The Indianapolis Colts are starting the 2024 NFL season with the dreaded 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 run for 237 rushing yards in the first half, the third-most allowed by any team since 2000 .
It wasn’t a pretty day on the offensive side of the ball. Anthony Richardson had a shaky afternoon with his decision-making and the unit failed to sustain drives throughout the afternoon.
There is a lot to work on for Shane Steichen and his staff if they want to right the ship before the season gets away from them this early in the schedule.
Here are five takeaways from Indy’s loss to Green Bay:
Colts vs. Packers recap, takeaways
1. Rush defense is atrocious
It was the same story for the Indy rush defense as it was in Week 1 when the Houston Texans ran all over them. Green Bay’s ground game led by Josh Jacobs ran the ball down the throat of the Colts. In the first quarter, they racked up 164 rushing yards, the most allowed in a first quarter for any team since the Denver Broncos in 2011.
By the end of the game, Jacobs finished with 32 carries for 151 yards. As a team, the Packers tallied 261 rushing yards and averaged 4.9 YPC. This is an inexcusable performance by Gus Bradley’s unit.
Everyone knew without Jordan Love and after the poor showing against Houston that Green Bay was going to lean into a heavy rushing attack. Through the first two weeks of the season, Bradley’s defense has allowed 474 rushing yards and 5.09 YPC.
The bad news for the Indy defense is there is no expectation there is going to be any significant improvement over the next week. DeForest Buckner suffered a brutal ankle injury and Laiatu Latu left the game with a hip injury .
D’Andre Swift and the Chicago Bears rushing attack have to be licking their chops entering the Week 3 matchup.
2. Shaky day for Anthony Richardson
Week 2 didn’t feature the highs from Anthony Richardson that he flashed in Week 1. The second-year quarterback struggled to find any rhythm throughout the contest and his decision-making had questionable moments that derailed drives for the Colts.
His first one came on the offense’s second drive of the game when they just got past midfield. Richardson sailed a ball over Alec Pierce’s head which led to an interception when it was Michael Pittman Jr. who should have gotten the target in the end zone.
It was an easy play to make for Xavier McKinney, who read Richardson’s eyes because he was locked in on where he was from the beginning of the play. The biggest mistake of the game by Richardson came in the fourth quarter.
Similar to his first interception, he predetermined where he wanted to go with the ball to Pittman Jr., and bypassed a wide-open Adonai Mitchell, and his forced pass attempt was picked off.
Outside of his decision-making, Richaedson's day was also hampered by multiple drops from his pass catchers. The best drive of the game for Richardson came in the final 4:10 of the game when the Colts were making one last final comeback attempt.
He led a 12-play, 65-yard drive to put the ball in the end zone. On the series, Richardson was 6-of-10 for 55 yards and a touchdown. He also picked up a first down with his legs on a fourth-and-11 to keep the drive alive before finding Pierce for the score on the following play.
AR finished the game 17-of-34 for 204 yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions. His final pick came on his Hail Mary when the Packers came down with the ball after it got tipped up in the air. He also ran the ball four times for 37 yards.
Per Next Gen Stats , he completed 6-of-16 passes over 10 air yards for 100 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions.
Richardson completed four of 10 such 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. Over the first two games of the 2024 season, Richardson has more interceptions thrown against man coverage (two) than completions (one).
Games like this should be expected this early in Richardson’s career. He will have to continue to work on his accuracy issues and reading defenses.
3. Didn’t force Malik Willis into mistakes
Matt LaFleur didn’t ask Malik Willis to win this game for the Packers but he called a game where his backup quarterback could make efficient plays with his arm and legs. When Green Day did drop back to throw, it was quick releases for Willis and he didn’t put the ball in a place where the Colts could get their hands on it.
The Packers only threw the ball 14 times because of how successful the rushing attack was but the Indy defense failed to register a sack or a QB hit. As far as the secondary, they allowed too many easy completions, and on the one opportunity they had to make a play, Jaylon Jones failed to attack the ball on an underthrow which allowed Romeo Doubs to make a big play for his quarterback to extend the drive.
That play led to a field goal for Green Bay to go up 16-3. Willis ended his day going 12-of-14 for 122 yards and a touchdown. He also ran the ball six times for 41 yards. He didn’t light up the Indy defense but he made plays for his offense when his number was called and the Colts failed to force him to make a game-changing mistake.
4. Not enough Jonathan Taylor
The bright spot for the Colts on an ugly day was Jonathan Taylor. By halftime, he was averaging 7.8 YPC and saw that increase to 8.6 YPC from his third-quarter performance. In the third quarter, Taylor ran the ball seven times for 66 yards (9.42 YPC).
The very questionable decision by Shane Steichen 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-one, Steichen called a speed option with Anthony Richardson and Trey Sermon, which the Packers sniffed out for a four-yard loss.
That play call led to a missed 50-yard field goal attempt by Matt Gay.
Per Next Gen Stats, Taylor totaled 12 carries for 103 yards and +55 rushing yards over expected, his most in a game since Week 15, 2021.
He forced five missed tackles across 14 total touches after forcing just one missed tackle on 16 total touches in Week 1 against the Texans. Taylor totaled 57 yards for seven carries against a light box (8.1 avg). He also added two receptions for 32 yards through the air.
The rushing attack is supposed to be the strength of this offense. Steichen has to take the pressure off his quarterback and utilize his star back more often in Week 3.
5. Green Bay dominated time of possession
A big thanks to Green Bay’s rushing attack, they dominated the time of possession in this contest. The Packers held the ball for 40:11 while the Colts didn’t even crack 20 minutes with a 19:49.
Along with several things, getting dominated on time of possession has been glaring for Indianapolis. Through the first two weeks, the Colts have only held the ball for 39:49, which is less than three-quarters of football. As far as their opponents, they have combined for 60:11 time of possession, more than a full game.
A big part of that has been their inability to sustain drives on offense and getting off the field on defense. In this matchup, the offense was 2-for-9 on third downs, had two three-and-outs, and Anthony Richardson’s first two interceptions came on the third play of those drives.
Through two games, the offense has only converted 36.8% of their third downs. For the defense, they allowed Green Bay to convert 10-for-17 of their third downs and only forced three punts on 10 drives.
In two weeks the Indy defense has allowed their opponents to convert 50% of their third downs. Both sides of the ball have to improve on third downs otherwise it will be a long season for the Colts.
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