11 HRS AGO - Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports The Indianapolis Colts showed the early signs of having a potentially disastrous loss to the rebuilding Cincinnati Bengals (then 1-3-1) at home, quickly falling behind 21-0 before outscoring #1 pick Joe Burrow’s squad 31-6 the rest of the way to win 31-27. Here are some of the top takeaways: Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images A Win’s A Win: This was the type of loss that if the Colts had lost against a lowly Bengals squad that is clearly bound for another Top 5 pick, at home—that would’ve put some serious heat on the Colts coaching staff and maybe even management the rest of 2020. While the Colts coming out flat was very reminiscent of the ‘Chuck Pagano Days’—and needs to be addressed going forward to ensure the boys in speed blue are coming out with the right preparedness, intensity, toughness, and execution, Frank Reich’s team didn’t show any quit. Rather, the Colts demonstrated a lot of heart, fight, and persevered all Collapse

14 HRS AGO - Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich had his weekly conference call Monday with the media and gave several updates. No injuries coming out of Sunday's game. Reich hopeful most -- if not all -- of the players on last week's injured list will be ready to go for Detroit. Matt Adams and Michael Pittman Jr. potentially, too. #Colts— George Bremer (@gmbremer) October 19, 2020 Frank Reich opened his conference call with the usual injury update. Reich said there were no injuries coming out of the game Sunday. The good news is on top of no new injuries from the Bengals game most, if not all, of the players on last week’s injury report will be ready to go after the bye week for the Detroit game. Also Michael Pittman Jr and Matthew Adams, who are both currently on injured reserve, potentially could return too. Proof that Kemoko Turay's getting closer: Frank Reich says "We'll see after the bye whether he's ready for Detroit or not."When Colts Collapse

17 HRS AGO - Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images Thanks to the nflFastR project and NFL NextGen Stats for the timely sources of data. Commentary will be brief but feel free to let me know in the comments that stats aren’t everything. (click charts for larger view) Well, that was better. HOW WELL? NOTE: QB spikes, kneels and completed passes that end with fumble turnovers are not included in the next two charts. So, Jack Doyle’s fumble isn’t counted against Philip Rivers’ numbers. Rivers was highly efficient both in value per dropback and % of successful passes. QBs that are better than average in these stats win 80% of their games. He was better than average. On the season Rivers ranks in the top 10 in all of the above stats (10th EPA/db, 10th PSR, 10th first down/db, 1st NY/db). For people that think Jacoby Brissett would be an upgrade . . . really? I mean . . . really? HOW FAR? Everything looks good here. Well . . . not the interception. Collapse

21 HRS AGO - Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images Outside of the notable absences of Darius Leonard and Mo Alie-Cox, the Colts game day roster started to look closer to normal on Sunday. The starting offensive line welcomed back veteran left tackle Anthony Castonzo and the defensive line rotation got a boost with the return of Sheldon Day — who would log his first snaps in a Colts uniform. With all of the team’s injuries at wide receiver, it has been a weekly game of musical chairs by Chris Ballard and the offensive coaching staff to figure out an effective combination. If Sunday’s offense from the second quarter on was an indication, things may be trending in the right direction. All that is left to figure out is when Michael Pittman Jr. and if Parris Campbell will return this season. To the counts! OFFENSE Philip Rivers has not enjoyed the kind of success he or Colts fans had hoped entering the season. His gun-slinging, turnover happy ways have littered his early 2020 performances and have Collapse

23 HRS AGO - Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images Philip Rivers Quiets Critics In Leading Comeback | 93.5 & 107.5 The FanPhilip Rivers Quiets Critics In Leading Comeback Philip Rivers leads Colts back from 21-point hole to go into bye at 4-2 - Indianapolis Colts Blog- ESPNThe schedule gets tougher from here for the Colts, but they pulled together after a disastrous start against Cincinnati. With Colts’ Philip Rivers, it was deja vu versus Bengals | Fox 59INDIANAPOLIS – His new team was getting rolled Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium by Cincinnati but Philip Rivers’ mind briefly drifted back to when his old team was suffering a similar fate against these same Bengals. Well, not the same Bengals. It was Nov. 12, 2006 and Rivers was starting his ninth NFL game for […] Colts vs. Bengals: Philip Rivers rallies to take down Bengals, 31-27Rivers was 29-of-44 for 371 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception Colts vs. Bengals: Trey Burton shines with rushing, receiving touchdownsBurton scored his first Collapse

1 DAY AGO - Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images Overview This game didn’t go how anyone thought it might. The Bengals jumped out to an early 21-0 lead before Philip Rivers (the same Philip Rivers from the first five weeks) took over the game for the Colts and battled his way back into the game. This was the most frustrating and exciting game the Colts have played in quite some time and in the end they came away with the win. Sitting here typing this just minutes after the game has ended, I’m not sure exactly what lessons we take away from this game. It was just such a departure from everything we’ve seen before today, I’m not sure what it means but it has to mean something, right? First Quarter Things went well on the first play of the game Jonathan Taylor, way to start the game.#Colts#Bengals#ForTheShoe#SeizeTheDEY#CINvsIND pic.twitter.com/ju8JbZnJ5h— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) October 18, 2020 Jonathan Taylor finished the day with 115 all purpose yards including a 5.0 yard per carry Collapse

1 DAY AGO - Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images Well, that wasn’t pretty. The Colts entered a game that they should have dominated and found themselves quickly in a 21-0 hole. The vaunted top overall defense in the NFL? Swiss cheese for Joe Burrow. The “bad” Bengals offensive line, looked excellent in protection and got Joe Mixon going on the ground as well. To say that the Colts were sleepwalking at the start of this game wouldn’t do the situation justice. It was horrifyingly bad and there was very little confidence that Philip Rivers could lead an anemic offense back from that kind of an early deficit. What happened for Rivers and the Colts passing offense in the second quarter is something Frank Reich and his staff needs to build on. Check downs to his running backs out of the backfield, screens and crossing routes to his speedy receiving options, and playing the boundaries to his deep weapons and tight ends were all a recipe for success. Marcus Johnson has looked like the most dangerous Collapse

1 DAY AGO - Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images Last week the Colts were without vital starters on both sides of the ball. This week Anthony Castonzo returns to action to protect Philip Rivers from a surprisingly competent Bengals pass rush. Darius Leonard, on the other hand, will miss his second week in a row with a groin injury. Last week Bobby Okreke and Anthony Walker did a great job filling in for the all-pro but having someone like Leonard on the field is always preferable no matter how well the team fills in. Mo Alie-Cox has come in and had a big impact for the Colts this year but will miss today’s game with a knee injury. Also missing today’s game are Jacob Eason, Daurice Fountain, Chaz Green, Dezmon Patmon and Ron’Dell Carter. Our #CINvsIND inactives. pic.twitter.com/jSu5tDxyzl— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 18, 2020 Apparently the Bengals don’t have much of a social media department as they re-tweeted this instead of releasing anything on their own: #Bengals Collapse

1 DAY AGO - Jenna Watson/IndyStar via Imagn Content Services, LLC The Indianapolis Colts are a day away from their bye week — time the franchise can use to allow injured players to get healthy and to get closer to full strength. The locker room can’t be looking forward to the bye, however, as last week’s loss to the Cleveland Browns has made a home game against the visiting Bengals even more important. While some fans might think this game has a predetermined outcome, pitting a rookie quarterback who has had his share of struggles against a team that is further along in its development, the NFL doesn’t work that way. Every down and every play can make a difference in a game’s outcome and fortunes can turn quickly on the gridiron. How can the Colts take care of business at home and get to their bye with some momentum? Philip Rivers needs to limit his mistakes Frank Reich, Nick Sirianni, and Rivers need to figure out what kind of offensive identity they need to establish and stick with it. Collapse