The new Colts defense was on a roll Sunday as it gave Bears quarterback Nick Foles a black eye in his first start as the Bears quarterback. Foles came off the bench to throw three fourth quarter touchdown passes to beat the Falcons the previous week. Justin Houston, Anthony Walker, and especially DeForest Buckner were in Foles’ face all day. Xavier Rhodes, Khari Willis, and Kenny Moore II all shut down the Bear receivers. Rookie safety Julian Blackmon grabbed his first career interception. Special teams continued their good play. Kicking was especially effective.
Offense played just well enough to win. Philip Rivers didn’t play much better than Foles. Rookie Jonathan Taylor pounded away between tackles. Tight end Mo Alie-Cox grabbed a touchdown pass from Rivers. T.Y. Hilton dropped a couple of easy passes. Rookie kicker Rodrigo Blankenship hit on four field goals. The wide receivers are just mediocre. This is where the team needs help. The offense doesn’t have any big playmakers right now. This will hurt them down the road.
With the Titans’ COVID-19 woes and the Texans firing Bill O’Brien after a poor start, the Horseshoe finds itself at the top of the heap in the AFC South. The club travels to Cleveland to play the Browns, who gave the Cowboys a serious butt whippin’ last Sunday. The odds favor the Browns but the Colts defense is up to the challenge. So get‘em Colts!
Harvest Grand Prix The two part Harvest Grand Prix at the IMS Road Course last weekend was a win for Team Penske and Josef Newgarden. On Friday rookie Rinus Veekay won the pole. His first in IndyCar. Newgarden soon took control, however, and took the win. Alexander Rossi was second and Veekay was third for his first podium finish. Colton Herta finished fourth and Felix Rosenqvist was fifth. Point leader Scott Dixon was ninth.
On Saturday it was Will Power’s turn to dominate the day. Power won the pole and with steely fortitude and took control of the race. He was never seriously challenged. Herta took second, which was his first non-win podium. Rossi was third. Newgarden was fourth, and Patricio O’Ward was fifth. Dixon finished eighth. Newgarden now has 470 points which is 32 behind Dixon. A win at the rescheduled St. Petersburg GP on October 25th and a finish worse than sixth would give Newgarden the title. Dixon has led the point race since the first race so it would be ironic if he were to lose the title on the occasion of the last race of the 2020 series. A great story, however.
Swiss Skydiver Wins the Preakness
Congratulations to Swiss Skydiver, only the sixth filly to win the Preakness in 135 runnings. Owned by Peter Callahan, trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Robby Albarado, she was given 11 to 1 odds. She won literally by a nose. Derby winner Authentic was second and long shot Jesus’s Team was third. Give a big hand to the little lady.
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