Game Recap: Colts Stun Chiefs In Game No One Wanted To Win
The Indianapolis Colts had to get a win today. They not only delivered, but they took down the Kansas City Chiefs along the way.
Are you breathing, Colts fans? What a wild ride for fans today as the team finally gets a much needed win. At times, it seemed like the Chiefs were practically willing the Colts to beat them. Then, it seemed like the team couldn’t get anything going and let the Chiefs right back in. At the end of the game, the Colts finally emerged victorious. Here are the five takeaways from today’s matchup.
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Colts Capitalize On Chiefs’ Miscues
The Chiefs rarely make mistakes, but when they do, they seem to be on the extreme of uncharacteristic. The game started with a muffed punt by Skyy Moore, perhaps a future boding of things to come. Then, came a missed extra point after scoring, a nod that the Chiefs truly miss Harrison Butker. (Not to be outdone, the Chiefs faked a field goal – which they did not get. They also missed another field goal in the fourth quarter, a 34-yard chip shot).
Patrick Mahomes even joined the fray, arguing with offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy at one point and missing Travis Kelce on a critical red zone drive. However, perhaps the most back-breaking play for the Chiefs was a mystifying penalty by Chris Jones after they managed to stall a promising drive by the Colts.
Colts ball!#Colts#ForTheShoe#ChiefsKingdom#KCvsIND pic.twitter.com/f9lJ85GfMY — Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) September 25, 2022
Colts Special Teams Came To Play
Kylen G. and the ”G” stands for ”gunner”! If fans had Mr. Kylen Granson on their list of special teams playmakers today, let us know your secrets! Granson started the game in this unexpected role and did not disappoint. He came in hot and recovered a muffed Chiefs punt by Skyy Moore. This set up the team with great field position!
Of course, he kept rolling, as he also helped contain Matt Haack’s early first quarter punt, pinning the Chiefs at the one yard line. Highly underrated, the special teams unit made all of their kicks, including a 51-yard field goal, and had no kicks out of bounds. Shocking! Special teams Coordinator Bubba Ventrone has to be beside himself. The unit played phenomenal today.
Terrible position for the Chiefs. #Colts#ForTheShoe#ChiefsKingdom#KCvsIND pic.twitter.com/Aqh2zUpngo — Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) September 25, 2022
Colts Rookies Answered The Call
Have yourself a day, Alec Pierce and Jelani Woods! There are not enough good things to say about this pair today. Alec sliced and diced his way up the field and Jelani was a great red zone target for Matt Ryan. All week, the staff at Indy Intercept have been asking who was going to step up after the beatdown in Jacksonville. Today was a huge test against an extremely athletic Chiefs Defense. Pierce ended his day with three catches for 61 yards and Woods ended his day with a paltry 13 yards, but two touchdowns, including a game winner with 29 seconds to play.
Completely in a biased way, fans, including myself, have been rooting for Woods. After fellow rookie tight end Drew Ogeltree went down for the season, the team needed Woods to step up. Much to the dismay of many, he was not targeted a lot in the first two games and thus, is not, Matt Ryan’s former star tight end, Kyle Pitts. However, when the team needed someone today, Woods delivered. He utilized his 6’7” frame to his advantage and capitalized on the opportunities without Chiefs’ linebacker Willie Gay on the field.
🗣 JELANI FOR THE LEAD! pic.twitter.com/dm205X8tC9 — Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 25, 2022
Colts Defense Found A Way
Simply put, the Colts defense kept the team in this game. The game does not end the way it does (with a Stephon Gilmore deflection and a Rodney McLeod interception) if the defense hadn’t been playing at a high level all game. Most fans know, you won’t completely stop Patrick Mahomes and that vaunted Chiefs offense. However, if you can put together a string of good plays, you can make a mark. That’s what the Colts had to do today.
Early on, we saw pressure from Deforest Buckner and Kwity Paye, which was great to see after Paye had been carrying the load by himself since the season started. The pressure from the left side of the line, eventually freed Yannick Ngakoue to get his first sack in a Colts uniform. Overall, the unit played a farily great game, all things considered. They kept most things in front of them and on mutliple drives, the defense forced three-and-outs, something very hard to do against the Chiefs.
RODNEY MCLEOD PICKS IT OFF TO SEAL THE GAME FOR THE COLTS! pic.twitter.com/E47nL5l7tB — NFL (@NFL) September 25, 2022
Colts Offensive Line Is The Stuff Of Nightmares
This game cannot be talked about without mentioning how putrid the the offensive line has been through three weeks. There are not enough adjectives to describe the trouble on the field. Between Matt Ryan’s ball security (and holding the ball too long) issues and the line being beat in the trenches on practically every play, the team is lucky to come away with a win.
The tempo offense is likely the only thing saving the unit. (They tend to play better when there is not much time to think.) However, that said, the entire line is a liability. It doesn’t matter who it is, the line is simply struggling. This is not a recipe for success and with the Titans and Broncos up next, the line might want to start communicating soon.
At least the clock is running#Colts#ForTheShoe#ChiefsKingdom#KCvsIND pic.twitter.com/8ZBYa1NDN7 — Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) September 25, 2022
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