The Indianapolis Colts’ 41-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1 left a brutal first impression, and it was hard to find much about the performance that suggested a team ready to start fast at home.
This one never really felt close. For anyone who didn’t watch, the final score may make it sound like a competitive opener.
It wasn’t. Baltimore controlled the game, and the Colts looked flat on both sides of the ball, especially on defense.
One of the biggest early takeaways was how badly rookie Justin Walley struggled in the slot after taking over for Kenny Moore, who had asked to be released. Walley, in his first NFL regular-season action, was picked apart by Zay Flowers right away. Flowers piled up 150 receiving yards in the first half alone before leaving before halftime with a slight hamstring injury.
That brings up the larger issue with the defense and Lou Anarumo’s scheme. The Ravens exposed a unit that looked disorganized and unprepared, and it’s hard to ignore the broader track record here.
Anarumo has had one defense in eight previous seasons as a coordinator - one with the Miami Dolphins, six with the Cincinnati Bengals, and one in Indianapolis - finish in the top half of the league in points allowed and yards allowed. He remains respected around the league, but the results don’t exactly match the reputation.
Shane Steichen didn’t come out of the opener looking any better. The concern heading into the game was supposed to be Baltimore’s offense against Anarumo, but the Ravens’ defense also had Indianapolis’ offense bottled up.
Daniel Jones threw a bad interception, but the bigger problem was the lack of protection. He had no time to throw, and the Colts’ offense never got into rhythm.
Baltimore’s defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, in his first game as a head coach, clearly had the better plan. Steichen looked outcoached, and that kind of start only adds pressure to a season already carrying plenty of it.
There was at least one point where the Ravens seemed to ease up a bit after Flowers exited. Baltimore’s offense became inefficient and unproductive, and the Colts managed to trim the margin to 31-16 in the third quarter.
But the game was already out of reach, and Flowers’ absence may have been the only thing that kept the score from getting even uglier. Without that hamstring injury, Baltimore likely would have added two more touchdowns.
Still, the Colts did show some pride by continuing to fight after the game had effectively been decided. That mattered a little, even if it didn’t change the outcome. The home crowd let the team hear it, and deservedly so.
The bigger picture is bleak. Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon talked all offseason about a sense of urgency, but that wasn’t visible here.
The Colts didn’t look like a playoff team. They looked like a team headed for another disappointing season, and maybe one that won’t even get back to .500.
What happens next for general manager Chris Ballard and Steichen is an open question. The ownership group’s willingness to make changes remains to be seen, but plenty of fans already seem ready for them. And after a Week 1 performance like this, it’s easy to understand why.
In Other News...
Colts Opening Day Letdown Raises Questions They Werent Supposed To Face
The Colts walked into Week 1 expecting a clean opening statement and instead left with a reminder of how quickly a season can tilt when both sides of the ball go sideways. Baltimore took control early in a 41-23 loss, with Indianapolis struggling to slow the Ravens passing game and failing to generate much rhythm on offense, even as Daniel Jones early interception helped fuel the first surge.
Zay Flowers did most of his damage before leaving with an injury, and the Colts never found a comfortable answer for the matchup that had already become a problem. Indy also needed more from its playmakers, with Alec Pierce quiet in the first half, and the kind of opening-day performance that was supposed to settle things only added to the questions this group was trying to avoid. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Owens' Colts Debut Had A Simone Biles Touch Fans Loved
Simone Biles showed up at Lucas Oil Stadium for a first look at Jonathan Owens in a Colts uniform, and she made sure the moment had a personal touch. Before kickoff in Week 1, Biles wore a custom blue-and-white dress with Owens name and number on it, then shared a handshake and a kiss with her husband on the sideline as he prepared for his first regular-season game with Indianapolis.
Owens arrived in Indianapolis after two seasons with the Chicago Bears and signed a one-year deal with the Colts, so his debut carried a little extra attention beyond the usual opening-week nerves. Having Biles in the building only added to the spotlight, and for Colts fans, the sideline scene was one of the more memorable details from a day built around fresh starts. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Suddenly Face A Huge Problem Against The Colts
Zay Flowers turned a promising opening for Baltimore into an immediate concern for the Ravens on Sunday, leaving their Week 1 matchup with the Colts because of a hamstring injury. Before heading to the sideline, the second-year receiver was doing serious damage, piling up five catches for 150 yards and a touchdown as Baltimore tried to set the tone early.
Flowers was listed as questionable to return, and the Ravens said they were continuing to evaluate his status during the game. For Indianapolis, the injury changes the feel of a matchup that had already featured one of Baltimores most dangerous playmakers making a big early impact, and now the Colts are waiting to see whether they have to deal with him again or whether the Ravens have to adjust without one of their top targets. [Read more 🡒]