Colts’ worn-down, short-handed defense adding to late swoon
Associated PressINDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts’ offense has sputtered all season. Despite losing three-time All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard for all but 10 quarters because of injuries, the Colts’ defense was the team’s strength for much of the year. And the last four losses have come in embarrassing fashion — allowing 33 fourth-quarter points at Dallas, watching Minnesota rally from a 33-point halftime deficit to complete the largest comeback in NFL history, an inept prime-time loss to the Los Angeles Chargers and now a 38-10 loss to the New York Giants, which included Giants rookie linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux celebrating just a few feet away from Nick Foles as the injured quarterback writhed in pain. Yet the short-handed defense that played so well for so much of this season has become equally culpable for the Colts’ late swoon. Since replacing 2021 NFL rushing champ Jonathan Taylor, Moss has logged 51 carries for 220 yards and looks like he’ll a strong complement to Taylor next fall.