Monday Morning Awards: Week 15 @Broncos

It’s getting more and more difficult to root for this team

MVP of the Game: Zaire Franklin

Credit where credit is due, Zaire had himself an amazing game, and on the biggest stage too. He finished the game close to ten tackles, and had a vital interception early on in the game when we still had a chance to win it. I was very critical of Franklin this season, but I have to tip my hat he was the best Colt on the field yesterday.

Dud of the Game: Jonathan Taylor

You know the reason JT is the dud of the game, more on that later.

Best Play of the Game: 99% of that JT run

The Colts had just intercepted Nix, and it seemed like for the first time this season the team was playing complementary football. The defense was shutting the Broncos down, and the offense was right on the verge of getting a 50-yard touchdown run, but then, the worst moment in Colts’ recent history happened.

Worst Play of the Game: The remaining 1% of the run

I still cannot understand how stuff like this happens to a professional NFL player, in the most important game of the season, on a pivotal moment of the game. The momentum change after this fumble was undeniable. I think this is the worst way to lose the game, the Colts were literally just a yard away from getting themselves in a prime position to win the game, and they would have had a more than decent shot of making the playoffs, with all the momentum in the world. How can a team recover from losing a must-win game like this? It is one thing if the Broncos were better than the Colts, but that was not the case. JT’s run would have been the final nail on the coffin, but instead the only thing it killed was this Colts’ season.

Best position group: Linebackers

Franklin & Speed both showed up as much as it “pains” me to say it. I still believe that linebacker is the biggest position of need this offseason, but they still had an amazing game yesterday. They led the team in tackles, and did not have many mistakes. The final result is definitely misleading, as the defense as a whole did more than enough to win the football game.

Unsung hero: Sam Womack

What a pickup has Womack been for a young Colts’ secondary. He had another interception and was really solid in pass coverage. Considering Brents will return next year, I would say that the Colts are set with him, Jones, and Womack on the outside.

Rookie of the Week: Anthony Gould

Gould had a punt return for 36 yards, and a catch for 23. Not a particularly great game but good enough for his best career game, and the best game for a Colt rookie on Sunday.