Tough Loss To Buccaneers Epitomizes Colts 2021 Season

It figured to be quite the showdown at Lucas Oil Stadium as Frank Reich’s improving Colts took on prolific Tom Brady and the NFC South leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Indianapolis was coming off a rousing 41-15 win at Buffalo and red-hot running back Jonathan Taylor scored five touchdowns in the lopsided victory.

It was a sloppy start for both clubs. The Colts’ defense looked good on Tampa Bay’s first drive and forced a three-and-out. Reich’s club capitalized on a short punt and a field goal gave Indianapolis an early 3-0 lead.

The Colts’ defense continued to excel early in the game. Buccaneers’ wide receiver Chris Godwin fumbled courtesy of linebacker Darius Leonard and safety Andrew Sendejo scooped up the prize. But the team failed to capitalize.

That was not the case when it came to Zac Paschal’s fumble late in the quarter. It led to a Leonard Fournette touchdown and a 7-3 Tampa Bay lead early in the second quarter.

The Colts responded immediately. Carson Wentz found wide receiver Ashton Dulin for a 61-yard touchdown moments later and Indianapolis was back in front. Brady would soon be picked off by cornerback Isaiah Rodgers. It led to a nine-play, 90-yard drive that culminated with Wentz’s 15-yard TD toss to Jack Doyle. Back came TB-12 and Fournette and they connected on a score that narrow the lead to three points. But Wentz threw his third TD pass of the quarter, zipping a four-yard touchdown pass to veteran TY-13 (aka T.Y. Hilton) and the Colts were up 24-14 at intermission.

Even up by 10 points, you got a sense that the team with the football last was going to win the game. And in many ways, that’s exactly what happened on Sunday afternoon in what proved to be a wild second half. Wentz would lose a fumble, throw the first of two interceptions and Nyheim Hines muffed a punt. Those three miscues led to 17 points and Tampa Bay took the lead. The Colts tied it up at 31-all but with 3:29 to play, Brady got the ball back and Fournette scored his fourth touchdown of the afternoon with 20 seconds remaining.

But there was still a chance. Rodgers returned the ensuing kickoff 72 yards and the Colts had the ball on the Bucs’ 32 with 10 seconds to play. There was a short incompletion and then an interception by one-time Colts’ cornerback Pierre Desir at the Tampa Bay two-yard line.

Game over. Buccaneers 38, Colts 31. Quite the clash.

Could we see a rematch in Los Angeles in February?