INDIANAPOLIS – Prior to last Sunday, the last time the Colts had gone three straight regular-season games without having a turnover came when their record went from 3-4 to 6-4 in the middle of the 2008 season.
That sudden ball security triggered a winning streak that eventually reached a league-record 23 straight games.
When Indianapolis was turnover-free five days ago against Oakland, it pushed Chuck Pagano's record to 5-0 in such games as the team's head coach, and it was a franchise record-tying three-game streak (dating back to last year's final two games).
Questioned about that nice run Wednesday and the importance of continuing it, the personable Pagano paused before addressing an accomplishment he did not want to jinx.
"You had to do it," Pagano finally laughed, then he kidded the reporter he would track him down in the stadium or have a hit put on him if the streak ended Sunday.
Ball security and creating takeaways is no laughing matter for any team, and last Sunday's plus-two margin tipped the balance for a 21-17 victory.
Greg Toler had an end-zone interception to stop the Raiders' first drive, and Indianapolis quickly converted the takeaway into seven points. Antoine Bethea had a red-zone theft on Oakland's last drive to ice the game.
"It's a big thing you have to do in the NFL," said Toler. "The turnover battle plays a big factor. The chart shows if you get one or two turnovers, you usually win. I just learned that, and Coach Pagano is doing a great job of keeping us aware of all the stats to be special in.
"If you get turnovers, you usually win. You can't manipulate that fact. You don't want to commit turnovers. As a defense, we try to get as many as we can."
Earlier this year, Pagano mentioned over the past decade or so, teams with a plus-two margin usually win about 83 percent of the time. Indeed, since 2003 NFL teams at that ratio hold a 499-94 record (.841). Those going plus-three or better won at a 93 percent clip (522-38-1).
Teams that won the turnover battle in week one play went 10-1. Ball security is a focal point.
"Absolutely. Every week we go in on Wednesday morning when they come back in," said Pagano. "We go through the keys to victory, and that's first and foremost every time. They get tired of hearing it, but if you protect the football and you take it away….
"It's the number one indicator, other than score, for wins and losses in the NFL. So, we're going to emphasize it daily."
|
COLTS RECORDS WITH TURNOVER HISTORY 1998-PRESENT | ||||||||
|
Year |
Won-Loss |
3 or more |
2 |
1 |
Even |
-1 |
-2 |
-3 or more |
|
1998 |
3-13 |
0-0 |
1-1 |
0-0 |
1-3 |
1-3 |
0-4 |
0-2 |
|
1999 |
13-3 |
1-0 |
1-0 |
3-0 |
4-0 |
2-1 |
0-1 |
2-1 |
|
2000 |
10-6 |
1-0 |
1-0 |
3-0 |
2-0 |
3-2 |
0-2 |
0-2 |
|
2001 |
6-10 |
1-0 |
1-0 |
1-0 |
1-4 |
1-2 |
1-1 |
0-3 |
|
2002 |
10-6 |
1-0 |
1-0 |
3-0 |
3-1 |
1-0 |
1-4 |
0-1 |
|
2003 |
12-4 |
1-1 |
2-0 |
2-2 |
6-1 |
1-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
|
2004 |
12-4 |
2-0 |
5-0 |
2-0 |
2-1 |
1-3 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
|
2005 |
14-2 |
3-0 |
1-0 |
4-1 |
3-0 |
2-1 |
1-0 |
0-0 |
|
2006 |
12-4 |
2-0 |
2-0 |
3-0 |
3-2 |
1-1 |
1-1 |
0-0 |
|
2007 |
13-3 |
1-0 |
6-0 |
4-1 |
1-1 |
1-0 |
0-0 |
0-1 |
|
2008 |
12-4 |
3-0 |
2-0 |
2-0 |
3-0 |
2-2 |
0-2 |
0-0 |
|
2009 |
14-2 |
0-0 |
4-0 |
4-0 |
3-0 |
1-0 |
2-1 |
0-1 |
|
2010 |
10-6 |
1-0 |
5-0 |
0-0 |
2-1 |
1-0 |
1-2 |
0-3 |
|
2011 |
2-14 |
0-0 |
1-1 |
0-2 |
1-1 |
0-4 |
0-4 |
0-2 |
|
2012 |
11-5 |
1-0 |
1-0 |
2-0 |
3-0 |
3-2 |
1-0 |
0-3 |
|
2013 |
1-0 |
0-0 |
1-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
|
Total |
155-86 |
18-1 |
35-2 |
33-6 |
38-15 |
21-21 |
8-22 |
2-19 |
|
PCT |
.643 |
.947 |
.946 |
.846 |
.717 |
.500 |
.267 |
.010 |
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Pep Hamilton kidded about points on the board being the chief indicator of outcome, but he knows those totals are influenced greatly by the team most efficient with the ball.
"Having opportunities to score points ties directly into securing the football," said Hamilton. "Protecting the football and taking away the football is an important part of winning games. Turnovers without a doubt play a major factor in the outcome of a game."
When the Colts were shooting for a fourth straight turnover-free game in 2008 it did not happen. Had they done it in a win at San Diego, they would have tied a post-merger (1970) record accomplished by a number of teams. Since then, New England extended the mark with seven straight spotless games in 2010.
Sunday, Bethea swiped Terrelle Pryor's pass with 25 seconds left and quickly slid down. He was one of the first players to swarm Marlin Jackson when Jackson did the same thing to clinch the AFC Championship game for the Colts in 2007.
Bethea agrees the turnover battle is one of the key statistics that truly indicate results.
"I think it is. Every coach talks about winning the turnover battle," said Bethea. "Nine times out of 10, if you're plus in the turnover battle, you win the game. That's something we really focus on as a defense.
"Plus anything but with plus-two, you have a real good chance of coming out with a 'W.' If we can get to plus-two or plus-three by taking that ball away, we'll go a long way this year."
* *
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