Colts still looking for consistency halfway through season
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indianapolis coach Frank Reich knows what the 行方不明の element has been this season: consistency.
He also understands if the Colts don't find a 解答, they could 行方不明になる the プレーオフs for the fifth time in six years.
But with eight more games on tap, starting Thursday at Tennessee, Reich is betting big on his team. He's challenging the Colts to develop a ノックアウト punch they can use in their 追跡 of the AFC South 肩書を与える.
"We need to 証明する we can 勝利，勝つ these 肉親，親類d of games, against 堅い teams. I know we have talent and players to do it," Reich said Monday. "We just have to take that final step of の近くにing these 肉親，親類d of games out against the 肉親，親類d of teams that you see in the プレーオフs."
The 無（不）能 to finish already has 証明するd 高くつく／犠牲の大きい this season for Indy (5-3).
On Sunday, against Baltimore, the Colts led 10-7 at halftime にもかかわらず 完全に 支配するing the first two ４半期/4分の1s. It opened the door for the Ravens to stick まず第一に／本来 with the game 計画（する） and 決起大会／結集させる for a 24-10 victory.
Indianapolis Colts inside linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) celebrates with チーム仲間s after 回復するing a fumble against the Baltimore Ravens in the second half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
It was a 類似の story in Indy's confounding season-開始 loss at Jacksonville.
And while the Colts are 明確に in the pla yoff mix for the second straight season, their 再開する is 欠如（する）ing. All five 勝利，勝つs （機の）カム against teams that now have poorer 記録，記録的な／記録するs than Indy and two of the losses （機の）カム against プレーオフ 競争相手s.
What's wrong?
Indy's 罪／違反 has struggled to stretch the field, which has 許すd 防御の 調整者／コーディネーターs to ギャング（団） up against a ground game that has struggled after 栄えるing last season.
There have been 最近の 指示，表示する物s things could be changing. Philip Rivers has taken more 深い 発射s, with mixed results, and the Colts ran for 75 yards on 15 carries in the first half against Baltimore.
Indy's vastly 改善するd 弁護 has 供給するd a 安定したing presence but couldn't get off the とじ込み／提出するd in the second halves of all three losses.
The Colts need both to work efficiently over the next three weeks when they 直面する the 分割-主要な 巨人s twice 挟むd around a date with NFC North leader Green Bay. It's a stretch that could dictate Indy's postseason 運命／宿命.
Reich believes everything he needs to find the 解答 is in place. He just needs to see them 証明する it.
"We know it (Tennessee) is another good football team, a team that knows how to 勝利，勝つ games. That's what we really need to do," he said. "I believe we have the players and coaches to do that, but time will tell."
WHAT´S WORKING
Run 弁護. The presence of プロの／賛成の Bowl 防御の 取り組む DeForest Buckner has made a pivotal difference. He draws extra blockers, 解放する／自由なing up チーム仲間s to make plays, while there is no 不足 of Buckner making plays, too.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
Running game. Last season, Reich made it （疑いを）晴らす he 手配中の，お尋ね者 to run first and run often behind one of the league's 最高の，を越す 不快な／攻撃 lines. This year, he's tried to follow the same approach, but it's been far いっそう少なく successful.
STOCK UP
DL Tyquan 吊りくさび. The former Ohio 明言する／公表する 星／主役にする was one of Indy's four second-一連の会議、交渉／完成する 選ぶs in 2018 but struggled to get on the field. 吊りくさび looked like a different player in training （軍の）野営地，陣営 this summer and has made a big 衝撃 on game days this season, too.
STOCK DOWN
T.Y. Hilton. The four-time プロの／賛成の Bowler sat out Sunday with an 負傷させるd groin. The bigger problem can be 設立する on the stats sheet. The 30-year-old Hilton has 22 歓迎会s for 251 yards and no touchdowns in his 契約 season. and just hasn't appeared to be in sync with Rivers.
INJURED
It's a long 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる）. Running 支援する Marlon Mack and safety Malik Hooker, both starters in 契約 years, went 負かす／撃墜する with torn Achilles tendons. Receiver Parris Campbell (膝) hasn't played since Week 2 and 新人 receiver Michael Pittman Jr. 行方不明になるd three games with a 脚 傷害. Tight ends Jack Doyle, Trey Burton and Mo Alie-Cox have been out at times, too, along with プロの／賛成の Bowl linebacker Darius Leonard, who 行方不明になるd two games with an 負傷させるd groin, and left 取り組む Anthony Castonzo, with a rib 傷害. Indy also has had two COVID-19 脅すs.
KEY NUMBER
5 - Rivers has thrown seven interceptions this season and five have come in three games. He had two in the season opener against Jacksonville, two more at Cleveland and one Sunday against Baltimore. Not surprisingly, Indy lost all three of those. Rivers has thrown just two interceptions in the five 勝利，勝つs.
NEXT STEPS
Indianapolis certainly has shown 約束 during the first eight games. Now it needs to show they can 配達する on that 約束 over the final eight.
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Indianapoli s Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) questions a 非，不，無-call in the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) is 攻撃する，衝突する by Baltimore Ravens 防御の end Yannick Ngakoue (91) as he throws in the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Darius Leonard (53) celebrates a 解雇（する） against the Baltimore Ravens in the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis Colts 長，率いる coach Frank Reich takes 公式文書，認めるs on the sideline in the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devin Duvernay (13) runs around Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II (23) in the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
