5-1. Good teams beat down bad teams, but another thing good teams manage to do is win when they are not at their best, and the Colts managed to do just that against the Cardinals. The game was not pretty, perhaps the worst game I have seen from the team this season, but they managed to score at the right time, and (thanks in big part to a missed DPI call on Trey McBride late in the game) get the stop when it mattered the most.
Because of some technical difficulties this article is going out a bit later than usual. Sorry for the delay!
MVP of the Game: Jonathan Taylor / Refs
The MVP award was between Taylor and Jones, as no one on the defense was even close to getting this award. Jones was instrumental in the comeback and ended up making the plays when it mattered the most, but had some mistakes here and there, including a really bad interception, so the award goes to JT, who continues putting up MVP-caliber numbers. Taylor finished the game close to 150 scrimmage yards and added a touchdown on the ground, facing a formidable Cardinals’ defense that was among the best in the NFL.
Shoutout to the refs for not calling what seemed to be a DPI on 4th down that would have given the Cards a 1st and goal at the one-yard line. It feels good to finally be on the good end of a missed call, and as I pointed out when we got robbed, to be fair I have to acknowledge when we are given a hand.
Dud of the Game (The Grigsy): Zaire Franklin / Lou Anarumo
This award could have gone to almost everyone on the defense. The pass-rush was okay, going up against a solid Cardinals’ offensive line, and the run defense held up, so it is hard to fault the defensive line here. It would also be unfair to criticize a secondary made up of practice squad players, with Charvarius Ward, Jaylon Jones, Kenny Moore, and Mike Hilton out for the game (not to mention Justin Walley who was lost before preseason). Germaine Pratt was okay in his debut, so if I had to pick a single player it would be Zaire Franklin, who posted the worst coverage grade on the team, and the worst run defense grade, even taking into account the fact that he did make two important stops. Oh, and there was also a terrible, idiotic flag on an absurdly late hit, that gifted the Cardinals 15 yards and a fresh set of downs when they would have been facing 3rd and 10. It was also at the worst possible moment because on that drive they managed to score a touchdown to go up 24-17.
Anarumo deserves his share of the blame too. Yes, the Colts were without their starting cornerbacks, but the Cardinals were without their quarterback, running back, and #1 receiver. Anarumo played too conservative, and Brissett finished the game with over 300 yards and two touchdowns, and were a missed DPI from allowing >30.
Best play of the game: Josh Downs’ touchdown catch late in the 4th
Great throw, great catch, at a key moment of the game. Josh Downs is slowly finding his role in this new Colts’ offense, getting seven targets against the Cardinals, most by a Colts’ receiver on the game. His innate ability to move the chains makes him an invaluable asset on this offense.
Worst play of the game: Franklin’s 15-yard flag after a late hit
Game tied at 17, defense was struggling to get stops, but force two consecutive incompletions to put the Cardinals in a bad position on 3rd and 10 at their own 34-yard line, but then, Zaire decides to hit the Cardinals’ tight end with no need and with the ball already dead, resulting in a 15-yard unnecessary roughness call. The Cards then proceeded to score on that drive, on a touchdown pass where they targeted #44 once again…
Best position group: Offensive line
Other than right guard Matt Goncalves, who had a rough game against Calais Campbell, the rest of the line held their own in pass-protection, and opened up holes for JT in the running game. Arizona has perhaps the most underrated front seven in the NFL, and Jonathan Gannon is really creative getting pressure, but the offensive line had a clean day and helped keep Daniel Jones upright once again.
Unsung hero: Michael Badgley
First game back after a tough injury, and kicking for his job being signed from the street just this week, pressure was sky-high for kicker Michael Badgley. He delivered, making all five of his kicks: four extra points and a 45-yard field goal. Colts don’t need a guy that can make 50+ kicks several times a game, just someone who can consistently nail chip shots and extra points.
ROTW (The Tyler Warren Award): Tyler Warren
I do this just for fun, because having a rookie of the week award this season for the Colts is just redundant. How did our new franchise tight end do this week? Another receiving touchdown, some key first downs, solid run blocking. He was close to a highlight play in the endzone but the Cardinals’ linebacker made a great play on the ball negating what would have been his second touchdown. Warren still leads all tight ends in receiving yards, and has three touchdowns on the season. Through 6 games he has a similar statline to all Colts’ tight ends combined last season.
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