The defending champion Indianapolis Colts have officially entered the home stretch.
At 9-2 and victors of two straight, the Colts are in position to again claim the AFC South title and a potential first round bye.
Entering their final month of the regular season, the team has survived a stretch highlighted by injury and inconsistency. In the meantime, many of the Colts injured are recovering while the team relies on its depth on both sides of the ball.
As critical home division match ups loom ahead, the team’s run towards the playoffs may be determined by what happens between the lines; the offensive and defensive lines, that is.
Since training camp, the units have been dealing with critical losses, which have mounted throughout the regular season. Despite these losses, each unit is finding its groove at the right time.
Offensively, the line’s progression has been slow by their leaders’ standards. However, the line is expected to receive a boost entering Sunday’s critical home game with the likely return of rookie left tackle Tony Ugoh, who has missed the last four games with a neck injury. Ugoh’s return is particularly timely given nagging injuries affecting fellow linemen Charlie Johnson and Ryan Diem.
According to center Jeff Saturday, the line will only improve if their comfort level with each other improves in this stretch.
“It’s been a struggle, obviously our offense is built on consistency,” said Saturday. “We need guys in there that feel comfortable with everybody. But the bottom line is you’ve got to find ways to win and that’s what we’re doing.
“It’s been an odd year, guys have been getting banged around and taking some shots here and there, but the guys that have come in are stepping up and playing well and doing the job when they come in,” Saturday added.
Defensively, the Colts line is rounding into form, finding ways to apply pressure without key starters such as Dwight Freeney and Anthony McFarland.
While the Simeon Rice experiment lasted only two games, rookies Keyunta Dawson, Ed Johnson and Quinn Pitcock have made the most of their added responsibilities. At the same time, seasoned veterans like Raheem Brock and Robert Mathis have consistently filled their roles nicely this season.
The six-year veteran Brock credits the line’s consistency to this energetic mix of youth and veteran leadership.
“I think we’re good, a lot of the young guys have stepped up on the defensive line, and with our veteran leadership, we’re good,”
The Colts remaining schedule offers ample opportunity to prove just how good the lines are. This weekend’s contest in particular has shaped up to be the most important remaining on the calendar.
The Colts begin the December run with a huge home challenge versus the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars in what is being called the unofficial AFC South Championship game.
The 8-3 Jags are dead on the Colts heels and with a victory can tie up the division standings.
Winners of their past three, the Jags are not only confident, but have not been intimidated by their AFC South rivals for some time.
Likewise however, the Colts not only enter the game with momentum, they may do so with more weapons at their disposal.
“We’ll get some guys back for this stretch run in December,” coach Dungy said. “All things considered I think we’re in good shape, we’re very happy to be where we are and looking at a December that’s going to be meaningful.”
A victory Sunday afternoon will place the Colts two games in front of the Jaguars with the tiebreaker and four games remaining in the regular season.
Next Game
Colts vs.
Jacksonville Jaguars
RCA Dome,
Dec. 2, 1 p.m
WISH-TV (Channel 8)
