Victory, Stains and All: The Colts' Risers and Fallers from a Messy Marathon

You know, sometimes a win is just a win. And then, there are those other times, the ones where the final score is a relief, yes, but the journey to get there leaves you scratching your head, perhaps even wincing a little. Such was the case for our Indianapolis Colts this past Sunday, battling it out in a grimy, hard-fought overtime tilt against the Atlanta Falcons. It wasn't pretty, not by a long shot, but in truth, they got the job done. Yet, beneath the celebration, a clear picture emerged: a few heroes, certainly, but also some moments and performances that simply didn't pass muster.

Let's talk about the bright spots first, shall we? Because even in the murk of an 'ugly win,' some individuals genuinely shone. Jonathan Taylor, for instance, proved precisely why he’s considered the cornerstone of this offense. You could feel the tide turning when he was handed the rock; those crucial runs, that ability to break tackles and gain extra yardage—it was the very definition of a bell-cow performance. He was the anchor, the steady hand in a stormy sea, consistently delivering when the team, frankly, needed it most.

And while he wasn't under center, the mere presence of Anthony Richardson, even from the sidelines, felt like a silent boost, a reminder of the raw potential waiting to explode. But speaking of consistent performers, how about Michael Pittman Jr.? Honestly, he just gets it. His hands were reliable, his routes sharp, snatching those clutch catches that kept drives alive, sometimes against all odds. He’s become the reliable target, the guy Minshew looks for when the pressure is truly on, and he rarely disappoints. A genuine workhorse.

Then there's Gardner Minshew, who, let's be fair, stepped into a tough spot and, despite some bumps in the road, ultimately engineered the comeback. Was it perfect? Absolutely not. But his resilience, his sheer will to find a way, was evident, and you have to commend that. On the other side of the ball, Julian Blackmon, our defensive back, made a play—that interception—that felt like it completely swung the momentum. It was an opportunistic moment, a veteran move that screamed 'game-changer' right when the Colts desperately needed one. He saw his chance, and he took it.

But as with any tightly contested, slightly chaotic affair, not everyone had a banner day. Indeed, some aspects of the Colts' performance left more than a little to be desired. This is where we sift through the debris, if you will, and acknowledge the struggles that, for once, were glaringly obvious.

Shaquille Leonard, a player we've all come to expect so much from, unfortunately found himself on the 'fallers' list. It's hard to say, but he seemed a step behind at times, particularly in coverage. There were moments where you watched and thought, 'Is he fully there?' His usual disruptive presence just wasn't as potent, and that, frankly, is a tough pill to swallow when you know what he's capable of. Perhaps it's just a rough patch, but it was noticeable.

The offensive line, too, had its moments of struggle, especially in pass protection. Minshew was under pressure far too often, and while he’s adept at scrambling, it puts the entire offense in a bind. You need those pockets to develop, that crucial time for plays to unfold. And then, ah, special teams. This unit, honestly, was a bit of a mess. A missed field goal at a critical juncture? Poor coverage that allowed returns to gain too much ground? These are the little things, the truly frustrating details, that can cost you a game outright. For once, they got away with it, but you can’t rely on that luck week after week.

So, what do we take away from this rather unsightly victory? A win is a win, of course, and you never truly apologize for getting the 'W.' But it was a win that laid bare some significant truths about this team: their resilience, yes, their playmakers stepping up, absolutely. And yet, it also exposed vulnerabilities, areas needing serious attention. For once, the Colts walked away victorious, but the echoes of what went wrong—and what still needs fixing—will surely reverberate throughout the locker room. A win, yes. But an ugly, instructive, and, you could say, undeniably human one.