Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts (6-5) defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7) at home to win their third straight game.
In the first half, the Colts led 17-3, but Tampa Bay stormed back in the second half. In less than two minutes, the Colts secured the victory with a strip-sack to end the game.
The Colts’ victory in Week 12 features the following players:
The Colts’ running back tandem rushed for 146 yards on 23 carries and two rushing touchdowns, capping an efficient day for the team.
With two rushing touchdowns and 91 rushing yards on 15 carries, Jonathan Taylor took the lead. Zack Moss added eight carries for 55 yards gained on the ground.
In the second half, the Colts started to depend more on the pair, and as they balanced it out, they eventually achieved offensive success.
In other words, Grover Stewart is terribly missed by the Colts in the middle of their defense.
Rashaad White and the 31st-ranked Tampa Bay rushing offense exceeded the 100-yard mark for the day as a result of the Colts’ poor play against the run. With 15 carries for a total of 100 yards, White averaged 6.7 yards per carry.
Luckily for the Colts, Stewart’s six-game suspension is almost over, and he will be a much-needed addition to the core of the Indianapolis defense.
All in all, Jaylon Jones’ debut as a cornerback against All-Pro wide receiver Mike Evans was a rather forgettable day.
Evans had two receiving touchdowns and six catches for 70 yards by the end of the game.
For the youthful defender, it wasn’t the best day, whether it was from miscommunication or just being outmuscled.
Luckily for Jones, he is still a rookie and has shown enough improvement this season to merit a return to form the following week. Jones also surely gained valuable experience facing one of the NFL’s most reliable and excellent receivers.
Which Colts defender is the most underappreciated?
In response, Samson Ebukam.
With a PFF grade of 78.6, Ebukam entered the game as the team’s highest-graded defender and was a formidable opponent for the Buccaneers for Indianapolis.
In addition to recording two sacks and four tackles, Ebukam also recorded a tackle for loss and the Colts’ game-winning forced fumble.
Ebukam has been one of the Indianapolis defense’s best defenders all season long and is currently tied for second place on the team with 6.0 sacks.
Pittman caught 10 passes for 107 yards on Sunday, putting up a solid performance.
Pittman was targeted by the Colts early and frequently in this game, and he consistently delivered.
Pittman is on track to record 117 catches and 1,211 receiving yards in 2023, continuing to be an exemplary example of consistency for the Indianapolis offense.
Even with his consistency, it’s becoming apparent how important it is to Indianapolis to extend him in the offseason.
