GREEN BAY, Wis. _ The Indianapolis Colts finally delivered the one thing their fans have been waiting for most: Progress.
Throughout this entire disappointing season, it seemed as if the Colts were stuck in a cycle of repeating mistakes, whether it was penalties, play-calling or an inability to close out a game, to name only three repeat offenses.
That changed, although not without a struggle, in the Colts' 31-26 win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field. The Colts are 4-5 heading into a bye week.
I'm not saying the Colts reached any sort of new level of play. They still managed to turn a 31-13 lead into another nail-biter at the end. I'm saying they demonstrated _ in the late date of Game 9 _ forward progress. In the AFC South, as anyone paying attention realizes, forward progress could be all it takes to make the playoffs.
For once, there was more than one area of progress. Here is a short list from watching the game on CBS:
OFFENSIVE KILLER INSTINCT
The Colts were furiously trying to blow another game, which they've made a habit of doing this year. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers directed back-to-back scoring drives in the fourth quarter of 75 and 80 yards, and took less than two minutes apiece in each to dissect the Colts' fatigued defense. When Rodgers is good, he's very good.
With 3:29 left, the Colts offense, cold most of the second half, needed two first downs. Andrew Luck found the first one by shedding a seemingly sure-fire sack from a blitzing Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and throwing a laser to Jack Doyle. Luck topped that on 3rd-and-2 on the next series, calling for a pass over the middle to beat the blitz and connect with T.Y. Hilton.
Unlike (insert least-favorite 2016 debacle here), the Colts' closed out with win with aggression. Also, having Donte Moncrief back is huge, as evidenced by Luck's beautiful back-shoulder touchdown pass to Moncrief.
SECONDARY EXCELLENCE
Cornerback Vontae Davis returned to the lineup a week after suffering concussion symptoms, and his presence seemed to energize the secondary. They repeatedly covered Green Bay receivers for what seemed like 15 seconds of running around by Rodgers, coming up with stops and forcing incompletions. The Packers had the ball for 11 minutes, 55 seconds in third quarter and scored three points. That was huge.
On one series, the Colts had a fumble recovery and an interception erased by referee's calls, and yet the series ended with cornerback turned temporary safety Darius Butler intercepting a Rodgers pass.
Yes, the defense was shredded by Rodgers in the fourth quarter. Rodgers remains one of the best two-minute quarterbacks in the business and the Colts wore down. But the secondary, most of the game, played at a level it hasn't shown all season. In addition to Davis and Butler, Clayton Geathers was solid and Patrick Robinson and Rashaan Melvin had moments, too.
A RETURN GAME
Colts running back Jordan Todman took the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. I rewound the play four times just to be sure there wasn't a flag on the field. Not only was it penalty-free, rookie running back Josh Ferguson threw the pivotal block. Ferguson's block was the type of special-teams play that delivers key field position even when it doesn't lead to a touchdown. Todman had another big return later.
Chester Rogers was still shaky in punt return, and it was interesting � for lack of a better word � when he fielded a punt at the Colts' 4-yard line.
In retrospect, maybe that was better than letting it bounce and having the Packers down it at the 1-yard line. Maybe. At any rate, the Colts marched 96 yards for a score in the best drive of the season.
Fewer Andrew Luck 'bonehead' plays
There was one pure bonehead moment, when Luck tried to hit Doyle running left and throwing across his body. The pass sailed high. Doyle looked like he thought maybe the pass was intended for a deeper receiver and pulled his hands down. Clinton-Dix gladly hauled in the interception. It was a first-down throw, deep in Green Bay territory. Luck should have thrown it away.
Later in the game, Luck resisted that urge to force something on at least two occasions. And he reinforced the idea that he can rise to the occasion under pressure on the final drive. His strength and awareness helped him shed that would-be sack by Clinton-Dix that could have turned the game.
COACHING STRATEGY
I found nothing to criticize about coach Chuck Pagano's in-game moves, which might be the first time this season. Offensvie coordinator Rob Chudzinski pulled out all the stops, including a direct snap to Frank Gore with Luck going in motion. Not sure I'd want that often, but it worked.
Defensive coordinator Ted Monachino has limited assets at his disposal, and the "pass rush" remains spotty, but they played better for three quarters than they have all season. They sacked Rodgers three times. They'll take that. The Colts will never be great on defense this season. But they showed signs of progress.
Does this win turn the season around? I'm not ready to go that far. We've seen how fast the Colts can go from smooth to rocky, regardless of the opponent.
Let's keep it in perspective. Winning at Green Bay represented progress. That's new, and long overdue.
