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In Week 16, the Indianapolis Colts extended their hot run once again after securing an impressive victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Christmas Day. Though a handful of guys failed to suit up due to injuries, Frank Reich's squad still managed to pull out all the stops and come out on top of a 22-16 win.
It was surely a huge dub for the team as they improved to a 9-6 record and further increased their chances of booking a seat in the AFC playoffs. Indianapolis will aim to officially clinch a postseason berth when they head to their penultimate tilt of the regular season against the Las Vegas Raiders next week.
With that said, let's take a look at three takeaways from the Colts' most recent victory over the Cardinals:
3. The offensive attack got a huge boost from the receivers.
Heading to the game, it was certain that the Cardinals will focus on limiting the impact of star RB Jonathan Taylor who has been on a tear this season. They managed to hold their ground against the sophomore rusher but he still ended up with a total of 108 yards on 27 carries.
With all eyes set on Taylor, the Colts' receivers delivered right when the team needed their production the most. Michael Pittman Jr. led with 82 yards on eight catches while T.Y. Hilton also made his presence felt with 51 yards on four touches and a scoring TD. Dezmon Patmon helped out in the scoring department as well as he tallied a 14-yard touchdown of his own.
After receiving help from their receivers, the Colts' offense became more dynamic which eventually made it hard for the Cardinals defenders to contain their scoring attacks. With a passing game that was on point, Indianapolis didn't find it hard to capitalize on Arizona's errors and score enough points to secure the victory.
2. Carson Wentz stepped up in the fourth quarter.
In Week 16, most of the Colts' offensive linemen were sidelined which include center Ryan Kelly, left guard Quenton Nelson, and right guard Mark Glowinski. Despite their absences, quarterback Carson Wentz still managed to start the game strong with a passing touchdown to Hilton.
The Cardinals' defense then threw multiple blitzes at Wentz which made him uncomfortable in the pocket and caused him to rush his decision-making on the field. He primarily struggled at the start of the second half though he was able to settle down later in the game. Wentz eventually threw a crucial 37-yard pass to tight end Mo Alie-Cox to help the team get in field-goal position. Afterward, he found Pittman Jr. for a 20-yard play which further advanced the ball until Wentz located Patmon who sneaked in a touchdown in the endzone in the fourth quarter.
Wentz concluded his outing with 225 yards on 18-of-28 passes completed with two passing touchdowns for the Colts. It may not have been a perfect game for the 28-year-old but he managed to do just enough to lift his team to a much-needed victory. Indianapolis will surely benefit if Wentz continues to improve in the upcoming weeks and successfully peaks right in time for the postseason.
1. The defensive unit played their A-game despite missing key players.
Similar to the Colts' offensive line, their defensive unit also missed the services of a handful of important guys in Week 16. Linebacker Darius Leonard, defensive end Kemoko Turay, cornerback Rock Ya-Sin, and safeties Andrew Sendejo and Khari Willis all failed to see action against the Cardinals.
Though they lacked manpower, defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and his group still managed to put up a respectable effort against a dangerous opponent. In fact, it was the defense that kept the game close in the third quarter when the offensive unit couldn't gain any momentum on the field.
Forcing punts and causing multiple errors on the Cardinals eventually hindered QB Kyler Murray from finding his rhythm which then paralyzed Arizona's offense in the final frame. Linebacker E.J. Speed stepped up and ended the game with eight total tackles while safeties George Odum and Jahleel Addae contributed seven and four total tackles, respectively.
Thanks to their next-man-up mentality, the Colts were able to sustain their production and nab a crucial win amid the absence of their key players. The experience that their depth pieces have garnered in the tilt will surely benefit the whole team, especially as they head towards the postseason.
