Matt Ryan, interim coach Saturday rally Colts past Raiders
Jeff Saturday joked that the Indianapolis Colts will start calling zone-read plays for 37-year-old quarterback Matt Ryan. Ryan has never been known for his swift feet, but his career-best, 39-yard scramble to convert a third-and-3 in the fourth quarter led to his winning touchdown pass two plays later. It capped an unusual week when the Colts fired coach Frank Reich and replaced him with Saturday, whose only prior coaching experience was at a Georgia high school.
news.yahoo.com2 coaches fired, several others remain on hot seat
There has already been two coaching changes halfway through the NFL season with Indianapolis firing Frank Reich this week four weeks after Carolina did the same to Matt Rhule. The NFL had a record-tying 10 coaching changes last offseason and three-quarters of the teams have changed head coaches at least once in the past five years. Here's a look at some coaches who figure to be on the hot seat if things don't turn around in the second half of the season and some assistants who could be in line for head coaching jobs.
news.yahoo.comIndianapolis Colts fire head coach Frank Reich after disastrous offensive performance
The Indianapolis Colts announced Monday that they have parted ways with head coach Frank Reich. Reich, who was in his fifth season with the Colts, was fired after a 3-5-1 start. Reich will be replaced by Colts legend and current ESPN NFL analyst Jeff Saturday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. It was a dreadful offensive performance in which Indianapolis had just 121 yards of offense. Reich, a former NFL quarterback and lauded offensive mind, admitted the offense hasn’t been good enough.
mlive.comColts will be missing top 2 running backs against Jaguars
The Indianapolis Colts announced Saturday they will be without running backs Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines for Sunday's key AFC South battle against Jacksonville. Taylor, last year’s NFL rushing champion, will miss his second straight game with an injured ankle. Hines entered the concussion protocol since wobbling off the field early in last Thursday’s victory at Denver.
news.yahoo.comNFL analyst has just 1 word to describe Colts’ Carson Wentz’s foot injury
All eyes in Indianapolis are on Carson Wentz’s feet. Friday on ESPN’s “Get Up,” host Mike Greenberg asked analyst Marcus Spears how big a deal Wentz’s injury is. But beyond football, obviously this injury derails a lot of things about the Indianapolis Colts and what they had plans to do. Frank Reich mortgaged his reputation on bringing Carson Wentz in to transform him onto an already playoff football team. Because there’s too much riding on Carson Wentz being the Indianapolis Colts’ starter.
mlive.comAP source: Eagles send Carson Wentz to Colts for draft picks
FILE - Philadelphia Eagles' Carson Wentz (11) passes during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Philadelphia, in this Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, file photo. The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to trade Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts, according to a person familiar with the deal. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz, File)PHILADELPHIA – Carson Wentz helped steer the Philadelphia Eagles to the franchise’s only Super Bowl title and later received the richest contract in team history. The Eagles agreed to trade Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts, according to a person familiar with the deal. AdThe deal reunites Wentz with Colts coach Frank Reich, who served as Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator his first two seasons in the league.
Jim Irsay: Andrew Luck or not, the Colts are in need of a ‘veteran’ QB
Luck abruptly retired following the 2019 season, but still is revered throughout the organization. If the 31-year-old wanted to make an NFL return, Irsay said the door is open. The offensive line is vastly improved since Luck retired two years ago, so maybe there’s some temptation. “He knows how much we’d love to have him be our quarterback, there’s just no question about that,” Irsay said. But if not Luck, expect the Colts to be among the many teams interested in Lions QB Matthew Stafford.
mlive.comEagles hire Colts OC Nick Sirianni as head coach
FILE- In this Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, file photo, Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni speaks during a news conference at the NFL football team's facility in Indianapolis. The Philadelphia Eagles are nearing a deal to hire Nick Sirianni to be their head coach, according to two people familiar with the decision. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)PHILADELPHIA – Three days after choosing Nick Sirianni to be their new coach, the Philadelphia Eagles made it official. He worked under coach Frank Reich, who was offensive coordinator in Philadelphia when the Eagles won the Super Bowl three years ago. The Colts finished in the top 10 in points and yards in two of Sirianni’s three seasons as offensive coordinator.
AP Sources: Eagles plan to hire Colts OC Nick Sirianni
FILE- In this Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, file photo, Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni speaks during a news conference at the NFL football team's facility in Indianapolis. The Philadelphia Eagles are nearing a deal to hire Nick Sirianni to be their head coach, according to two people familiar with the decision. The Philadelphia Eagles are nearing a deal to hire Sirianni to be their head coach, according to two people familiar with the decision. Sirianni was the offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts the past three seasons. The Colts finished top 10 in points and yards in two of Sirianni's three seasons as offensive coordinator.
Colts QB Rivers, 39, retires from NFL after 17 seasons
“Every year, Jan. 20 is a special and emotional day,” Rivers said in a statement posted on the team’s website. “It is St. Sebastian’s Feast day, the day I played in the AFC championship without an ACL, and now the day that after 17 seasons, I’m announcing my retirement from the National Football League. I am grateful to the Chargers for 16 seasons, and the Colts for the 17th season.”Rivers was one of a kind. In the 2006 season opener, Rivers made his starting debut — and then the next 251 in a row including the playoffs. “My son never did throw a big ball like I did at that age and he throws it the exact same way,” Rivers said.
Chiefs' Chad Henne goes from backup QB to playoff stage
(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Chad Henne came off the bench cold in the heat of a tense playoff game and delivered the game-sealing plays for Kansas City in his most consequential performance in a win since 2013. He got the nod again the following week in a playoff game against Green Bay with a limited number of plays on a wrist band. JEFF HOSTETLER: Hostetler had started just two games in almost seven full seasons for the Giants when Simms injured his foot in Week 14. FRANK REICH: Two years after losing to Hostetler, the Bills relied on a backup to make it to their third consecutive Super Bowl. He threw for 725 yards and six touchdowns in wins over Minnesota in the NFC title game and New England in the Super Bowl.
Colts' comeback bid falls short in 27-24 loss to Bills
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) reacts during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Colts coach Frank Reich couldn’t manufacture another comeback in Buffalo. We just didn’t get it done.”After squandering scoring opportunities through three quarters, the Colts finally mustered a response when trailing 24-10. Rivers engineered consecutive touchdown drives over a six-minute span before coming up empty on the Colts' final possession. The game ended with Rivers throwing three consecutive incompletions, including a 47-yard desperation pass intended for T.Y. “He exceeded expectations on what he brought to the team this year on and off the field,” Reich said.
Bills beat Colts 27-24 for 1st playoff win in 25 years
In a season in which the Bills busted numerous slumps, Allen became Buffalo's first starter in a quarter century to win a playoff game. Made enough plays to win,” Allen said. The Colts responded with a seven-play, 75-play drive capped by a 9-yard touchdown pass to Pascal. Rivers’ pass for Michael Pittman glanced off the diving receiver’s fingertips on fourth down. Facing fourth-and-3 from the Colts 26, Allen drew defensive end Kemoko Turay offside with a second left on the play clock.
The Latest: Rams surge to 30-13 lead over Seahawks in fourth
The Los Angeles Rams are leading the Seattle Seahawks 23-13 early in the fourth quarter. The Los Angeles Rams have taken a 20-10 halftime lead over the Seahawks in their wild card game at Seattle. Metcalf to cut the Los Angles Rams' lead to 13-10 in the second quarter of their wild card game. The Buffalo Bills are taking a 17-10 lead over Indianapolis into the fourth quarter at Buffalo. Washington won the middling NFC East despite a 7-9 record to earn a home wild card game.
Patricia’s Going For 1st 3-Game Win Streak
SPREAD — Colts 3-3; Lions 3-3SERIES RECORD — Colts lead 21-19-2LAST MEETING — Lions beat Colts 39-35 on Sept. 11, 2016, in IndianapolisLAST WEEK — Colts had bye, beat Bengals 31-27 on Oct. 18; Lions beat Falcons 23-22AP PRO32 RANKING — Colts No. COLTS DEFENSE — OVERALL (2), RUSH (3), PASS (2). LIONS OFFENSE — OVERALL (23), RUSH (18), PASS (20). LIONS DEFENSE — OVERALL (22), RUSH (26), PASS (20). … The Lions are aiming to win three straight and to have a winning record in November or later for the first time in Patricia’s three seasons.
detroit.cbslocal.comInjuries To Leonard, Castonzo Keep Colts Out Of Sync In 32-23 Loss At Cleveland
(AP) – The Indianapolis Colts defense missed linebacker Darius Leonard on Sunday. And without those two key cogs, neither the offense nor the defense was in sync during the 32-23 loss at Cleveland. “I thought we were competitive, but they were highly efficient in the first half on offense,” coach Frank Reich said Sunday. And while they hung 32 points on the league’s top scoring defense, nine came courtesy of the Browns defense. A week earlier, with Leonard missing the second half at Chicago because of a groin injury, the Colts still played well.
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