Shane Steichen Delivers Message to Colts: 'We Control Our Own Destiny'

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen was direct when addressing the team this week.

Shane Steichen knows what is at stake for his ball club.

With two games remaining in the regular season, the Indianapolis Colts have a chance to do something no one expected them to this season: Make the playoffs. But to do that, Steichen will need to get his team back on the right track and fast.

The Colts are coming off a crushing defeat to the Atlanta Falcons on a week where they could have taken control of the AFC South. Steichen and other Colts leaders were honest about why they fell flat against the Falcons, acknowledging it cannot happen again. So, what is Steichen's message to the team this week?

“I think obviously, really, it’s we control our own destiny," Steichen revealed. "We’ve got a great opportunity in front of us at home and we’ve got to go handle business. That’s the bottom line. That’s it.”

Nothing went right for the Colts in the 29-10 loss. The offense failed to get the run game going while allowing consistent pressure in the passing game. The defense missed a whopping 23 tackles and gave up over 400 yards to a struggling Falcons offense.

It was arguably the worst all-around performance from the Colts all season. Poor execution was prevalent throughout the game, not something the Colts have been accustomed to under Steichen. And while a showing like the one Indy displayed on Sunday may be alarming, the Colts' head coach does not believe the answer is to change how they prepare this late in the year.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew II (10) is helped up from the turf after a sack during a game against the Atlanta Falcons :: © Robert Scheer/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

"We all know what’s out there, but we’ve got to go execute," Steichen explained. "It starts with the weekly preparation. I’ve been saying it all year. It’s like, ‘Hey, what are you guys going to change? Is anything going to change with what’s at line?’ No, if we change what we’re doing now, then we haven’t been doing it right all year. We’ve got to go out and execute, have a great week of preparation and go get it done.”

The players were not the only ones who failed to execute against the Falcons. Steichen admitted the Colts coaching staff needed to be better as well. Offensive and defensive coaches alike need to ensure they are putting the players in the best position to succeed.

It is gut-check time for the entire Colts organization. They can either rebound and make a final push for the playoffs or continue to crumble and collapse like this team did in 2021. Steichen is confident it will be the former as the Colts welcome the Las Vegas Raiders to Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday.

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“I think we didn’t coach well enough and we didn’t execute well enough," he admitted. "I think going forward we’ve got a great opportunity, right? Similar to what happened in Cincinnati, right? We didn’t play our best in Cincinnati and we bounced back against Pittsburgh. We didn’t play our best against Atlanta and now we’ve got an opportunity at home to bounce back against the Raiders. That’s the focus, is going to win this football game. That’s the bottom line.”

The Raiders are coming off a big win against the Kansas City Chiefs, where they gave Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champs fits on defense. The Raiders are led by Pro Bowl pass rusher Maxx Crosby and ascending talent Malcolm Koonce, who have a combined 20.5 sacks and four forced fumbles this season. If the Colts want to get the victory, it starts with better protection up front and keeping those two at bay.

“They’re playing at a high level," Steichen said. "It starts with 98 (Maxx Crosby), one of the best players in the league. Obviously, we’ve got to have a plan for him. Koonce on the other side, he’s playing really good football. They’ve got good players in the backend. I think they’re playing with a lot of energy and a lot of effort."

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) celebrates after a tackle against the Minnesota Vikings in the first half at Allegiant Stadium / © Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Gardner Minshew must stay calm in the pocket and trust his protection as he makes plays down the field. The Colts could also get back three of their best players on offense, as Michael Pittman Jr. (concussion/shoulder), Braden Smith (knee), and Zack Moss (forearm) are all progressing in the right direction with their respective injuries. If Minshew stays composed and the others return from injury, this Colts offense will look much different than it did a week ago.

The Raiders also have plenty of weapons on the offensive side of the ball. While rookie quarterback Aidan O'Connell has had his ups and downs, the Raiders still have running back Josh Jacobs and wide receiver Davante Adams, two of the best at their positions. The Colts' defense will need to know where they are at all times or risk a similar outcome to the one they had against the Falcons.

"Offensively, they have a lot of weapons," Steichen continued. "Davante Adams is a premier receiver, the back’s really good, the tight end is good, (Hunter) Renfrow is a good player. They’ve got a lot of talent, so we’ve got to be ready to roll. We’ve got to bring great energy, great effort come Sunday and go out and execute.”

The Colts know they have to turn things around quickly if they stand to win these next two games and make the postseason. Steichen has done wonders with this group already, leading a team that no one expected to be in the hunt to the cusp of the playoffs without their starting quarterback for most of the season. The coaches and players believe they have what it takes to right the ship.

But believing and executing are two completely different things. Execute how the Colts know they can, and their playoff hopes become even more of a reality. Fail to execute yet again, and the Colts' postseason hopes may go up in flames.

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