Dopey Report Card -- Colts vs. Bills

Hard to say which is more concerning -- the Colts' on-field performance or the harsh words that are coming out of the team's locker room these days. Lots of unhappy campers on West 56th Street.

RUN OFFENSE

Can anybody precisely point to the moment when Jonathan Taylor disappeared? He had 107 rushing yards with 10:28 remaining in the second quarter, largely courtesy of a 58-yard breakout run that was blocked up beautifully, especially by Quenton Nelson. In the second half of a mostly one-score game, he ran it just five times for seven yards. Curious, to say the least. Taylor finished with 21 carries for 114 yards, a 5.4 yard-per-carry average and passed Eric Dickerson for fourth on the Colts all-time rushing list. Didn’t understand why he was out there on the final drive of the game when the Colts trailed by two scores…but what do I know? Don’t answer that.

Grade: B-

RUN DEFENSE

What’s gotten into Grover Stewart? He’s always been good, but he’s been a Pro Bowl-level performer these last two games. Stewart had eight tackles and a sack, and along with DeForest Buckner (eight tackles), the Colts were stout up the middle. That said, Buffalo had some success, rushing 31 times for 135 yards, a 4.4 average. Josh Allen showed Indy fans (and a lot of Buffalo Mafia types who infiltrated the building) what they someday hope to see from Anthony Richardson, rushing eight times for 50 yards, including at least one back-breaking scramble on a third and forever. Big game for E.J. Speed, who had six tackles, a pass defense and his first career interception.

Grade: C

PASS OFFENSE

I’m not any good at math, but somebody has to explain to me how Joe Flacco had a higher QB rating than Allen. Seriously, Flacco was 79.7, Allen 60.6, his lowest rating of the season. The math does not compute. Anyway, Flacco played losing football for a second straight week, tossing three interceptions and losing a fumble. Now it’s time for Shane Steichen to return to Plan A and put Anthony Richardson back behind center. (We’ll know more later this afternoon when Steichen addresses the media.) I don’t believe this is a Jim Irsay production the way it was in 2022, when the owner mandated the benching of Matt Ryan. And I doubt Chris Ballard, who doesn’t need another losing season on his resume, is the brains behind the Richardson benching. I believe this is Steichen’s call all the way. Could I be wrong? Sure. If there more to the story? Undoubtedly. On the positive side, the Colts had three receivers (Josh Downs, AD Mitchell and Alec Pierce) who all exceeded 70 yards worth of receptions.

Grade: D