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INDIANAPOLIS –Coaches often target key areas to get big results.
According to Chuck Pagano, the Colts took care of a number of key areas against Kansas City and the result was a 23-7 victory that moved Indianapolis to 10-5.
"Any time you can win the turnover battle (it's good), said Pagano. "They were plus-21 leading the league going in and we ended up plus-four.
"(We) did a great job taking care of the football, a great job taking away the football. Time of possession, we held it 38:20. We ran the ball effectively. Third down, we did a good job. I think they were 13 percent (and) we were 33-35 percent. Situational football was good."
Pagano often talks about avoiding friendly fire, and two of those categories have played a role in the club's success.
The Colts played their sixth contest this year without a turnover, and five of those games are victories.
"We stress fundamentals and techniques, and ball security is first and foremost on the list," said Pagano. "The guys have done a great job throughout the year. They do a great job in practice.
Guys are taking care of the football. I think anything you emphasize, you're going to get.
"We emphasize that, along with penalties, in training camp. We talk about penalties, not beating yourself, not shooting yourself in the foot, taking care of the football, win the turnover battle. That's one of the first talks you give. Coaches do a great job of teaching the fundamentals. The guys are paying attention to it."
Indianapolis entered Sunday tied with the Chiefs for the fewest turnovers (14), so now the Colts stand alone. The nearest teams to Indianapolis are Dallas and Carolina at 17, the number that stands as the fewest ever committed by the Colts in franchise history.
The Colts have committed a league-low 64 penalties, and the club's 566 yards via infractions exceed only Miami (560). The league average for penalties and yards is 93 and 801.
Three of the five lowest yearly penalty totals came in 12-game seasons (prior to 1962), while the lowest in a 14-game season was 52 in 1967.
The NFL went to 16-game seasons in 1978, and the lowest total in a full year since then was 67 in 2008. Indianapolis had 74 penalties in 2012 under Pagano.
PLAYOFF SCENARIO UPDATE – Indianapolis still has a chance to reach the AFC's second or third playoff seed. Here are needed scenarios:
|
Colts |
New England |
Cincinnati |
Colts Playoff Seed/Opp. |
|
W |
L |
L |
Second-Bye Week/WC top seed |
|
W |
L |
W |
Third (Scenario #1 grid below) |
|
W |
W |
L |
Third (Scenario #2 grid below) |
|
W |
W |
W |
Fourth-Kansas City |
|
L |
NA |
NA |
Fourth-Kansas City |
With two scenarios for Indianapolis to reach the third seed, here is what is needed in week 17 to determine the sixth-seeded team that would be the Wild Card opponent:
Scenario #1 – COLTS win CIN win BUF win = 3
|
Miami |
Pittsburgh |
San Diego |
Colts Opponent |
|
W |
W |
W |
Miami |
|
W |
W |
L |
Miami |
|
W |
L |
L |
Miami |
|
L |
W |
W |
San Diego |
|
L |
L |
W |
San Diego |
|
L |
W |
L |
Pittsburgh |
|
L |
L |
L |
Baltimore |
Scenario #2 – COLTS win BAL win NE win = 3
|
Miami |
Pittsburgh |
San Diego |
Colts Opponent |
|
W |
W |
W |
Miami |
|
W |
W |
L |
Baltimore |
|
W |
L |
L |
Baltimore |
|
W |
L |
W |
Miami |
|
L |
W |
W |
Baltimore |
|
L |
L |
W |
Baltimore |
|
L |
W |
L |
Baltimore |
|
L |
L |
L |
Baltimore |
COLTS 2014 OPPONENTS SET – Home: Houston, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Baltimore, Washington, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, New England. Away: Houston, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, New York Giants, Dallas, Denver.
INJURY UPDATE – Pagano said Cory Redding's shoulder MRI was negative, and he could work this week. Ricky Jean Francois, Sergio Brown, Montori Hughes, Hugh Thornton, Jeff Linkenbach, Daniel Adongo and Joe Reitz are improving and none was ruled out of practice for this week by Pagano. Indianapolis released LB-Darin Drakeford from the practice squad.
COLTS NOTES – Andrew Luck posted his 21st starting victory at KC, tying Dan Marino for the third-most by a QB in the first two seasons of a career in Super Bowl era (23, Russell Wilson; 22, Ben Roethlisberger)…Luck (7,914) needs seven passing yards to move past Cam Newton for the most by any QB in his first two seasons…Indianapolis has earned 4-4 and 5-3 road records under Pagano, the club's first winning record on road since 2009…Pagano has coached 31 straight games without consecutive losses, the third-longest franchise streak (34, Ted Marchibroda; 32 (twice), Don Shula)…10 100-yard rushing games ties the fourth-most for the Colts in a season in the Indianapolis era (14, 1988; 12, 1985, 94; 11, 1984, 99; 10, 1987, 89, 2000, 01, 04-06)…the Colts' 161-78 regular-season record since the start of 1999 ranks second to New England (170-69), but the Colts' 13 playoff berths top the NFL…the closest franchises to the Colts are Pittsburgh (147-90-1) and Green Bay (146-91-1)…Donald Brown has a 5.6 average (90 rushes, 506 yards) and can become only the fourth Colt ever to produce a 5.0 season with min. of 80 carries (7.5, Lenny Moore, 1956; 7.3, Moore, 1958; 7.0, Moore, 1961; 5.2, George Wonsley, 1985; 5.1, Tony Lorick, 1964)…Adam Vinatieri's 127 points mark the fifth-highest seasonal total in Colts history (157, Mike Vanderjagt, 2003; 145, Vanderjagt, 1999; 135, Cary Blanchard, 1996; 129, Vinatieri, 2010), and he needs six points to reach 2,000 for his career…Vinatieri ranks 7th in NFL career scoring...with 14 turnovers, Indianapolis can set a franchise record for the fewest in a season (17, 2004, 08).
