Gardner Minshew was one of five quarterbacks who did not get sacked in Week 10 and attempted at least 10 passes.
Shane Steichen, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, must keep the time stone in the thumb of his infinity gauntlet.
In Germany, Indianapolis defeated New England 10-6. Sunday demonstrated an ability to win ugly, low-scoring games. For the first time this season, the Colts allowed a season-low number of points and did not allow a touchdown.
Gardner Minshew was one of five quarterbacks who did not get sacked in Week 10 and attempted at least 10 passes. Only Joshua Dobbs (3.89 seconds) of Minnesota averaged more time to throw than Minshew (3.42 seconds) on Sunday. No other gunslinger was given more time to dance in the pocket on throws of 20 yards or more than Minshew.
Indianapolis’ offensive line has been outstanding, allowing only 22 sacks in ten games. The Colts have scored 13 rushing touchdowns this season, which ranks fifth in the NFL. On Wednesday, Pro Football Focus ranked the Colts offensive line third in the NFL heading into Week 11.Only Detroit and Baltimore remained atop each conference’s top two rankings for best offensive line unit.
Quenton Nelson returned to form in Week 10, leading all guards with an 87.6 pass block grade after posting a season-low 49.1 pass block grade and a career-low 33.6 run block grade in a Week 9 road win over Carolina. Nelson has the sixth-highest pass block grade among guards this season, with a 77.3. Nelson has only allowed one sack and three QB hits in 407 pass protection snaps.
In terms of overall offensive grade, both Indianapolis tackles, Bernhard Raimann (82.2 – fourth) and Brad Smith (81.1 – seventh), finished in the top ten. With an 80.8 pass block grade this season, Raimann ranks ninth among tackles.
Ryan Kelly has the highest pass block grade of any center (79.2) and the fourth-highest run block grade (81.6). In 301 pass sets, Kelly has yet to allow a sack or any pressures.
The first-year head coach of the Indianapolis Colts understands the dead zone and is not afraid to gamble in four-down territory. Steichen has gone for it on fourth down 18 times, which is tied for fourth most in the NFL. The Colts have converted 8 of 18 fourth-down chances.
“I think there’s some good, but there are some things we need to clean up,” Steichen told reporters during a zoom call on Tuesday. “It’s just the consistency of what we’re doing.” The most important thing for us moving forward is to play complementary football in all three phases every week. We can’t have lulls on one or both sides of the ball.”
Despite entering the bye week on the outside looking in for the AFC playoffs, Steichen believes the Colts (5-5) are “in the thick of it” and can make a run for their first postseason berth since 2020.
