The Indianapolis Colts are limping into their bye in Week 14 as this season has not been a good one for the franchise. They were hoping to be a Super Bowl dark horse, but just qualifying for the postseason would require a miracle at this point as they are 4-8-1.
It has been a while since they played some good football as they have lost six out of their last seven games. Their only victory game in Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders, which was Jeff Saturday’s first game as interim head coach. Alas, all of the naysayers that questioned his hiring have been proven right as Saturday has struggled with time management and the emotion and energy of a new head coach seems to have worn off.
Despite that, the goal is remaining the same for the stretch run of the season. Saturday and the coaching staff are going to do everything they can to put this team in a position to win games. While some teams are already turning their attention toward 2023 and making moves based on that, the Colts will not be doing any such thing.
Heading into their bye, this will give Saturday a chance to evaluate the roster and pinpoint areas that could use a shake-up. Following the team’s embarrassing loss on Sunday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys, Saturday revealed that he never considered benching Matt Ryan, who turned the ball over four times.
However, his status as the starter for the remainder of the season is certainly up in the air. Like the rest of the players on the roster, Saturday said that he is evaluating Ryan as well. Making a change at quarterback is one of the things that will be on the table ahead of their Week 15 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.
“I actually had that conversation this morning. We’re going to look at everything — no position in particular, but everybody,” Saturday said, via Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star. “We need the best 11 on the field every time. If we think somebody gives us a better chance to win, let’s have those discussions this week.”
Ryan was re-inserted into the starting lineup by Saturday when he took over the head coaching position. The two games before that, Sam Ehlinger had replaced Ryan in the starting lineup under Frank Reich, who was fired after a 26-3 loss to the New England Patriots.
It is certainly up for debate whether or not Ehlinger gives the Colts a better chance to win as the team scored only 19 points in two games with him as the starter. Veteran Nick Foles remains on the roster and could receive a shot as Indianapolis just looks for a spark in the last few weeks of the season.
