Even though the primetime game Monday night wasn’t originally what ESPN had planned when the schedule first came out, the Colts still played a competitive game. The game was tied going into the fourth quarter but ended with a Tampa win, 24 to 17. Curtis Painter got his first career start with Kerry Collins out due to a concussion. Some Colts fans thought this was just another blow that would put this team down somehow further than it was. But others had a slimmer of hope. I mean… could things get any worse? Maybe Painter would actually move the offense down the field.
[caption id="attachment_366" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Painter prepares for his first career start"]
[/caption]
The first drive was a mix of short passes and runs to set up a Colts field goal. Painter went 3/6, not looking entirely comfortable but showing confidence. Right away, I was impressed. While Painter missed some passes, he commanded the offense and ran the no huddle. As I watched, glimpses of Manning flashed through him. One could tell that this guy truly had sat behind Peyton for 3 years and despite many beliefs, had learned something. There was this theory out that since Manning took the majority of the snaps in every practice, Painter didn’t have a full grasp on the offense and just didn’t have the experience. Painter didn’t sit and pick daisies though during this time. He sat quietly and learned from one of the best in the business. He shadowed Manning on the sidelines to hear his thoughts and would even help him break down defenses in the film room. And obviously, come this preseason, he took the majority of the snaps with Peyton out and Kerry Collins not joining the team until right before the third preseason game. As you may know from some of my previous articles, I believed Painter was the smarter option between him and Collins to start in Week One. Now I have some proof to back it up.
[caption id="attachment_367" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Offense looks solid with Painter at helm"]
[/caption]
The final stats for Painter were like this: 13/30 for 281 yards and 2 touchdowns. He finished below 50% completion and fumbled the ball. He was also sacked a few too many times. Keep this in mind though. The Colts’ offensive line was already thin and would soon be reduced to just one extra lineman after rookies Castonzo and Ijalana went down. The line was basically in shambles, often not allowing very much time for Painter and unable to effectively run-block. The pressure on the young starter was high. It was far from perfect and sometimes you had to wince. The bottom line is this though; Painter showed some flashes with really difficult throws and the offense looked better than it had all season. It seems almost certain he will start again against the Kansas City Chiefs at home.
The Chiefs haven’t had much better luck than the Colts. They too have been depleted by injuries that include star running back Jamaal Charles, 2nd year safety Eric Berry, and tight-end Tony Moeaki. They managed to pick up their first win last week against the Vikings in a battle of winless teams. Speaking to Chiefs fans, you find many believe the season is lost and are maybe looking to get in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. Yet, don’t overlook them. Kansas City has a solid receiving corps and enough of a pass rush to force errors. It should be another competitive game and maybe the Colts squeak out their first win in Lucas Oil Stadium.
For more on the Colts, follow ChatColts on Twitter, ‘Like’ the ChatColts page on Facebook, or keep coming back to http://www.chatsports.com/indianapolis-colts
Follow my work on the ChatColts website or read my personal blog @ http://thesportsinsight.wordpress.com/. For questions, feel free to e-mail me (see my writer page for the address and more info. ) or comment on any of my pieces.
Back to the Indianapolis Colts Newsfeed