–The Colts lead the league in third-down efficiency by a wide margin, converting 20-of-33 (60.6 percent). The next-closest team is Tampa Bay at 52 percent. The most third downs converted for another team is 14. Offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni says it’s all about being in third-and-manageable situations. “I think we had eight third-and-one-to-threes last week,” Sirianni said. “So that speaks to what we were doing on first-and-10 and second down and whatever it was. I think we were eight-of-eight on those down and distances last week. So I just think that what we did on first and second down and being in those manageable situations are obviously the key.”
–The Colts rank eighth in lowest sacks allowed percentage (3.4) despite attempting the fourth-most passes (84). “They have done a heck of a job,” Andrew Luck said of his O-line. “I think Joe (Haeg) playing left (tackle) and then moving to right (tackle) and adjusting did marvelously well. I think Le’Raven (Clark) came in (at left tackle) and really, really played his butt off. Those guys give us a chance to win. When you can run the ball like that and you have pass protection like that, they give us a chance to win. So, I’m proud of them and they are a bunch of hard workers. It’s not just the five that are on the field, in practice there are six, seven, eight, nine guys going at it. I’m proud of them.”
–Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has a harsh grading system for his players that criticizes them for “loafs.” While the grades improved last week after not allowing a touchdown, there were still too many “loafs.”
“Yeah, there was a little bit of a decrease, which is good,” Eberflus said. “I thought that the guys played hard for the most part. There were certainly our share of loafs out there, but they improved on that number and they are doing a good job. They have to practice well. If they want to play well, they’ve got to practice well and that starts (Wednesday).” Rookie linebacker Darius Leonard, who on Wednesday earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week, understands there’s always room for improvement. “There’s a lot more,” he said. “Like, even if I made the tackle, my breaks could have been better. I could have read it a whole lot faster. Just stuff like that.”
–Jack Doyle’s next reception will surpass Coby Fleener (183) for fifth by a tight end in team history. He doesn’t mind that he’s had fewer touches in an offense that utilizes more pass catchers. Luck completed passes to nine different targets in the opener and eight different players last week. “It’s fun,” Doyle said. “The ball is getting spread around and we’re rolling. We’re rolling. Like I said, it makes it fun. It makes it hard to stop, I’m sure. So we just got to keep building on that. We’re a young offense too, in the sense that we’ve only been running this offense for a very short time. It will be fun to see it grow.”
–Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton ranks third among active NFL receivers in consecutive starts at 40, trailing only Demaryius Thomas and Larry Fitzgerald. And the Colts are moving around the four-time Pro Bowl star this year to try to create more mismatches. “(Reich) doesn’t give the (opposing) team a beat of where I’m going to be at,” Hilton said. “He moves me around and keeps me moving. The defense has got to find me and it’s tough. We have a lot of playmakers and by him moving me around it helps out everybody.”
BY THE NUMBERS: 27 — Rookie weakside linebacker Darius Leonard’s total tackles in two starts, which leads the NFL. His 21 solos are also a league best.
300 — The Colts need one more win to reach that victory total in the Indianapolis era (including postseason games). The Colts are 299-276 since moving from Baltimore in 1984. They would become the 11th team to win 300 games in that span.
