INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts got their first win of the 2019 season on Sunday in Week 2 when they went down to Nashville and beat the AFC South division-rival Tennessee Titans, 19-17.
In the locker room after the game, Colts head coach Frank Reich lauded a total team win in all three phases of the game, and for that the Colts had some players who were graded very highly for their performances in the victory.
For the second week in a row, the Colts landed a player on Pro Football Focus' "Team of the Week," as Anthony Castonzo made Week 2's squad as the left tackle. However, he was just one of several to get some recognition.
In order of highest grade first, here are the Colts players who earned top-10 grades at their position on Sunday:
Khari Willis
Safety No. 2 (86.9), 30 snaps (50 percent)
The rookie safety out of Michigan State is clearly making a good impression on the Colts' coaching staff as his snaps increased from 16 in Week 1 to 30 in Week 2. After showing off his sure tackling that partly endeared him to the Colts in the first place on Sunday, Willis graded out as the No. 2 safety in the league for Week 2 following Sunday's games.
He finished second on the Colts in tackles with seven (six solo), and he prevented many big plays or opportunities for more chunks of yardage with those tackles. PFF gave him four "stops," which they consider a play that constitutes a "failure" for the offense. Willis allowed a catch for nine yards the only time he was targeted, but there was negative-one yard after catch on the play. He graded very well across the board, earning an 84.2 in tackling, 81.6 in run defense and 72.0 in coverage.
Anthony Castonzo and Braden Smith
Tackles No. 2 (80.5) and tied-No. 7 (74.3), respectively. Both 72 snaps (100 percent)
The Colts did allow three sacks on the day, but neither Castonzo or Smith were docked for giving them up. In fact, the pair were only credited with allowing one quarterback pressure each.
Castonzo got an 88.1 grade in pass blocking and a 71.8 in the run game while Smith earned a 68.2 in pass blocking and a 74.5 in run blocking. Per PFF:
"Castonzo was fantastic once again for the Colts on the left side of the offensive line, allowing just one hurry and no sacks or hits from 38 pass-blocking snaps, producing an 88.1 PFF pass-blocking grade in the process."
Jordan Wilkins
Running Back No. 7 (77.6), 11 snaps (15 percent)
We went more in depth on Wilkins' performance following the game, but in short, the man was efficient. Although he was on the field for just 11 offensive snaps, he carried the ball five times and caught his only target. In the run game, his five carries went for 82 yards (16.4 avg), with a long of 55, and his reception was for four yards.
Wilkins didn't see any offensive snaps in Week 1 after returning from a preseason ankle injury, but a hot, muggy day down in Nashville allowed the Colts to get more runners involved in the backfield.
Trailing by four points with over six minutes remaining in the game, the Colts marched 69 yards down the field in just four plays, but Wilkins' 55-yard jaunt down the right sideline was easily the highlight. The Colts were able to score the very next play after Wilkins got the Colts inside Tennessee's 5-yard line, and they wouldn't relinquish the lead.
Eric Ebron
Tight End No. 8 (74.2), 34 snaps (47 percent)
Ebron bounced back in Week 2 after a potential game-tying touchdown catch of his was reviewed and then deemed incomplete in Week 1. Against Tennessee, Ebron got his touchdown. It wasn't just the touchdown that made a difference, though.
On the Colts' first drive of the game, they faced 3rd and 12. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett tossed a shallow pass out to the right side to Ebron, who caught it, leaped over a defender and was able to pick up enough yardage to earn the first down. Ebron would then punctuate the drive with his touchdown on a nifty shovel pass from Jacoby Brissett. He finished the day with three receptions (four targets) for 25 yards (8.3 avg) and a touchdown.
Ryan Kelly
Center tied-No. 9 (68.3), 72 snaps (100 percent)
Kelly anchored an offensive line that had yet another solid performance. While the Colts did surrender three sacks, they often gave Brissett enough time to where he was able to distribute the ball around to eight different receivers and throw for three touchdowns. In the run game, it was another big day for the Colts after going over 200 yards in Week 1. In Week 2, they totaled 34 carries for 167 yards (4.9 avg), and Wilkins' 55-yard run helped set up the Colts' go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Individually, Kelly got a 66.5 grade in pass protection (allowed two pressures) and a 67.2 in the run game.
