10 thoughts on the Colts' 10-6 win over the Patriots in Germany
FRANKFURT, GERMANY - Ten thoughts on the Colts' 10-6 win over the Patriots and the week that led to it here in Germany:
1. It wasn't hard to see a defensive slugfest coming in an international game with chilly weather, after jet lag, with New England coach Bill Belichick on one sideline and two struggling quarterbacks going at it. And after an early fake-out where both teams scored and moved at will on their opening drives, that's what a rambunctious and mostly Patriots crowd in Germany was treated to.
Credit the defenses for a good game plan on a week where preparation wasn't so easy, with two walk-through practices and the seven-hour plane ride. The Colts brought the pass rush, which is a legitimate strength of theirs, and they unleashed a new character in it with a twist on the plan.
But Mac Jones also gift-wrapped a couple of red-zone stops by trying to throw two interceptions to Julian Blackmon, one of which connected on a grossly underthrown ball right at the goal line late. The Patriots were so appalled that they benched him for Baily Zappe right after that, only for him to throw a game-sealing pick to Rodney Thomas II.
This game was a showcase of why the Patriots have the worst record in the AFC and why Belichick's job security is a real topic.
But still, a win is a win and you don't have to apologize for it in the NFL. This one gets the Colts to 5-5, which is an accomplishment for coach Shane Steichen and a young roster with a hurt quarterback, no matter how easy the schedule has gotten.
2. Gardner Minshew was effective in some of the early throws for yards-after-catch plays, and he did have a nice scramble throw to Isaiah McKenzie to convert a third down on the first drive. But this was another tough game for him on the move, which the Patriots made happen with a variety of pressure looks.
Minshew wasn't as errant in his reactions to pressure this time, though the interception in the third quarter was an unnecessary gamble against a layered zone when he had a scramble lane on second down. The bigger issue for Minshew right now is that playing on the move takes away the one defined skill he has post-snap, which is his ball placement. He missed some throws short, far and wide playing this way, and it's often how the Colts had to live on third downs.
He finished 18 of 28 for 194 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception. The Colts won a second straight game despite scoring one offensive touchdown, and both times, they've had to overcome the backup quarterback.
3. Josh Downs came into the week questionable with the knee he hurt the previous week and reinjured against the Panthers. He missed the three practices this week. He warmed up and was active, only for Isaiah McKenzie to start at slot receiver and for Downs to play a third-down role.
Game recap: Colts outlast Patriots 10-6 to move to .500
McKenzie was a clear part of the game plan, both as a motion eye-candy piece and as a receiver. He broke loose for a 30-yard catch down the right sideline on the Colts' first third down, helping key a drive Jonathan Taylor carried the rest of the way into the end zone. But Downs made the best play of the day for the Colts offense with the scramble-drill third-down catch on the Colts' final drive, when he laid out in full extension for a 29-yard gain.
Downs could use this week to rest. He's had a high workload with 57 catches in a diminutive body at 5-foot-9 and 173 pounds, and he's dealt with some knee issues dating to last season at North Carolina. He's become a huge piece of this offense in the way he beats man and zone defense on high-percentage throws for Minshew, and his long-term value is obviously even more important than that.
4. This was finally the game where the Colts unleashed Jonathan Taylor, or at least they tried their best to. With Downs not in the game script much, they gave the ball to Taylor on eight straight plays at one point, and he scored the touchdown on 4th-and-goal with a nice stretch run when the Patriots were gearing for the run up the middle. He took 23 of the 24 handoffs for the Colts, who seem done with the true 1-2 punch since they need Taylor's explosive potential over the solid, safe game of Zack Moss.
Taylor finished with 23 carries for just 69 yards on 3.0 yards per carry because the Patriots were able to limit his longest run to 10 yards. New England has a nice run defense, and it hurt to not have Drew Ogletree or Ryan Kelly for the second half. But this was another game where a defense forced the Colts out of their favorite run concepts and put the game on Minshew.
5. Shaquille Leonard had another week of venting some frustrations with his role, which does not include much third-down work. It's been an ongoing chicken-or-egg debate where his coaches say he isn't on the field then because doesn't create enough splash plays and he says he doesn't create enough splash plays because he's not on the field enough.
MORE: Colts' Shaq Leonard still frustrated with playing time: 'I honestly don't know what to do.'
“The conversations are just, ‘What can I do? What am I doing wrong? Do you just not believe in me? Am I not making plays? Am I bad in the run game, in the pass game?'" Leonard said this week. "'Just tell me something to help me sleep.’”
This game featured a couple of opportunities for him to change that narrative. He saw a screen pass to his side, but he dived early at Ezekiel Elliott's ankles and whiffed in the backfield, resulting in a 19-yard gain. He also looked like he had a shot to recover Mike Gesicki's first-quarter fumble, but the Patriots got it back.
These are the kinds of plays Leonard needs to make to force the issue on his coaching staff. Until he does, E.J. Speed will be their preference, and the numbers from this season back up that logic.
6. What a dominant game for Dayo Odeyingbo. He's often the Colts' third edge rusher and a passing-down specialist on the inside, and they like to start him on the inside in the second half to get him into a flow against guards, where he's usually at his best. But I noticed him playing on the edge over Samson Ebukam on early downs and moving inside just on third downs, when Ebukam came in to play the edge.
It paid off, as Odeyingbo played the best I've seen him off the edge, constantly harassing Mac Jones and finishing with not one, not two but three sacks. It created another terrific two-man game with DeForest Buckner, except this version collapses the entire pocket from inside to out.
It's not often you see a three-sack game from anyone, and this one shows the ceiling the Colts drafted and stashed off an Achilles tear in the second round back in 2021.
7. The Colts have needed more juice on the edges lately. Ebukam did some great work early in the season against backup left tackles, but he hasn't elevated since the matchups have gotten more difficult. He profiles more as a No. 2 edge rusher, strong in one-on-one matchups against No. 2 tackles but not the man to key the entire edge rush. That also might be Kwity Paye's profile, as he's unbelievable against the run and more of a power-based rusher than a quick-win guy.
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As an inside-outside player, Odeyingbo should have a similar profile, and it might be different against stronger offensive lines and more mobile quarterbacks. But this was a legit performance and one that should reward him with more chances to play above Ebukam on the edge, as the Colts need that impact to survive their outside cornerback play.
8. For as crazy great success as Steichen had with Jalen Hurts and the Eagles on the "tush push" sneak play, it hasn't worked at all with the Colts. I think things would be different with Anthony Richardson, for obvious size and strength reasons. Minshew isn't built to push forward the way Richardson or Hurts are. And with an elite perimeter runner like Jonathan Taylor and a strong short-yardage back like Zack Moss, that's not the way to go in a 4th-and-short situation.
On 3rd-and-short, like when they ran it on their first drive, the Colts can still go for it again if they miss. And running it on occasion gives Steichen the opportunity to come out in that look to force the opponent to burn a timeout sometimes. He loves to do that.
9. The Colts' run defense really has not been the same since Grover Stewart was suspended for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
In six games with Stewart on the field, the Colts allowed 114 rushing yards per game and 3.7 yards per rush. In four games without him, they've surrendered 154 yards per game and 4.7 yards per rush. And they didn't have to face Nick Chubb against the Browns, either.
It was obvious they were going to have a drop-off without one of the best nose tackles in the game, but the trickle effect has been extreme. Teams are able to run between the tackles but still avoid Buckner for the most part. They're forcing Zaire Franklin to make up a little more ground on his hurt knee. And they're stressing Eric Johnson, who has done some nice things but isn't an every-run-down nose tackle.
This is just another way in which the pass rush has to be king. Outside of Kenny Moore II jumping passes from the slot and blitzing, it's hard to see where else the Colts are equipped to be special on defense with their present personnel. And it's why getting through the bye week to get Franklin's knee healthier and JuJu Brents back will help. But these games have really reinforced how fun it is to have Stewart and Buckner together on the inside, where the math isn't on the offense's side and penetration is the standard.
10. It was neat to see Bernhard Raimann and Marcel Dabo back in their element this week, and to hear about the bond the two formed through their crazy paths to get here. Raimann is from Austria, and Dabo is from Germany, just more than two hours south of Frankfurt. They speak both languages, as does most everyone I've met over here this week. But as they joined the Colts to work long days chasing an athletic dream overseas, they found something in speaking German to each other and reminiscing on what they miss about life in Europe.
MORE: How Colts' Marcel Dabo found a sport he loved and shared it with Germany
You saw their pride in the interviews and youth flag football event on the practice fields this week, and it had to mean something to both to hear the back-to-back national anthems before the game, signifying a level of their blended cultural experience. Both have had their dips of adversity with the Colts -- Raimann's rookie struggles last year, Dabo's knee injury keeping him out this week -- but it's good to see both come back home and realize how proud they've made not only their friends and family, but the kids of Europe they didn't know until this week.
Contact Nate Atkins at natkins@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @NateAtkins_.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts: 10 thoughts on the a 10-6 win over the Patriots in Germany
