We come not to praise the Indianapolis Colts, but to bury them. Three games, three losses, and two Carson Wentz ankle injuries in, it’s fair to say the Super Bowl isn’t happening this year. The playoffs aren’t either. Eight wins might be wishful thinking too. The Colts’ offense was largely punchless in a 25-16 loss to the Tennessee Titans that dropped Indy to 0-3 on the season.
Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts open season 0-3
Credit Wentz. He gutted out a game in which he probably shouldn’t have played. But maybe he deserves a week off because the Colts’ season is all but over. Teams that start the season with three losses make the playoffs, on average, one out of 50 times. And there’s little we’ve seen from the Colts against the Seahawks, Rams, and Titans to suggest they’ll be the exception to the rule.
Yes, they’ve faced three 2020 playoff teams in three weeks. But the Colts were given every opportunity to beat the Titans Sunday and still couldn’t. The Titans were -3 in turnovers, but the Colts were -9 on the scoreboard.
The reason?
Indianapolis’ offense, with its current personnel, stinks. It’s talent deficient and led by a quarterback who cannot stay healthy. While the defense did its part Sunday, the other side of the ball did not.
The last time the Colts started 0-3, they finished 2-14 and drafted Andrew Luck. They’re not going to be that bad this year — not with five games against the Jaguars, Texans, and Jets ahead of them.
However, they still have dates with the Ravens, 49ers, Bills, and Buccaneers looming, plus a rematch with Tennessee. A 2-6 start to the year isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
Colts need T.Y. Hilton, badly
In truth, we should have seen this coming. Wentz hasn’t played consistently well in years, and he has one the worst group of skill positions in the league. T.Y. Hilton had neck surgery and started the season on injured reserve. That left Wentz to try to make it work with the likes of wide receivers Michael Pittman, Zach Pascal, and Parris Campbell, and tight end Mo Alie-Cox. Sunday was the Colts’ 13th loss in their last 14 games without Hilton.
Again, Wentz showed courage by playing on two gimpy legs. But he was a statue in the pocket, and his protection went from bad to worse when lineman Quenton Nelson left with an ankle injury and did not return. Wentz finished the game 19 of 37 for 194 yards.
The Colts lost Sunday with Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) out for most of the game and Julio Jones (coach’s decision) missing for most of the second half. Ryan Tannehill threw 2 picks. Tennessee turned the ball over inside the 10. And yet, the Titans still won by 2 scores. Congrats on another division championship, Tennessee.