Because of a scheduling conflict, I’m giving you more of a game notes-style recap today, written as the game played out. Please excuse the bad grammar and enjoy the unusually high level of snarky-ness (and another Colts win):
– Out of the gate, the Colts had a nice return by Josh Cribbs, then gave up a sack-fumble on their first offensive play. Gosder Cherilus fell on his face trying to block or at least impede Washington’s Ryan Kerrigan, who is no easy assignment even for a healthy player.
– After Jerrell Freeman denied Washington a third down conversion, they kicked a chip shot field goal. Indy, from decent field position after another hard-fought return by Cribbs, turned the ball over yet again on a deflected pass that was intercepted by Ryan Clark. Three minutes into the game, two turnovers.
– Fortunately, the Washington offense is terrible, and the Colts defense was playing lights out. Sack, short pass on third and long, punt.
– Finally, the offense got rolling. Andrew Luck looked like Andrew Luck, T.Y. Hilton was burning corners, and a wide open Coby Fleener caught a 30-yard TD to give Indianapolis a 7-3 lead. Not bad after that shaky start.
– Get the ‘skins in third and long, and they turn into a high school team. The Colts defense isn’t breaking…or bending. Washington, meanwhile, is one-for-a billion- on third and long (totally an official stat).
– Let’s just say Trent Richardson is a jogger.
– Let’s also say that no one ever wants Arthur Jones to land on them. No one. Jones’s sack of Colt McCoy came on a four man rush, which is refreshing.
– Somewhere out there, there’s an Alabama fan who still things Trent Richardson should be starting, or likes him for his potential (BECAUSE YOU GIVE UP A FIRST ROUNDER FOR POTENTIAL, RIGHT?). After a three and out in bad field position, the Colts came back out with Boom Herron in the backfield, and he repaid them with hard running and eventually a 49-yard touchdown. 14-3 Colts.
– During the game, T.Y. Hilton passed Marvin Harrison for most receptions in the first three years as a Colt. He now has 197.
– Washington has elected on several occasions to cover Coby Fleener with what I assume was Jay Gruden’s imaginary friend, Elmore. Elmore sucks at football. Fleener had an embarrassing drop, but he generally owned everything Washington threw at him.
– The Colts offense continues rolling along (while the defense has been stellar against Colt hold-on-to-the-ball-forever McCoy). Luck capped off another beauty of a drive (completion to Hilton, completion to Coby, repeat)with a 3-yard TD to Hilton in the back of the endzone. 21-3. The rout is on?
– After a penalty on Greg Toler negated an interception, Washington, improbably, drove 84 yards for a touchdown, making it 21-10 at the two minute warning.
– Indy had 4 first half sacks and held the confused, hapless R*dskins to 92 yards. Meanwhile on offense, Boom had 6 carries for 79 yards and a touchdown…but also a lost fumble at the half.
– Washington made things a bit more interesting in the third quarter. Colt McCoy, nearly sacked four times by three different players, threw a touchdown to Logan Paulson from 16 yards out. Meanwhile, the Indy defense’s fortunes have changed drastically. 4 point game.
– Ahem, McCoy, Luck will see you your harried, nearly disastrous TD pass to whoever Paulson is, and raise you a beautiful 48-yard jet-powered rainbow of awesomeness to Donte Moncreif. 28-17 Colts.
– Washington, moving the ball with some success, decided to go for it on 4th and inches, only to see Erik Walden strip sack McCoy and D’Qwell Jackson return it for a TD and a 35-17 lead.
– After an injury to Vontae Davis, the ‘skins picked on his replacement, Josh Gordy, for a 42-yard touchdown, pulling back to within two scores at 35-24.
-Indy turned right around and scored again, on a short slant over the middle to Coby Fleener that turned into a 73-yard touchdown. And the rout was (back) on. 42-24. 6 minutes, 37 seconds, five touchdowns.
– The Colts defense held Washington to a field goal on their second straight trip inside the 15 (the previous was a turnover on downs). Then the Colts came out looking like they wanted to milk some clock…hand off…blown up screen…DEEP PASS OVER THE MIDDLE TO MONCRIEF FOR A 79-YARD SCORE. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Moncrief is getting the reps over Hakeem Nicks, and it’s paying off right now. 49-27 Colts.
– 8:50 left in the game, sack fumble by Greg Toler on a blitz. Recovered by a Washington player. Announcers nearly missed it while talking about Robert Griffin III. The struggling defense suddenly regained their first quarter form.
– Andrew Luck is over 4,000 yards for the year. According to Josh Wilson of Stampede Blue, he is only the 3rd QB to do that twice in his first three season. The others were Dan Marino and Peyton Manning.
– The offense understandably took their foot off the gas a little late in the fourth quarter, but let us just take a moment to look at Andrew Luck. He started the game with a sack fumble and an pick. Then, with three minutes left, he’s sitting at 370 yards, 5 touchdown passes, and a 137 QB rating. Luck’s scoring passes went for 30, 3, 48, 73, and 79 yards.
– Donte Moncrief, having earned the playing time over Nicks, caught 3 passes on 4 targets (one was tipped) for 134 and two touchdowns. Coby Fleener had the big drop, but the good continues to outweigh the inconsistency: 4 catches for 127 and two scores. Hilton was no slouch with 5 for 62 and a score, and Reggie Wayne caught 4 passes for 31 yards.
– Meanwhile, Boom Herron finished with 8 carries for 88 yards, a score, and a fumble.
– Way to go, Colts. Giving up all those points doesn’t feel so great, but dropping 49 on a wayward Washington team feels very good.