The Indianapolis Colts enter the 2024 NFL season with a dreadful 0-2 start after losing to the Green Bay Packers in a 16-10 game.
It was an embarrassing start to the game for the Colts who let Josh Jacobs and company rush for 237 yards in the first half, third most goals allowed by a team since 2000.
It wasn’t a great day on the offensive end. Anthony Richardson had a tough afternoon in his decision making and the unit failed to sustain its attacks throughout the afternoon.
Shane Steichen and his team have a lot of work to do if they want to turn things around before the season is taken away from them so early in the calendar.
Here are five takeaways from Indy’s loss to Green Bay:
Colts vs Packers Game Recap, Key Takeaways
1. The quick defense is atrocious
It was the same story for Indy’s run defense as it was in Week 1, when the Houston Texans crushed them. Green Bay’s running game led by Josh Jacobs ran the ball down the Colts’ throats. In the first quarter, they rushed for 164 yards, the the most allowed in a first quarter for any team since the Denver Broncos in 2011.
By the end of the game, Jacobs had 32 carries for 151 yards. As a team, the Packers had 261 rushing yards and a 4.9 YPC average. This was an inexcusable performance from Gus Bradley’s team.
Everyone knew that without Jordan Love and after the poor performance against Houston, Green Bay was going to turn to a very potent ground attack. Through the first two weeks of the season, Bradley’s defense has given up 474 rushing yards and 5.09 yards per game.
The bad news for Indy’s defense is that there is no prospect of significant improvement over the next week. DeForest Buckner suffered a brutal ankle injury and Laiatu Latu left the match with a hip injury.
D’Andre Swift and the Chicago Bears rushing attack must be licking their chops heading into Week 3.
2. Tough day for Anthony Richardson
Week 2 didn’t feature the highs Anthony Richardson displayed in Week 1. The second-year quarterback struggled to find a rhythm throughout the contest and his decision-making had some questionable moments that derailed Colts drives.
His first goal came on the second attack of the game, as they had just passed midfield. Richardson sent the ball over Alec Pierce’s head, leading to an interception when it should have been Michael Pittman Jr. who was the target in the end zone.
2 games and 2 INTs for McKinney.#INDvsGB pic.twitter.com/D169tBGqv8
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 15, 2024
It was an easy play for Xavier McKinney, who read Richardson’s eyes because he was fixated on where he was the entire time. Richardson’s biggest mistake of the game came in the fourth quarter.
Similar to his first interception, he predetermined where he wanted to go with the ball to Pittman Jr., and went around a wide open Adonai Mitchell, and his forced pass attempt was intercepted.
Wilson go get him!#INDvsGB pic.twitter.com/ipVcX0nRoE
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 15, 2024
Aside from his decision-making, Richardson’s day was also hampered by multiple drops from his wide receivers. Richardson’s best play of the game came in the final 4:10 of the game, as the Colts attempted a final comeback.
He led a 12-play, 65-yard drive to put the ball in the end zone. During the series, Richardson completed 6 of 10 passes for 55 yards and a touchdown. He also got a first down with his legs on a fourth-and-11 to keep the series alive before finding Pierce for the score on the next play.
AR to AP for six!
? FOX pic.twitter.com/BRDHczwSQU
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 15, 2024
AR finished the game with 17 completions of 34 attempts for 204 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. His final interception came on his Hail Mary when the Packers recovered the ball after he was knocked down in mid-air. He also ran with the ball four times for 37 yards.
By Next Generation StatisticsHe completed 6 of 16 passes for 10 yards for 100 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
Richardson completed four of those 10 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1 against the Texans. Richardson’s only completion against man coverage came on his 4-yard touchdown pass to Pierce in the final minutes of the game. Through the first two games of the 2024 season, Richardson has more interceptions thrown against man coverage (two) than completions (one).
Anthony Richardson’s passing chart.
(By @NextGenStats) pic.twitter.com/LX8jjsYJAd
— Cody Manning (@CodyTalksNFL) September 15, 2024
Games like this are to be expected at this early stage of Richardson’s career. He’ll need to continue to work on his accuracy issues and reading defenses.
3. Didn’t force Malik Willis to make mistakes
Matt LaFleur didn’t ask Malik Willis to win this game for the Packers, but he did coach a game where his backup quarterback could make effective plays with his arm and legs. When the Green Day dropped back to throw, Willis quickly released the ball and didn’t put the ball in a place the Colts could get their hands on it.
The Packers only ran the ball 14 times due to the success of the ground attack, but the Indy defense failed to record a sack or a QB hit. As for the secondary defense, they allowed too many easy passes, and on the only opportunity they had to make a play, Jaylon Jones failed to attack the ball on an underwent that allowed Romeo Doubs to make a big play for his quarterback to extend the streak.
Deep in the Doubs!#INDvsGB pic.twitter.com/XoQBLMzTf2
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 15, 2024
That play led to a field goal for Green Bay, which took a 16-3 lead. Willis finished his day with 12 of 14 completions for 122 yards and a touchdown. He also ran the ball six times for 41 yards. He didn’t shine on Indy’s defense, but he made plays for his offense when his number was called and the Colts couldn’t force him into a game-changing mistake.
4. Not enough Jonathan Taylor
The bright spot for the Colts on a bad day was Jonathan Taylor. At halftime, he was averaging 7.8 yards per game and saw that average increase to 8.6 yards per game with his performance in the third quarter. In the third quarter, Taylor ran the ball seven times for 66 yards (9.42 yards per game).
Shane Steichen’s highly questionable decision was not to play him at all in the fourth quarter despite Taylor’s success on the ground. Especially to start the final quarter of the game. On a third-and-1, Steichen called a speed option with Anthony Richardson and Trey Sermon, which the Packers picked off for a loss of four yards.
That play call led to a missed 50-yard field goal attempt by Matt Gay.
According to Next Gen Stats, Taylor totaled 12 carries for 103 yards and +55 rushing yards above expectation, his most in a game since Week 15, 2021.
He forced five missed tackles on 14 total touches after forcing just one missed tackle on 16 total touches in Week 1 against the Texans. Taylor totaled 57 yards on seven carries against a light box (8.1 average). He also added two receptions for 32 yards through the air.
The rushing attack is supposed to be the strength of this offense. Steichen needs to take pressure off his quarterback and use his star back more often in Week 3.
5. Green Bay dominated time of possession
Thanks to Green Bay’s rushing attack, they dominated the time of possession in this game. The Packers held the ball for 40 minutes and 11 seconds, while the Colts didn’t even go over 20 minutes with a time of possession of 19 minutes and 49 seconds.
In addition to several other factors, Indianapolis’ dominance in terms of time of possession has been blatant. Through the first two weeks, the Colts have held the ball for just 39 minutes and 49 seconds, which is less than three-quarters of the game’s duration. As for their opponents, they have accumulated 60 minutes and 11 seconds of possession, which is more than a full game.
This is largely due to their inability to sustain attacks and get off the field on defense. In this game, the offense went 2-of-9 on third downs, had two three-and-outs, and Anthony Richardson’s first two interceptions came on the third play of those attacks.
Through two games, the offense has converted just 36.8 percent of its third downs. On defense, Green Bay has allowed Green Bay to convert 10 of 17 third downs and has forced just three punts on 10 drives.
Indy’s defense has allowed opponents to convert 50 percent of their third downs through two weeks. Both sides need to improve on third downs or the Colts’ season will be long.
