bends his body backward to stretch out for the #Colts second touchdownpic.twitter.com/NhHHLDNwvZ
— Cody Manning (@CodyTalksNFL) October 29, 2023
The pair averaged 7.0 YPC on 23 attempts but due to the score, Steichen had to lean into the passing attack in a comeback attempt. Something he admitted to the media.
Steichen confirmed Jonathan Taylor is fine but basically alluded to Zack Moss having some momentum and then they had a lot of passing opportunities in the second half.
— Jake Arthur (@JakeArthurNFL) October 29, 2023
The Colts have a great one-two punch at running back but they weren’t able to lean into that with the defense having a letdown performance.
5
Josh Downs continues to impress
The Colts really have found something in their third-round rookie wide receiver. Josh Downs continues to impress as he keeps stacking up good performances in the first half of the season. He’s been money on third downs for the offense and picked up two first downs in third down situations.
Including one on this nifty toe-drag swag catch to keep a drive alive.
Josh Downs with a crazy catch for a 1st down. #Colts#ForTheShoe#Saints#NOvsIND pic.twitter.com/PIq0XoO7BM
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) October 29, 2023
Downs led the team with 72 receiving yards while catching seven balls on his nine targets. He is now at 40 receptions for 473 yards and two touchdowns through the first eight games.
He has emerged as a vital piece of the Indy passing attack and the slot receiver of the future for the franchise.
