After last week’s Browns game I was ready to write the Colts off. As Sunday’s game opened in the first quarter I was ready for more of the same. Horseshoe down by THREE touchdowns. Then something happened in the second quarter and something changed. The team pulled itself up and started playing some pro level football. Philip Rivers had the most productive second quarter of his long career — 285 yards passing, including a 67 yard completion along with two touchdown passes. Two recently activated players, smallish tight end Trey Burton and just activated from the practice squad Marcus Johnson stepped up and gave Rivers some workable targets. Burton rushed for a one yard touchdown. Zack Pascal benefited from the help and caught a touchdown. The Bengals were game, but just couldn’t hold the Colts. The Colt “D” caught fire and shut the Cincy offense down. Rookie third round pick, safety Justin Blackmon came up with a fourth quarter interception that preserved the win. Blackmon looks to be the club’s rookie of the year.
The Horseshoe are heading into their bye week which gives them a chance to get healthy and make some adjustments to reboot and improve. They will need to. After they come back they play the Detroit Lions. The second half of the season begins after that with some really tough teams to play including the Steelers, Packers, and the Titans. Darius Leonard and Michael Pittman Jr. need to be back in the starting lineup. Pittman has tweeted that he is on the mend, and will be ready to play soon.
Let’s hope that Rivers continues his upward trend and gets comfortable with his new receivers. One thing is for sure T.Y. Hilton doesn’t look to be much in #17 plans. #13 caught only one pass last week. Don’t look for the vet wide out to be a Colt in 2021.The need to get the running game going also. So this week is important.
IndyCar Final
The IndyCar boys will be in St. Petersburg this weekend to run the rescheduled Grand Prix that was postponed in March. Scott Dixon probably has the championship, but Josef Newgartden still has a chance to steal it at the last minute. We will see now it goes.
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