Dopey Report Card -- Colts vs. Bears

At some point, the light is going to come on for Anthony Richardson, but until it does -- we're giving him all the time he needs -- this is the formula for victory. Run the ball and force turnovers.

RUN OFFENSE

This is why they paid Jonathan Taylor all that money, not only to play in the fourth quarter, but to carry this sputtering offense on days when Anthony Richardson plays like a rookie. I’d still like to see Shane Steichen use Richardson more in the running game – he DID have more carries Sunday than he had in Green Bay, so that’s a start – but between Taylor and Richardson, you have the most athletic duo in the league, the NFL’s most athletic pair in a very long time. Once again, the offensive line played exceedingly well, pushing Taylor over 100 yards (110, to be precise) for the second week in a row., the first time he’s done that since 2021. Big shoutout to Will Fries, who’s sort of the forgotten member of the offensive line. Week after week, he grades out well on Pro Football Focus, whatever you think about those admittedly subjective numbers. The Colts, with Taylor, Richardson and Trey Sermon, rolled up 150 yards on 33 carries. This is who the Colts need to be until that day the light comes on for Richardson. Break out the old “Run The Damn Ball” hats.

Grade: B

RUN DEFENSE

Something had to give. The Bears, 31^st in offense, against the Colts, 31^st in defense and last in the league in rush defense – by a lot. They’d given up 474 rushing yards in the first two games, but there was no way, NONE, they were going to get pounded on the ground yet again. There were lots of eight in the box and a fifth defender near or on the line of scrimmage. For the first time this year, I thought the linebacker play was up to its expected standard, and the Colts stuffed the run despite the absence of their best defender, DeForest Buckner, who is out with an ankle injury. The Bears ran 28 times for 63 yards. This is the team – well, the defense -- the Colts were supposed to be. Just didn’t see it the first two weeks. Which is the anomaly? We’ll find out soon enough. Undefeated Pittsburgh will be a greater challenge. They’ve only scored three touchdowns in three games, but have won all of them.

Grade: A-