Every week Youth Josh Ferguson Jersey , I will present a summary of some basic and advanced stats for the Colts performance relative to the league. Thanks to Pro Football Reference, NFL.com and the nflSCrapR project for being awesome sources of weekly data.Make no mistake, going into week 7, the Buffalo Bills had one of the better defenses in the league. According to Football Outsider’s DVOA, they ranked 2nd in passing, 7th in rushing and combined for the 3rd overall best defense. In terms of total yards and yards per play they also ranked 3rd. In both points per drive and drive success rate they weren’t quite as good, but still ranked in the top 10.By just about any measure, the Bills defense was good . . . . . . was.On Sunday, The Colts offense had their way with Buffalo. Across the board, Indy made a good defense look bad.The 1.9 points per drive the Bills limited their opponents to? The Colts put up 3.4.The stingy 4.9 yards per play given up? The Colts collected 6.3.Holding teams to 93 rush yards on average? Colts dropped 220. A 77% Drive Success Rate is by far, the best number Andrew Luck and the offense have put up all year and is the 7th best mark in the league this week. With only 3 drives absent a first down and three consecutive touchdown drives of 74+ yards, this offense finally showed the world of what they are capable. TEAM TOTALSPrior to this game, Indy ranked 30th in explosive plays (passes over 20 yards, runs over 10 yards), but this week Josh Ferguson Jersey Stitched , their 11 plays for 202 yards was 3rd best.The Colts continue to kill it on 3rd downs, converting a 6th best 5 yards to go, at a 4th best 53.8% rate. The offense has been very good with 3rd downs all year (tied for first in conversions) and when you combine that with 0 turnovers, you end up with long, sustained, successful drives like we saw on Sunday.PASSINGWhile Luck’s 11.1 ANY/A was the 3rd best mark of any QB in week 7, his yards per attempt was just a so-so 6.8 yards.The driver of the high ANY/A was 4 passing TDs with 0 picks and 0 sacks, while the YPA was depressed by an average depth of target of just 4.9 yards.In previous weeks, I have railed against an aDOT that low, but in a game where you hold a significant lead for most of the contest, a more conservative, shorter passing game is warranted. Prior to establishing a 14 point lead, Luck’s aDOT was 6.1 yards, while subsequent passes averaged only 3.6 yards through the air.While I’m OK with that, I would like to see that stretched a little bit going forward. Had the Colts been trailing Youth Clayton Geathers Jersey , an aDOT that low would have been problematic (see weeks 1 and 3).RUSHINGWhile the passing game was efficient, the run game was glorious.There is a yin and yang to football. When teams successfully run the ball, the passing game doesn’t have to press, allowing it to be more efficient. This results in longer drives and more points, giving the opponent fewer drives and making them more aggressive, which gives the defense a better chance of success.All of this was fully on display Sunday.The Colts were one of only 6 teams this week to have more than half of their runs be successful (TD, first down or chunk yardage). The 42% weighted success rate and the 5.9 YPC were both 5th best in the NFL.Prior to this game, the Bills had given up 3.2 explosive runs per game. The Colts notched 9 for 144 yards, 4 of them by Marlon Mack.The only runners who weren’t effective were Andrew Luck and Jacoby Brissett. Everyone else ate. On a side-note, notice the EPA per carry stat is barely above 0 placing the Colts 12th out of 28 teams. That is just more evidence of why I don’t like that stat to judge the run game. According to EPA, the Colts run game was just meh. What that really means is that according to the Colts rush game, EPA as a basis for measuring runs is just meh.CONCLUSIONSThis is what it looks like when you play mistake-free ball (what safety?). The drops were gone. The turnovers were gone.Luck didn’t have to carry the team, limiting bad decisions/throws. Additionally, explosive plays which have been missing all season, dramatically improved.If an offense can be efficient underneath AND put up explosive plays Womens Andrew Luck Jersey , then they become a real force.The Colts certainly aren’t there yet but over the last 3 weeks they have been trending that way and this game was another giant step in that direction.With a remaining schedule filled with winnable games, we’ll see if this offense truly can breakout. SEASON TOTALS (per game) Marcus Mariota not expected to play vs. Indianapolis Colts; stinger puts QB's long-term throwing ability at riskTitans QB Marcus Mariota is not expected to start Sunday night against the Colts primarily because of a nerve condition caused by a stinger, which has his overall playing status in jeopardy, sources told ESPN.ESPN: Marcus Mariota Not Expected To Start Tonight For TitansESPN NFL reporter Chris Mortensen is reporting that Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, who has been battling a nerve issue, is not expected to start in tonight’s win-or-go-home regular season finale against the Indianapolis Colts.Seven Things To Watch: Colts at Titans | 1070 the FanThe Colts will face the Titans in a win and get in contest on Sunday night in Nashville. What are seven things to watch for as the Colts (9-6) battle the Titans (9-6) in Week 17 of the 2018 regular season?Can The Colts Copy Dominant Earlier Season Blueprint Again Over Titans? | 1070 the FanBack in Week 11, the Colts obliterated the Tennessee Titans, 38-10. What did that blueprint look like for the Colts and how can they duplicate it?Colts at Titans: What to watch for Sunday night | FOX59INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Areas of interest in the Indianapolis Colts’ Sunday night meeting with the Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.Kickoff: 8:20 p.m.Broadcast: NBC Streaks on the line: Something’s gotta give.2018 Colts Preview: Colts/Titans, Week 17The Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans battle for the privilege of getting into the 2018 NFL playoffs this Sunday. The winner's season continues while the loser goes home until next season. Here is everything you need to know to get ready for the gamColts, Titans prepare for do-or-die season finale | Sports | heraldbulletin.comOfficially, it's Game No. 256. The final contest of the NFL's regular season.Colts Mailbag: X-Factors Against Titans, 2019 Colts Draft Picks, Playoff ScenariosIn this week’s Colts Mailbag Malik Hooker Jersey , readers inquire about who needs to step up to get a huge victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, how many draft picks the Colts are looking at in 2019, various playoff scenarios and much more.Priority 1 for Colts’ D is dealing with Derrick Henry; Ryan Kelly out, Eric Ebron progressing | CBS 4 - Indianapolis News, Weather, Traffic and Sports | WTTVINDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – It’s easy to get distracted by the high-profile names at the marquee position. Marcus Mariota? Blaine Gabbert? Which Tennessee Titans quarterback will the Indianapolis Colts face in Sunday night’s winner-take-all meeting in Nashville? The name we should be focused on...Even Without Jurrell Casey, Titans' Defense Will Be A ChallengeThe Tennessee Titans will be without Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jurrell Casey when they face the Indianapolis Colts tonight, but Colts offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo explains why Tennessee’s defense is still a force to be reckoned with.Several Colts With Milestones On Deck In Season FinaleWith just one regular season game remaining on the 2018 schedule, several Indianapolis Colts players are on pace to set single-season career-best marks. There are also many spots among NFL history to be potentially reached.Colts Notebook: Ryan Kelly Rules Out For Titans Game | 1070 the FanThere’s some good and bad for the Colts on the final injury report of the regular season. How does the health of the Colts look like in Week 17?Colts Rule Two Out For Regular Season Finale Against TitansIndianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich on Friday said two players — wide receiver Daurice Fountain and center Ryan Kelly — have been ruled out of Sunday’s crucial Week 17 road matchup against the Tennessee Titans.Colts Notebook: Early struggles hardened young team | Sports | heraldbulletin.comIt's fair to question how prepared the young Colts are for the big stage entering Sunday night's do-or-die regular season finale against the Titans.Colts Mailbag: Future of running game, Mo Alie-Cox’s role, development of receivers and more – The AthleticStephen Holder answered your questions this week about the Indianapolis Colts.Where Do The Colts Rank? Week 17 (2018)Take a weekly look at where the standout Indianapolis Colts units and individual players rank among their AFC and NFL peers heading into Week 17 of the 2018 season.Why Matt Eberflus was the right man to turnaround the Colts’ defense'When you’re talking to Nick (Saban), you can tell if he’s angry with you or if he loves you. That’s what (Matt Eberflus) is.'Behind Enemy Lines: Four Burning Questions For The Titans - Full Press CoverageCOLTS MEDIA
