An undefeated November, five-game winning streak and miles away from a sub .500 record.
One would assume the Indianapolis Colts are feeling good about their position entering the NFL regular season’s final quarter.
However, one may be wrong.
While it is true that with four games remaining, the 8-4 Colts are in the driver’s seat for a playoff nod, the team hasn’t exactly dominated opponents so as to leave little doubt. In a league where a missed play here or there could mean the ball game, there is still much room for improvement.
Though there have been few occasions this season where Colts head coach Tony Dungy has been satisfied with his team’s overall performance, the coach knows the team is a far cry from its performance prior to their win streak.
“It’s a good feeling to have put together a five-game winning streak and have things in our own hands in terms of making the playoffs, but we will have to play better,” Dungy said. “I think we’re learning about what it takes to play those close games and that’s probably a good thing for us in the long run, but we are going to need to play better in December.”
As evidenced by their most recent victory, a 10-6 escape over the Cleveland Browns last Sunday, the Colts are also finding their depleted defensive unit is still stout enough to make huge plays at the right time. The Colts are leaning even more on its veteran front four with Bob Sanders nagging knee injuries and fresh injuries to linebacker Gary Brackett and defensive tackle Keyunta Dawson,
Led by the tandem of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, the defensive line has caused crucial, game changing turnovers of late, and don’t look to be slowing down in the home stretch.
“You’ve got to make a play however you can make a play,” Freeney said. “Sometimes it’s going to be Robert (Mathis), sometimes it’s going to be Raheem (Brock). Whoever’s out there, we’ve got to make the play regardless of what happens.”
On paper, the Colts’ December schedule looks like an early Christmas gift. Three of the team’s final four contests are in Lucas Oil Stadium. The next two opponents, the Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions, sport a collective record of 1-22-1. The Colts will travel to Jacksonville for a rematch with the disappointing Jaguars in Week 16 before returning for a regular season finale against the AFC South leading Tennessee Titans.
