Week 5 Results and Their Effect on the AFC South Playoff Race
By Max Dambach
Indianapolis Colts
Week 5 Results: Beat the 49ers 26-23 OT
What it Means: The Indianapolis Colts managed to scrape out a win in Week 5 to improve to a 2-3 record. This is great for the Colts because they are within striking distance of the AFC South lead and Andrew Luck seems fairly close to being back on the field. Luck gives them a chance in every game, and as long as the Colts don’t absolutely fall apart in his absence, they have a shot at making the playoffs.
The Colts’ offense managed to look very strong in Week 5, albeit against one of the league’s worst teams. Jacoby Brissett passed for 314 yards, 177 of which went to T.Y. Hilton. Rookie running back Marlon Mack came alive with 91 yards and a touchdown on only nine carries. Unfortunately, the Colts defense remains a major liability and allowed Brian Hoyer and the 49ers to come all the way back to tie and force an overtime that the Colts were lucky to win during.
All in all, the Colts showed the potential to be an explosive offense, especially once Andrew Luck returns, but the same old defensive woes also reared their head and almost gave the game away. This defense must grow quickly or even Luck won’t be able to drag them much farther than a playoff bid.
What’s Next: The Indianapolis Colts face a Titans team that was just humiliated two weeks in a row and should be looking for a “get-right game” against the Colts. The Titans have been unable to defeat Indianapolis for years now, a fact that Colts fans love bringing up, but the Titans clearly outclass the Colts at every position and should be looking for a statement win in front of a national audience on Monday Night Football.