It’s all coming together now.
A team much improved from early season performances, the 9-4 Indianapolis Colts, winners of six straight, appear to have finally found a familiar groove.
Coming off of their week 14 domination of the hapless Cincinnati Bengals, a 35-3 rout, the team is clicking on all aspects. Improved offensive line play, coupled with a secondary that is taking cues from the Colts menacing defensive line, and the Colts appear every bit locked into securing the top wild card slot.
For the first time since 2002, the Colts have relinquished the AFC South title to the much-improved Tennessee Titans, who will likely have home field in the AFC playoffs assuming they do not implode.
All season, head coach Tony Dungy has maintained his team’s adherence to details and fundamentals would get them over the early season hump. Now very likely to achieve yet another double-digit win season, the coach fully expects his squad to close December as they have started it.
Our guys have just continued to practice well, obviously we’ve had the offense working together a little bit more, being injury free,” Dungy said. “But more than anything just continuing to work on what we do.
“A lot of things about the streak make you feel good, the fact that we have played tough teams, we’ve played some teams that we may see again,” the coach added. “We’ve had to win different ways, we’ve had tight games, we’ve played in bad weather. So a lot of things that are going to prepare us I think we’ve come through and that helps you.”
With three games remaining, the Colts have indeed braved the toughest part of their schedule. The team’s next two contests include games against two more teams at the bottom of their respective divisions. This weekend, the Colts welcome the winless Detroit Lions to town, followed by a chance to exact revenge in Jacksonville against a disappointing Jaguars squad in disarray.
Should the Colts continue their winning ways as expected, the familiar talk of Super Bowl runs will get louder. But for a team that still remembers its sluggish start, the only looking ahead going on is that of Sunday’s match up.
“It’s truly a one game at a time mentality since we’ve been 3-4,” said quarterback Peyton Manning. “That will be the philosophy the rest of this month.”
