The Indianapolis Colts did not think that their season would get off to such a rough start, especially following the trade that landed them former MVP quarterback Matt Ryan, but a brutal loss to the division rival Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday has the hopeful AFC contender reeling.
The colts’ 24-0 loss to the Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field to fall to 0-1-1 marked their third shutout loss to the Jags over the past five season, and things don’t get easier with the Kansas City Chiefs on tap in Week 3.
“The s— was embarrassing,” Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner said, according to ESPN’s Stephen Holder. “We got our a– whooped. We have to come in tomorrow, take it on the chin and grow from this.”
Ryan was sacked 5 times and threw three interceptions for the first time in his 15 season career.
“I certainly had high expectations coming in,” Ryan said. “And you certainly don’t think you’re going to be 0-1-1. That’s just not in the competitor’s mindset. We are where we are, and I think being realistic about where we’re at is important. It has to be brutal honesty.”
“We were just not productive in the first half,” Colts head coach Frank Reich said. “We just couldn’t get a completion, we couldn’t run the ball on first and second down. It seemed like in the first half every run was 2 yards. And with us, when we’re humming, we’re effective on first and second down.”
Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, one of the best backs in the league, was bottled up to just 54 yards on nine carries, including 4 yards on five carries in the first half.
“As pathetic as that was today, where this is and where we need to be, the distance is not that far,” Reich said. “We have the players and coaches to do it. I know that doesn’t play in the outside world, and I’m fine with that. We’ll take our medicine and I’ll take my medicine and we’ll just keep doing what we do.”
