Colts finding new ways to get wins
Players believing in ability to adapt
INDIANAPOLIS — Each week, it seems a different Indianapolis player makes the big play. Each week, it seems the Colts find a new winning script. And each week, players and coaches find themselves embracing one another’s successes.
It’s no act.
Coach Frank Reich and his players believe their ability to adapt to the ever-evolving circumstances this coronavirus-impacted season is a key reason they’re on the cusp of reaching the playoffs — and capable of making a deep postseason run.
“That’s why I always remind the guys to stay calm because it [a big play] is coming,” defensive tackle DeForest Buckner said after a 27-20 victory Sunday against Houston. “We always preach on the sideline it’s three-and-out or a takeaway and I always have the confidence in my guys to get the job done.”
Buckner certainly did his part Sunday for the Colts (10 -4), making three sacks and forcing one fumble despite playing on a gimpy ankle that limited him to playing 51% of the snaps.
The supporting cast also played well.
Rookie place-kicker Rodrigo Blankenship hit the net on a season-long 53-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to give Indianapolis a 2013 lead.
Philip Rivers took advantage of a coverage mismatch with a 41-yard pass to a wideopen T.Y. Hilton. That play set up a the tiebreaking 5yard touchdown pass to Zach Pascal, his second score of the day.
Then linebacker Darius Leonard delivered the knockout punch when he jarred the ball loose from Keke Coutee at the 2-yard line. Bobby Okereke recovered it in the end zone with 19 seconds left to seal the win.
And while fans cheered those players and plays, the bigger postgame celebration was reserved for a different kind of victory: getting
punter Rigoberto Sanchez back less than three weeks after he had a cancerous tumor removed.
“That was awesome,” said Jonathan Taylor, who rushed for 83 yards and one touchdown. “You saw everyone giving all the defense handshakes coming out and as Rigo was getting introduced, everyone was like ‘Come on, he’s here.’”
Reich has been working to instill this attitude for three seasons. Now that it has taken root, the Colts believe anything is possible as they try to clinch their second playoff appearance in six years.
“What I’m most excited about is in the fourth quarter
of that game, when the game is on the line, we made plays in all three phases,” Reich said. “That’s what playing December football — that’s meaningful. That’s what it takes to continue to build the DNA and who we are and where we believe we are going.”
When the 17-year veteran Rivers changed teams in March, the critics thought Indianapolis made a mistake. Instead, the 39-year-old quarterback has improved steadily. He has thrown 17 touchdown passes and four interceptions in the past nine games, has five consecutive multi-touchdown games, and no interceptions in December.