The Indianapolis Colts (2-5) fell to the Minnesota Vikings (6-0), 16-10, and now have a three game losing streak, with whatever slim playoff hopes they had quickly evaporating in what’s shaping up to be another lost season.
There’s no need to relive another tough loss in great detail by any means, but I did want to highlight a few of the individual performances from Sunday—both the positive and negative:
Horsepower
- Colts Running Game: Would’ve put Jonathan Taylor here individually, but after a few pass blocking gaffes that led to big plays by the Vikings defense, I’ll go with the Indianapolis ground game collectively instead and give kudos to their offensive linemen up front as well. Taylor rushed for 95 total rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. He had the Colts lone big offensive play of the day, with his opening drive 38-yard touchdown run.
- DT Ade Adebawore: The Colts rotational defensive tackle continues to have a breakout 2026 campaign, and was incredibly disruptive in this one with 5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, 2 QB hits, 5 QB pressures and a pass defensed. It may hurt to lose DeForest Buckner in an imminent trade before deadline day, but Adebawore may help Colts fans sleep a little easier filling D-Fo’s rather large shoes for the remainder of this increasingly disappointing season. Indianapolis needs to lock Adebawore up long-term.
- SAJ Haulcy: There’s been a lot of growing pains for the Colts’ 3rd round safety, who’s been lost in coverage at times with blown assignments. He stood out in run defense (with a season high +78.1 run defense grade) and led the Colts with 9 tackles (5 solo) in this one. Hopefully, Haulcy is starting to find his groove in the backend of the secondary and get past that initial rookie learning curve. He’s playing better ball.
Horseplay
- Daniel Jones: No one’s expecting Jones to be Superman here, but he at least has to provide the Colts consistently average to good starting quarterback play out there if they’re going to win another game this year. Head coach Brian Flores’ dominant Vikings defense blitzed the heck out of Jones, with great success the majority of the time. An issue that’s plagued Jones since around midseason of last year. Specifically, Jones completed 13 of his 22 pass attempts for a minuscule 4.9 yards per completion average, amassing just 108 total passing yards and the game-sealing interception with 1:15 left in regulation.
- Colts Edge Rush: Fill in cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt had more sacks than any Colts edge rusher in this one. This has been a season long issue, but can we please get consistent pressure from any edge? Buehler?
- Spencer Shrader: Look, Shrader’s been a great special teams story so far this year, reclaiming his Colts kicking job after a devastating season-ending 2025 knee injury and going a perfect 19-19 from field goal range up until Week 7’s dud. That being said, in a game where the Colts lost by just six points, his misses of 56 yards and 48 yards in the second half loomed large and proved to be the difference in tying this one up.