Daniel Jones and the Colts got the result they wanted on Sunday, but the path there was messy enough to leave a clear message behind: this team can’t keep surviving turnover trouble from its quarterback.
Jones put the ball in danger three times against Houston, and two of those giveaways were the kind that can swing a game fast. The first fumble can be explained away to a degree because the offensive line couldn’t hold up against Will Anderson or Danielle Hunter.
The Texans’ pass rush made life difficult. That part happens.
The interception to open the third quarter is where the concern really starts. Indianapolis had a chance to push the lead to two scores, but on third down, with a defender charging at him, Jones lofted the ball into the air and watched it get picked off. Instead of creating separation, the Colts left Houston needing only a touchdown to move in front.
Then came the turnover that nearly flipped the whole afternoon. Late in the fourth quarter, Indianapolis was up six and driving in Texans territory with a chance to finish the job.
With less than five minutes left, Jones changed the play and had Jonathan Taylor open in the flat. The throw was there, with plenty of room to work with, but Jones held the ball and was stripped.
Houston took over, went down the field, and scored the go-ahead touchdown.
Everyone knows how it ended after that, but the finish shouldn’t obscure the warning signs. The Colts did get the win, and Spencer Shrader nailed a game-winning 53-yard field goal.
Still, there was nothing guaranteed about reaching field-goal range or about Shrader converting from that distance. This one worked out.
That doesn’t mean it always will.
If Indianapolis wants to build any kind of winning streak, Jones has to be cleaner with the football.
In Other News...
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For a Colts defense that has spent too much time searching for consistency up front, Latu's slump is more than a personal concern. Indianapolis needs him to look like the player who flashed last season, because the pass rush has not been reliable enough without that kind of edge threat carrying it. The worry now is not just about a slow start, but whether the team can afford to wait much longer for its top young rusher to rediscover the form that made him such an important part of the plan. [Read more 🡒]