Week 17 Colts Defensive Rankings and Evaluation:

Every week throughout the season, I might be strolling by the info from the earlier Colts recreation and analyzing the numbers to kind a form of “what happened” narrative, in addition to evaluating the Colts in opposition to all different groups within the league. For a glossary of the stats listed, reference Season Stats. Because of Professional Soccer Reference, NFL.com, Soccer Outsiders, and the nflFastR mission for being superior sources of weekly knowledge.

After very cautious consideration, sir, I’ve come to the conclusion that your new protection system sucks. —Basic Beringer from the film WarGames

I’m undecided how a lot time I need to spend analyzing a protection that gave up 38 factors, so let’s simply agree that the Colts in opposition to the Giants weren’t good.

Outdoors of the 5 drives the place the Giants bulldozed their manner into the top zone, the Colts protection really held the Giants to solely 7.6 yards per drive. Sadly, these different 5 drives depend and Indy gave up 67 yards per drive on these.

TEAM TOTALS

(Use the right-left arrows to toggle between stats for the week and the season).

Mouseover for definitions: Adj PPD,

Staff PPG,

Off PPG,

Yds,

P/R%,

DSR,

yds/srs,

Strt Fld,

xOPPD,

yds/ply,

EPA/ply,

adj TSR,

1st/ply,

Pen 1st/ Yds,

3DC,

third ytg,

Expl Plys,

TO,

TOP%

No less than the Colts weren’t lifeless final in defensive Factors per Drive, ending twenty eighth on the week. The protection was thirtieth in yards per play and twenty ninth in EPA pr play, however mockingly eleventh in opponent conversion charge and tenth in defensive success charge. The discrepancy in these rankings are because of the explosive performs the protection let occur (2nd most explosive yards).

For the season, the Colts’ protection falls 5 spots in PPD to nineteenth and 1 spot in DSR to fifteenth. DVOA ranks them nineteenth.

PASS TOTALS

(Use the right-left arrows to toggle between stats for the week and the season).

Mouseover definitions: EPA/db,

PSR,

Cmp,

Att,

Yds,

TD,

Int,

Sk,

Sk Y,

1st/db,

ny/d,

cmp %,

aDOT,

cpoe,

YBC,

YAC,

20+ #/Yd

Towards the cross, the Colts protection completed thirty second, permitting Drew freakin’ Lock probably the most EPA per dropback of any QB not only for the week, however for any QB this season. That’s proper, this was the worst defensive efficiency in opposition to the cross within the NFL of 2024.

The protection was thirty first in opponent PSR, thirtieth in conversion charge, thirty second in internet yards per dropback and gave up probably the most explosive passing yards for the week. The whole lot was dangerous.

On the season, the Colts are at the moment in twenty fifth place for defensive EPA per dropback and twenty fourth place in opponent Cross Success Price. DVOA says twenty fourth. I’m sensing a sample.

RUSH TOTALS

(Use the right-left arrows to toggle between stats for the week and the season).

Mouseover definitions:
adj RSR,

Yds,

Automotive,

TD,

1st,

Fum Misplaced,

RSR,

1st/c,

YPC,

10+ #/Yd,

third,

3DC,

epa/c,

The Colts held the Giants to the 2nd worst conversion charge, the 2nd worst yards per carry and the third worst EPA per carry. Regulate that for scenario and also you get the 2nd lowest rush success charge for the week.

Unbelievably, that bumps the season rating for the Colts rush protection to twelfth finest. DVOA ranks them at 14th, so I’m not fully out of my thoughts.

CONCLUSION & LOOK AHEAD

Only a horrible, horrible efficiency by the Indy D. There’s not far more to say.

Season-wise, being good in opposition to the run isn’t a lot comfort, as a result of a horrible passing protection has a lot extra affect on recreation outcomes.

As soon as extra unto the breach, pricey pals, as soon as extra. The final Colts’ recreation of the yr is in opposition to a Jacksonville offense that ranks twenty third in Factors per Drive.

Since Trevor Lawrence’s harm, Mac Jones has been filling in and has earned solely the twentieth ranked EPA per dropback and the twenty fourth Cross Success Price. He doesn’t get sacked quite a bit (twenty sixth sck%), however he likes to show the ball over (seventh to%).

On the bottom, the Jags are about common with a seventeenth ranked adj RSR. DVOA ranks them 18th, so yeah, they’re average-ish.

Match-up-wise, this favors the Colts protection, however I’m not placing any cash on it.