Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans: Next Day Analysis

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Indianapolis Colts are falling off a cliff, unable to hold onto a lead that most teams would be able to expand on. The Colts continually find new ways to lose this season, but this one might have been the worst.

During the mid-2000s, a 14-point lead late in the fourth would have been insurmountable for Colts’ opponents. Even a year or two ago 14 points would have been enough for the Colts to leave with a win.

But that was then. The Colts beat themselves on Sunday night, make no mistake. Whether it was bad decisions by the quarterback, poor coaching and play calling, or an over the hill roster with a distinct lack of playmakers it all adds up to the same failure.

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All of the flaws that have plagued this team for five years were on display last night. The only difference is that the Colts were leading most of the night. They actually got out to a hot start but missed opportunities to push the lead.

Chuck Pagano talked about “having a killer instinct … and finishing off opponents” but that starts with the coaching and play calling. If the team doesn’t have a “win at all costs” mentality like they should, what does it say about the team’s management? That has to be instilled from the top down.

The Colts have had a never quit attitude for years with Pagano, but they’ve been forced into that due to his antiquated strategies on football. He would have been fired years ago had his team kept rolling over. But that doesn’t change the fact that the Colts under his leadership don’t know how to finish off an opponent.

The blame for Sunday’s loss can be spread among a few culprits:

The Colts will have a chance next week to notch their first division win of the season when the travel to Tennessee to face the Titans. Maybe they come away with a win or perhaps they’ll find a new, horrible way to lose a game.

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