Interception, an impressive TD: Gardner Minshew's up-and-down day not enough in Colts' loss

INDIANAPOLIS — Late in the third quarter, the Colts had the momentum.

They were down, 21-20, but threatening. Indianapolis started basically in its own end zone, and put together a six-play, 65-yard drive — highlighted by a 41-yard run from Zack Moss — to get to the Saints’ 33-yard line.

Then, that boost fell flat.

On 2nd and 6, Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew threw a deep pass to the end zone, intended for Michael Pittman. Instead, it went straight into the arms of Saints defensive back Paulson Adebo, who returned it to the 20-yard line.

“We were trying to do a double move to Pitt,” Minshew said. “I threw it out and put them in a fight for it but I should’ve just kept moving on. Yeah, it’s on me.”

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From Pittman’s perspective, however, it was a miscommunication on his part.

“I should’ve kept running straight,” Pittman said. “I kind of bent it in, I felt space and bent it in, but I’m not supposed to do that. I was supposed to run my route and he gave me a chance and I just wasn’t there for him. I just have to protect him and the team, so that one’s on me.

“Turnovers are really what got us. The defense got one, and then I gave up one, so we’ve just got to clean that up. Who knows, the Butterfly Effect, maybe the outcome would’ve been different.”

The Saints turned that end zone interception into seven points, going up 28-20 — putting the game out of reach for the Colts, who lost 38-27.

Things weren’t all bad for Minshew in his fourth start. That interception was his only turnover of the game — a vast improvement from four in each of his last two starts. Minshew went 23-of- 41 for 213 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday afternoon, with an average of 9.3 yards per completion.

His redeeming touchdown came in the fourth quarter, when he threw a 33-yard bullet pass to tight end Drew Ogletree. Minshew had to scramble out of the pocket to the right side of the field, and he threw over a defender to get the ball to Ogletree in the end zone.

“Just trying to make a play at that point,” Minshew said. “The original play was pretty covered, but I was able to get out of the pocket, and kudos to (Ogletree). He was running a route completely the other way and turned back around.”

Still, Minshew (and the Colts as a whole) have a lot to work on. Some of the Colts' issues are of no fault of his own, but Minshew is 1-3 as a starter since taking over for the injured Anthony Richardson. His career starting stats don’t lend him to good odds, either — he is 9-19 as a starter between stints with Jacksonville, Philadeplhia and Indianapolis.

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Indianapolis heads on the road for the next two weeks. First, the Colts will travel to Charlotte to take on the Carolina Panthers. Then, they will take an international trip to Frankfurt, Germany, to play the Patriots.

Somewhere during that road trip, the Colts are hoping to find a way to right the ship.

“Everybody talks about toughness: Can you get back up when you get hit, or when you get hit twice, but three times now, it is tough,” Minshew said. “Your body hurts, your heart hurts, and it is tough. We’ve got to figure that out, you know, but with the guys that we got, I don’t think we’re far off. I think if we clean a few things up, play some complementary football, we can do everything we want to do.”

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts: Gardner Minshew struggles, thrives in Colts' loss to Saints