Quick Thoughts - Week 7 Chargers

[ChaosTheory]

-Probably my favorite win so far. People will still put caveats on it, but it's getting harder to do. If the Chargers won today, they'd be the #1 seed in the AFC. Handling them 38-24 on the road is real.

-I hope Steichen and the coaches succeed in keeping the locker room grounded. I always worry about the new attention from the vulture media who have ignored them and now want to be their best friends. Don't read your newspaper clips.

-Speaking of Steichen... With all the weapons we have across the field... it may actually be Steichen who is our biggest weapon. We're almost midway through season. Teams have film. We're doing things we've been doing since week 1. Steichen is not only drawing them up, but calling them at the best times.

-There seems to be a Pass Rush vs. Pass Coverage rift among spectators regarding which is the liability. I'm not saying I'm satisfied with the pass rush, but the Colts had a pressure rate of like 48% last week vs. ARZ. Today, I've ready either 29 or 34 pressures... so either 45% or 53% rate. These are pretty ridiculous numbers.

I'll always rewatch, but felt like there was a combination of Anarumo going soft (clock ball) in the second half again along with us resorting to our 7th/8th (or maybe even 8th/9th) CBs, and Herbert either getting rid of the ball quickly or fighting/extending plays and guys couldn't cover.

-So nice to have Moore back. Looked good right away.

-Nick Cross' interception was awesome.

-Grover's interception was more awesome.

-Buckner 2 sacks, Latu sack, both had 4 hits (team had 15 hits).

-Pierce had a great game, Pittman and Warren do everything.

-Our OL is my favorite thing in football.

-JT is firmly OPOY right now.

-Chargers uniforms are shit. All-yellow is criminal, but the yellow pants are a bummer in general. Go back to the Navy blues from the 90's, shit heads.

[PowayColt]

I absolutely loved the way Steichen handled the last two minutes of the first half. The number one priority was to keep the Chargers at 3 points. Scoring again was second. Running the clock down so the Chargers wouldn't have the ball again and possibly get some momentum was perfect. The FG at the end was a bonus. On TV JJ Watt kept blabbering about how the Colts needed to hurry up. He was dead wrong.

[Colts And Orioles]

I'll always rewatch, but felt like there was a combination of Anarumo going soft (clock-ball) in the 2ond half again along with us resorting to our 7th/8th (or maybe even 8th/9th) CB's, and Herbert either getting rid of the ball quickly or fighting/extending plays and guys couldn't cover.




o


Also, the Chargers essentially had an extra down to work with for the entire 2nd half ...... because of the fact that they were so far behind on the scoreboard, they went for it on 4th down 4 times in the 2nd half in situations in which they would have punted (3 times) and attempted a field goal (1 time) had the game been closer.

So in a strange way, the Colts' defense was paying a price for the lead which the entire team built for themselves on both sides of the ball in their dominating 1st half.

o

[Colts And Orioles]

o


Also, the Chargers essentially had an extra down to work with for the entire 2nd half ...... because of the fact that they were so far behind on the scoreboard, they went for it on 4th down 4 times in the 2nd half in situations in which they would have punted (3 times) and attempted a field goal (1 time) had the game been closer.

So in a strange way, the Colts' defense was paying a price for the lead which the entire team built for themselves on both sides of the ball in their dominating 1st half.

o
o


Which is not to say that the Colts' defense doesn't need work ...... the Colts' defense unquestionably needs work if they want to beat the big boys (such as the Chiefs) in the post-season.

But Justin Herbert did not have a great 2nd half ...... Justin Herbert and the Chargers' offense had a bad 1st half, and after his team was almost hopelessly behind, Herbert was the beneficiary of the circumstances of the game.

It's not unusual for the quarterback of a team that gets dominated on the field and the scoreboard for much of the game to rack up some gaudy numbers in the 4th quarter because the defense of the winning team is playing the game differently (and under different circumstances) than it had in the 1st half.

o

[Mr. Session]

I appreciate the pressure rate but they have to convert more of these into sacks.

If they can keep it together and make a run, Mahomes & Allen need to be finished or they will finish us.

[Hoopsdoc]

The Grover int is my favorite play of the season so far. That was awesome.

I thought DJ had a really good game. He made some tight window, clutch throws. Definitely better than last week.

JT was amazing once again. Seems like his vision and patience has really improved this year, along with his pass blocking.

Abdullah has got some wheels. Very good backup to have.

Mitchell had what one catch? At least he didn’t screw that up.

Warren is the best tight end in the league.

The oline is also one of the best in the league.

We really missed Ward yesterday. Lammons kind of came back to earth and Cross had a mediocre game, aside from the int. The pass interference against Blackmon was total bullshit.

Great road win against a talented, albeit injury riddled team.

[ChaosTheory]

I appreciate the pressure rate but they have to convert more of these into sacks.

If they can keep it together and make a run, Mahomes & Allen need to be finished or they will finish us.

I don't disagree, I just think Herbert's effectiveness was not really due to lack of pass-rush.

For one, he's a good QB. He was often getting the ball out decisively and quick. Second, he's kind of a freak athlete. I've been listening to Chargers media since the game, and they are all talking about A.) the constant duress he was under and B.) most other QBs would've taken 5-7 sacks.

I mean, this guy is a 6'6 giant with a 9.7 RAS. QBs don't normally stiff arm DL and LB that have them dead to rights and extend plays like that.

Again, I'm not saying I'm satisfied with the rush. I just think coverage is the bigger concern going forward.

[sherck]

It is safe to say the Colts' struggles in the red zone are firmly in the past. Indy's offense went 4-of-5 scoring touchdowns in the red zone against the Chargers and is 14-of-15 over their last three games. The only time the Colts did not score in the red zone was at the end of the first half when they kicked a field goal as time expired. The Colts' red zone offense has quickly gone from a weakness to a major strength.

[Dam8610]

It is safe to say the Colts' struggles in the red zone are firmly in the past. Indy's offense went 4-of-5 scoring touchdowns in the red zone against the Chargers and is 14-of-15 over their last three games. The only time the Colts did not score in the red zone was at the end of the first half when they kicked a field goal as time expired. The Colts' red zone offense has quickly gone from a weakness to a major strength.

Which is pretty amazing that they were able to improve this that drastically in season. Hopefully the new trend continues.

[Pez]

The Grover int is my favorite play of the season so far. That was awesome.


I don't dig on celebrations much, but it was awesome seeing our sideline clear to celebrate with him.

These guys are coming into themselves as a cohesive unit.

[Brylok]

I'm MUCH more concerned about coverage rather than pass rush. MUCH more.
That being said, I'm pretty thrilled about how they've played overall. The number 1 team in the AFC with Daniel Jones at QB?! What?! I never would have believed it. Hope we beat the crap out of the 'tacks.

[YDFL Commish]

Bottom line, I believe we are the most complete team in the league, and frankly it's not that close.

[Oldcolt]

It is safe to say the Colts' struggles in the red zone are firmly in the past. Indy's offense went 4-of-5 scoring touchdowns in the red zone against the Chargers and is 14-of-15 over their last three games. The only time the Colts did not score in the red zone was at the end of the first half when they kicked a field goal as time expired. The Colts' red zone offense has quickly gone from a weakness to a major strength.

In addition to this Jones didn't struggle with underthrowning the long ball. He overthrew Pierce on a ball that was over 60 yards in the air and made 3 long throws where zero were under thrown. Can't believe this is real but it sure as hell is.

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

Random stats and stuff:

https://x.com/ColtsConti/status/1980092500472897597

This game was the fifth game this season that the Colts scored over 30 pts.

The last time Indy scored at least 30 in 5 of their first 7 games of a season was 2007.

They opened 2-of-2 in the red zone to extend their streak to 12 straight red zone TDs which T-2nd longest streak (2010) in team history since at least 1993

https://x.com/CodyTalksNFL/status/1980060679110287624

Per Next Gen Stats:

DeForest Buckner generated 10 pressures and 2 sacks on 50 pass rushes (20% pressure rate), tied for his most pressures in a game since 2018.

Buckner’s 10 pressures are also the most by an interior defensive lineman in a game this season.

https://x.com/ColtsConti/status/1980096841405665366

DeForest Buckner posted 2.0 sacks vs LA & passed Donnell Thompson (40.0) for the 4th-most sacks in Colts history.

Grover Stewart grabbed his 1st career INT. He joins Latu as the first D-linemen duo to each have an INT in the same year since H Armstrong and J Hand in 1986

https://x.com/ColtsConti/status/1980093197578829891

Daniel Jones completed 23-of-34 passes for 288 yards & 2 TDs for a 133.4 passer rating.

Jones has surpassed 200 passing yards in all 7 games this season marking the longest streak of his career, which is tied with Drake Maye for the longest active streak in the NFL.

https://x.com/ColtsConti/status/1980094325574025489

Jonathan Taylor tallied 94 yds & 3 TDs.

He's the first player in Colts history to have 3 games w/ 3+ TDs in the same season.

Taylor’s 10 rush TDs are the most by a Colt thru the first 7 gms of a season in team history.

He’s the first player in the NFL to accomplish it since D. Henry in 2021

https://x.com/ColtsConti/status/1980095739733917769

Tyler Warren passed Dallas Clark (29, 2003) for the fourth most rec by a rookie TE in Colts history.

He has a TD in 4 straight games and is the first Colts rookie to do so since JT in 2020.

Warren joins E Engram & H Miller as the only rookie TE since at least 1970 to record 4 straight games w/ a TD

[Oldcolt]

San Diego came into the Colt game with the number 8 defense in the NFL in terms of EPA per play. After playing the Colts they were 19. The Colts play good defenses but statistacally they are not good defenses after they play the Colts.

[Racehorse]

San Diego came into the Colt game with the number 8 defense in the NFL in terms of EPA per play. After playing the Colts they were 19. The Colts play good defenses but statistacally they are not good defenses after they play the Colts.

Only gave up ten last night.

[Chromeburn]

Wow I was able to visit the site today, no dead links or page failing to load. Did something change?

After watching the Chargers dismantle the Vikings it gives me more confidence that this team has come together.

[Pez]

Wow I was able to visit the site today, no dead links or page failing to load. Did something change?

Entropy is a bitch. it *should* be a lot more stable now.

[sherck]

Through seven weeks, the Colts are the most efficient offense by points per drive this century:

3.46 - 2025 Indianapolis Colts (7 games)
3.19 - 2007 New England Patriots (16 games)
3.12 - 2018 Kansas City Chiefs (16 games)
3.06 - 2020 Green Bay Packers (16 games)
3.02 - 2024 Detroit Lions (17 games)
2.96 - 2018 New Orleans Saints (16 games)

And, not by just a little.

The spread from 2nd place to 6th place is 0.23.

The spread from 2nd place to 1st place is 0.27.

https://x.com/AnthonyDabbundo/status/1980094753414017405

[YDFL Commish]

WOW! That is an amazing stat line, because it's not even close between #1 and #2.