3 Offensive Keys to Colts Beating Saints

The Indianapolis Colts offense has a golden opportunity to get back on track against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

The Indianapolis Colts are heading into Week 8 with an unsavory 3-4 record. However, they’ll get a chance to bounce back at home when they host the New Orleans Saints. The Saints have their issues too, posting the same record as Indianapolis.

While the Saints’ record doesn’t reflect a threatening team, it’s the offense that has struggled, not the defense. Currently, the Saints have a capable defensive unit that can help keep their offense in games. With names like defensive end Cameron Jordan, cornerback Marshon Lattimore, and linebacker Demario Davis, they can be a challenge for any offense in the NFL.

With this in mind, let’s dive into three offensive keys that Shane Steichen needs to implement, and execute if Indianapolis wants to get out of the losing record they currently hold.

#1.) Win Time of Possession

Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Saints currently have a brutalizing pass defense, posting solid marks through 7 games:

• Passing Yards Allowed: 1,309 (8th in the NFL)
• Passing Yards Per Game Allowed: 187.0 (4th in the NFL)
• Interceptions: 8 (T-3rd in the NFL)
• Total Points Per Game Allowed: 18.1 (7th in the NFL)

Saints head coach Dennis Allen is a defensive mind, so the fact the Saints’ linebackers and secondary are on point is no surprise. The best way for the Colts offense to soften up the secondary is on the ground, dominating the time of possession.

On the flip side, the Saints don’t reflect the same great numbers against the run. Below are the metrics: 

• Rushing Yards Allowed: 691 (14th in the NFL)
• Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 98.7 (12th in the NFL)

The Colts were able to punish the Cleveland Browns' white-hot defense with the ground attack last week, using Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss like battering rams en route to 132 rushing yards between the two (Taylor-75; Moss-57).

If the Colts can implement this type of ground attack against the more vulnerable Saints defense, they can get another 30-plus minutes of possession as they did against the Browns (32:31). This will soften the pass defense and force them to come up and help with run defense, opening up the passing plays down the field.

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#2.) Alec Pierce Must Make an Impact

© Jenna Watson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

Alec Pierce hasn’t had the season as a receiver that he wanted through 7 games. So far, he’s grabbed only 14 catches for 202 receiving yards (14.4 avg) and no TDs. Despite the slow start with the pass-catching stats, he has played great in run blocking and opening up plays downfield for the ground scheme.

Fellow receivers Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs, however, have emerged as the clear top options for Gardner Minshew. But, the Saints may be anticipating this.

With the aforementioned cornerback, Lattimore, and safety Tyrann Mathieu in the secondary, life may not be the easiest for Pittman and Downs this time; this is why Pierce has to make an impact.

The time for Pierce to get his first touchdown of 2023 should be on Sunday against the Saints. The Colts can’t afford to fall to 3-5 on the season and need their WR3 to add an element to the offense that the Saints will have to address and help open up Pittman and Downs. Otherwise, it could be a difficult task for Steichen to get his passing attack rolling. 

#3.) Halt the Turnover Issues

© Jenna Watson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

Throughout his five-year NFL career, Minshew has been a safe option as a quarterback, taking care of the ball and greatly limiting turnovers. However, over the past two weeks, he’s accumulated 4 interceptions and 4 fumbles lost.

Now, it’s fair to say that tackle Blake Freeland hasn’t played the greatest over the two-game stretch, but Minshew also hasn’t ever been this turnover-prone. Currently, heading into Week 8, Minshew has the third-most interceptions thrown of his career (6-2019; 5- 2020) already and has put the ball on the field 5 times with fumbles.

With a defensive end like Jordan on the other side of the ball, the Colts can’t afford to let pass rushers get to Minshew as he tries to find rhythm and bounce back. If starting right tackle Braden Smith (hip/wrist) can’t go, then look for Freeland to fill in again and likely be lined up with Jordan. 

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