Colts' Defensive Effort Not Enough to Carry Offense | Crunching Numbers

The Indianapolis Colts defense performed well enough to beat the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night, but the offense didn't hold up its end of the bargain.

Nov 3, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II (23) returns a fumble for a touchdown as Minnesota Vikings tight end Josh Oliver (84) pursues during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images / Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

The Indianapolis Colts (4-5) left U.S. Bank Stadium late over the weekend with a nationally televised Sunday Night Football loss to the Minnesota Vikings (6-2), which put them below .500.

The Colts' offense was underwhelming, to say the least, scoring just six of the team's 13 points, averaging 4.6 yards per play compared to 5.9 for the Vikings, converting only 3-of-11 third-down opportunities (27.3%), and never reaching the red zone. It was comfortably their worst performance at the midway point of the season.

The "Crunching Numbers" series is reserved weekly for acknowledging milestones and achievements reached by the Colts and their individual players after each game, and this is one of the least notable editions in recent memory. The following achievements by the Colts were provided postgame by Colts Communications.

STATISTICAL LEADERS

• Passing: QB Joe Flacco | 179 yards
• Rushing: RB Jonathan Taylor | 48 yards
• Receiving: WR Josh Downs | 60 yards
• Tackles: LB E.J. Speed | 12
• Sacks: DT Grover Stewart | 2.0
• Takeaways: CB Kenny Moore II | 1 fumble recovery; S Nick Cross, LB Zaire Franklin | 1 interception
• Kicking: K Matt Gay | 2-of-3 field goals (67.0%) and 1-of-1 extra points (100%)
• Punting: P Rigoberto Sanchez | 3 punts, 49.3-yard average
• Returns: Josh Downs | 1 punt return, 12.0-yard avg.

OFFENSE

Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. caught 1-of-4 targets for 14 yards (14.0 avg.).

• He passed Dallas Clark (70) for the fifth-longest streak of consecutive games with a reception in franchise history.

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DEFENSE

• The Colts recorded their fifth red-zone takeaway of the season in the first quarter on Minnesota's opening drive. They are tied for the most red-zone takeaways in the NFL.

Defensive tackle Grover Stewart had 4 tackles (1 for loss), 2.0 sacks, 2 QB hits, and 1 forced fumble.

• It was a new single-game career-high in sacks.

Cornerback Kenny Moore II had 6 tackles (1 for loss), 1 fumble recovery, and 1 defensive touchdown.

• He tied Kelvin Hayden (4) for the most defensive touchdowns by a Colts player since at least 2000.

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