INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts are gaining a reputation for being streak killers after defeating the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, 23-0.
After beating the Houston Texans — winners of nine straight games beforehand — last week, the Colts focused on the Cowboys and their five-game win streak on Sunday.
The Colts' run game led the way on offense, totaling 178 yards and two touchdowns while the defense dominated Dallas’ previously-hot offense. In fact, it was the first time that Dallas has been shutout since 2003.
Pro Football Focus recognized the Colts' efforts with a handful of their players earning high ranks in their positional grades.
Andrew Luck
Quarterback No. 8 (77.6), 72 snaps (100 percent)
Luck didn't have his most statistically productive game of the year — actually, his 192 passing yards is his fourth-lowest of the season — but he made plays and moved the chains enough for the Colts to dominate the game.
The Colts were 8-of-12 on third down (66.7 percent), compiling 25 first downs total, and Luck accounted for 13 of them as a runner and passer. On the day, he finished 16-of-27 passing (59.3%) for 192 yards and an 81.1 passer rating. He also carried the ball three times for 23 yards (not including three kneel-downs at the end of the game). Luck did not have any touchdowns or interceptions.
Anthony Castonzo
Offensive Tackle No. 10 (73.7), 72 snaps (100 percent)
This was Castonzo's best game of the year thus far according to PFF. He wasn't dinged for any allowed pressures/hurries, and he had a season-high grade of 90.0 in pass blocking. Luck was kept clean, as he was not sacked and was only hit three times. The Colts' run game also piled up 178 yards on 39 carries.
Castonzo did get called for one 10-yard illegal block penalty, but it happened within a sequence of plays in which many people in the building were scratching their head as the Colts wound up punting the ball facing 4th and 30 from their own 32-yard line.
Marlon Mack
Running Back No. 10 (71.6), 44 snaps (61 percent)
It seems like anytime Mack has a big performance, he is setting new career highs, and it happened again on Sunday. Mack set new personal bests in carries (27), rushing yards (139) and tied his career high in rushing touchdowns (2).
With center Ryan Kelly and tight end Mo Alie-Cox back in the lineup after each missed the last three games with injuries, the Colts' run game took off again, freeing Mack to gash the Cowboys consistently. In all, he had six plays that went for at least 10 yards. Mack accumulated 104 yards after contact, an average of 3.9 yards after contact per carry.
Adam Vinatieri
Kicker No. 6 (68.3), 5 snaps (33 percent)
Vinatieri was perfect on the day — 3-of-3 on field goals and 2-of-2 on extra points for 11 points — but in what seems to be a weekly ritual, he earned some milestones along the way. Just by showing up and attempting a kick, Vinatieri passed Marvin Harrison (190) for the ninth-most games played in Colts franchise history. With his two field goals from 43 and 44 yards, respectively, Vinatieri passed Gary Anderson (161) for the most kicks made from 40-49 yards in NFL history. Lastly, Vinatieri's 11 points scored on Sunday put him at 100 on the nose for the season, extending his NFL record to 21 seasons with at least 100 points.
