INDIANAPOLIS – In the midst of the Colts five-game winning streak, "team" victories have been aplenty.
That was once again the case on Sunday as the Colts pushed their record to 5-2 and dominated the AFC-North leading Bengals (3-2-1).
Here's a notebook look at the Colts shutting out the Bengals, 27-0, on Sunday afternoon:
Offense Again Chews Up Yardage
It's the types of performances that shouldn't be taken for granted, even if they seem pretty common lately.
There was the Colts offense putting up 506 yards of total offense on Sunday, marking the fifth straight week (all wins) that the Indy offense has put up at least 432 yards on offense.
The nit-picking was there though Sunday as the Colts did put together eight drives in Bengals territory with points hard to come by through the first half.
A pair of first half fumbles also hindered the Colts from pulling away too early.
"We were very fortunate there were a couple interceptions that were dropped, that could have been catastrophic," Luck said of the first half.
"The turnovers weren't good, and again that's a good defense. They forced us into some stuff, but thankfully we sort of broke through, got some points on the board."
Things changed though in the second half and the Colts had two 85-yard touchdown drives.
Indianapolis once again padded its NFL-best time of possession by keeping the ball for 39:43 on Sunday.
In the receiving department, Dwayne Allen hauled in his fourth touchdown catch in the last five weeks and T.Y. Hilton recorded his 13th career 100-yard receiving game.
The Colts rushing attack chewed up 171 yards on the ground.
Veteran Reggie Wayne wanted to check the tape first but thought this might be the most complete effort the Colts have had in 2014.
"If you just look at it blind after just watching the game, it kind of seems that way," the 14-year veteran said.Running Back Duo Balanced, Productive
Coming into Sunday afternoon, Ahmad Bradshaw and Trent Richardson comprised one of two running back duos in the NFL with at least 400 yards from scrimmage.
That production was once again on full display against the Bengals.
Richardson led the team on Sunday with 77 rushing yards on 14 carries and chipped in 41 receiving yards.
The scoring plays fell to Bradshaw who had two touchdowns to go along with his 52 rushing yards (on 10 carries) and 36 receiving yards.
A 10-yard receiving score from Bradshaw was his sixth touchdown catch of the year, just three short of the franchise record for running backs.
The Colts 34 carries for 171 rushing yards on Sunday marked their highest total since a Week Three meeting in San Francisco last season.
Everyone knew what the Colts had at the wide receiver and tight end positions coming into 2014, but they've also gotten tremendous work from their running back duo.
"It's a great lift," Luck says of the tandem.
"I think they've been running the ball very well all year and if we can do that and keep a defense on their heels per se, it helps in pass pro, it helps with play action, it helps when you have to go up-tempo and four wides, whatever it is. They've done a heck of a job, not only running the ball but getting out after pass pro, leaking out, or free releasing and catching the ball and making some moves."
Colts Run Winning Streak To Five Games
The Colts will learn later tonight whether or not Sunday's win will extend their lead in the AFC South.
A fifth straight victory on Sunday (the longest for the team since 2009) keeps the Colts near the top of the AFC, just one game behind the Denver Broncos.
Road trips to the Steelers and the Giants remain before a Week 10 bye.
Any potential playoff projects couldn't be further from the minds of the players in the Colts locker room.
"I think the big picture perspective is a more the head coach or front office," Luck said after the win.
"As players you just focus on the next one, keep the blinders on. We'll enjoy this because it's on to Pittsburgh, another very good AFC team."
After dropping their first two games to start 2014, the Colts could not have scripted a better stretch.
The five wins are the obvious, but the Colts are doing it with complete performances from each phase in taking early control of the AFC South.
"We got something special," Reggie Wayne says.
"We felt like that going into the season that we got a lot of guys back healthy, that we can do something really special and these last five weeks is an indication showing you what we can do. Like I said earlier, I'm sure there's a lot of corrections that need to be made, but hopefully we continue to ride this wave and continue to keep this win streak going."
A Look At The Colts Snap Counts Against Cincinnati
-The tight end snaps were divided up with Coby Fleener playing 60 snaps out of the 79 total offensively, Dwayne Allen getting 55 snaps and Jack Doyle 28.
-At running back, Trent Richardson played 38 snaps and Ahmad Bradshaw logged 33 snaps.
-T.Y. Hilton paced the receivers with 63 snaps (80 percent of the offensive snaps). Reggie Wayne had 61, Donte Moncrief had 23, Hakeem Nicks logged 19 and Griff Whalen played five.
-Defensively, Greg Toler, Vontae Davis, Mike Adams and D'Qwell Jackson played all 56 snaps.
-Without nickel back Darius Butler in the lineup, Josh Gordy played 39 snaps (70 percent).
-With Art Jones once again not playing on Sunday, the defensive line snaps were as followed: Cory Redding (42), Ricky Jean Francois (41), Zach Kerr (21), Montori Hughes (15) and Josh Chapman (9).
