The Colts walked into Week 8 with the kind of outlook that makes a loss feel almost routine, and Jacksonville made sure it stayed that way. Indianapolis got run over by the Jaguars, and while a few players came out of the wreckage looking better, most of the roster and coaching staff came out with more questions than answers.
One bright spot was Adetomiwa Adebawore, who keeps flashing in ways the Colts should have been tapping into much earlier. His pass-rush ability has been there, and Lou Anarumo has gotten more out of him over the last couple of seasons than Indianapolis did in his first two.
Against Jacksonville, Adebawore consistently created pressure, including one snap where he got past the center so fast the guard never had a chance to help. With the right setup, he looks like a player who could get to eight sacks.
CJ Allen also earned his place on the winners side in his first career start, which came in Week 8. He tackled well, picked up a sack with an explosive move, and added a tackle for loss.
Even with the sack coming when he was unblocked, his speed still helped finish the play. For Colts fans wondering why he wasn’t out there sooner, this game didn’t offer much of an answer.
Tyler Warren, meanwhile, had a rough afternoon that fit the tone of the whole game. He opened with a drop in the first half, then later in Jacksonville territory had the kind of mistake that can flip a game completely.
Daniel Jones delivered a well-thrown pass that hit Warren in the hands, the ball popped to a Jaguars player, and the interception went 92 yards for a touchdown. If a dropped pass could count as a fumble, that one would qualify.
Instead of possibly making it 21-7, the Colts were staring at a 28-0 hole.
Shane Steichen also took a hit in this one, and not just because of the scoreboard. The Colts piled up the usual self-inflicted damage from a bad team - penalties, busted trick plays, and the rest of the mess that comes with getting buried early.
That speaks to coaching as much as execution. Steichen may have offensive chops, but this season has not looked like the work of a head coach who can consistently adjust when things go sideways.
Leaving Daniel Jones in while trailing 42-7, knowing what was coming, was especially hard to defend. All of it only sharpened the question of why Anthony Richardson wasn’t in the game.
Laiatu Latu’s season has become another disappointment. He was productive last year, finishing with 61 total pressures and strong run defense, but the drop-off this season has been huge.
Through eight games, he has only 20 total pressures. He did get a sack in the second half, though Caden Curry did the heavy lifting before that.
At this point, it’s fair to wonder whether the issue is the scheme or the player, and that answer may not come until 2027.
Anarumo belongs in the loss column too, because Jacksonville exposed exactly how shaky this defense can be. The Colts had looked better over the previous five games, allowing 21.7 points per game, but that came against offenses with plenty of flaws.
The Jaguars were a different story. They opened with a 98-yard touchdown drive and were averaging 6.9 yards per play by the time they led 35-0 midway through the third quarter.
They could do whatever they wanted, whether it was on the ground or through the air.
And then there’s Taylor, who many in the Indy media believe won’t be moved before the November 10 deadline. That would be a shame.
He deserves better than spending his whole career with an organization that might only send him to the playoffs once. He deserves a chance to win a title somewhere else, because that opportunity is not coming with the Colts as they are right now.
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Shane Steichens postgame tone suggested this is no longer about one bad afternoon or one isolated phase of play. The coaching staff is now looking at every part of the roster, and the latest quarterback wrinkle only added to the unease around the team. With questions already swirling about possible changes, the Colts have reached a point where even routine decisions suddenly feel like part of a much bigger reckoning. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Ugly Loss Just Made One Trade Deadline Question Even Bigger
The Colts 42-7 loss to Jacksonville only sharpened the questions around a team already trying to sort out its future at 2-6. Indianapolis has been leaning on younger players like DJ Giddens as trade chatter continues to follow Jonathan Taylor, but the wider issue after a lopsided defeat was how much more turbulence the roster could absorb.
Josh Downs added another layer to that uncertainty with four catches for 23 yards and the Colts only touchdown, then was not in the locker room afterward amid reports of a public trade request. The team had still not heard from him after the game, and for a Colts offense already searching for answers, that makes the deadline conversation feel even bigger than it did before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]