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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Donning her traditional post-loss outfit of black for the first time this NFL season, WISH-TV Colts contributor Heather Lloyd frequently paired praise with despair during her weekly Daybreak visit. The 27-20 loss to the Rams loss saw several glimmering bright spots snuffed out by bewildering lows.
“Had the Colts just lost to a Top 10 team, I wouldn’t necessarily be mourning today,” she said. “But it’s how they did it that took this from a tough loss to a devastating defeat.”
Mitchell’s Mistakes
One of the team’s most promising rookies AD Mitchell is taking tremendous criticism this morning, after making two extremely expensive mistakes.
The first started with, as Lloyd describes, “an amazing one-armed catch, which he ran in for a 75-yard touchdown – the first of his career – or so we thought.”
Instead, the ball slipped from his hand just short of the goal line, costing the team points and possession.
“Unbelievable talent and unbelievable immaturity, all in one play,” Lloyd said.
Later, Mitchell held a defender, nullifying Jonathan Taylor’s electrifying 53-yard scamper to the end zone.
“Mitchell was very remorseful in the locker room afterwards, as you would imagine.”
Lloyd points out Mitchell’s miscues were not the only major ones from the Colts. During the Rams’ final scoring drive, Indianapolis only had 10 men on the field.
She delivered her prescription with a dose of sarcasm: “Using all your available players is a quick fix for next week.”
Defensive Difficulties
“Covering two of the NFL’s best receivers created a real challenge for the Colts backfield,” Lloyd observed. “Puka Nacua and Davante Adams kept them on their toes – and a lot of the time, on their backsides.”
She says the Rams 462 yards of offense more than offset Indianapolis’ three sacks and a fumble recovery. Her assessment: the battered defensive backfield needs assistance.
“The absence of Kenny Moore, who’s out with a calf injury, did not help. They’re going to have to come up with some answers.”
Bright Spots
Once done documenting the disappointments, Lloyd did express genuine optimism, too. Major mistakes and miscues aside, the Colts almost managed to knock of one of the top teams in the league.
“There were a handful of Tyler Warren highlights yesterday,” she said. “He took a direct snap in the second quarter, but failed to convert on third down. Then, on the next play Daniel Jones handed the ball off to him like a fullback and he ran it in for what will likely be the first of many NFL touchdowns.”
She also lauded Laiatu Latu’s first sack of the season and Spencer Shrader’s 52-yard field goal.
Lloyd is bullish on the Colts next contest, against the 1-3 Raiders.
“That should be a good opportunity for them to clean up some of their issues on both sides of the ball – and hopefully put another game in the win column in front of the home crowd.”