At the halfway point, the team was 1-7 and their season was over before the playoff race even started. The already arduous task of reaching the postseason was further complicated by faulty starts. “We know we have to go out there and win this football game”. That means the offense will need to carry the Colts, putting all of the pressure on Andrew Luck. We have to get it done.
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Indy owns just one win the last six seasons in the opening weekend.
That’s been the mindset from the first day of training camp. The reason: avoiding another false start.
Pagano acknowledged as much a month ago, when interviewed by JMV on August 10, the last full day of training camp in Anderson.
If you would like to receive an email each time a new Detroit Lions article is published, fill out our email notification form. “Got to go and start the season off the right way”.
Not convinced? Here’s a quick history lesson. Vinatieri now has spent more time with Colts (11 seasons) than Patriots. Luck threw a touchdown pass to LaVon Brazill with 2:39 to play in the fourth quarter.
It’s been a longer wait than usual for Colts football to return, but it’s finally back tomorrow.
Week One is not the end-all, be-all but it can foreshadow future issues teams could have in late-season games that are much more urgent. I know it hurt him that he wasn’t there with us for nine games.
Holder: The Colts caught a break here. Expect Langford to start, and don’t be surprised to see Mewhort do the same. He’ll face a rookie center in Kelly, who is well regarded but still a rookie. He was removed from the game with an ankle injury and it was initially thought to be minor. Last year, the Colts dropped the first two games: at Buffalo and to the New York Jets; the Lions lost their first five.
Luck missed nine games last season, including the final seven, after suffering a lacerated kidney and a partially torn abdominal muscle in a 27-24 loss to the Denver Broncos on November 8. It’s getting a lead and being able to do that with balance no question, not just throwing to get the lead, ” Stafford said.
Now it’s up to Luck to deliver and direct an offense that must compensate for an injury-depleted defense.
Another encouraging thing about Luck is he completed 21 of 26 passes (80.8 percent) in the preseason. The Colts don’t appear equipped, especially early in the season, to overcome a rash of turnovers.
Why? The Colts are not particularly awesome or deep at that position and rushing defense is a wrinkle of the defensive unit Detroit fans hope has been upgraded since 2015, when it was one of the bottom-tier run defenses in the NFL. Let that sink in for a minute or two. Pro Bowl cornerback Vontae Davis (ankle) probably will sit out, though the other starting cornerback, Patrick Robinson (groin), may play. That leaves the Colts secondary with Antonio Cromartie, who is old as hell and should be cooked by Marvin Jones and Golden Tate. How will the Lions do with Calvin Johnson?
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“You’ve got to go play”. To do that, though, his team has to win, and Luck will likely feel good after this game is over.
