Dopey Report Card (Colts-Raiders)

On Minshew and Pittman, Franklin and Pierce, and a game the Colts had to win in order to make Saturday's game against Houston a win-and-in proposition.

RUN OFFENSE

Think Braden Smith makes a difference? According to PFF, he’s one of the top run blocking tackles in the league, and the Colts look like a far more efficient running attack when he’s in the lineup. Looking ahead to Saturday’s game against Houston, it’s imperative the Colts run the ball effectively against a rush defense that ranks second in the league in rush yards allowed per carry. It’s going to be a tall order – the Colts have been hit and miss in the running game this year – but by now, we know Indy’s chances are diminished when they’re forced to be one-dimensional. Sunday, Jonathan Taylor would have had his first 100-yard game since last November against the Raiders, but he was dealing with a stinger throughout the game and that limited his carries. I’m also developing a liking for backup running back Trey Sermon, who hits the hole hard every time he carries the ball. Final Colts team stats: 29 carries, 134 yards, a 4.6 yard-per-carry average. Good stuff.

GRADE: B+