Nov 06, 2025
3 min read
The Wattstrip saga was a spark that came at a time when the team really needed it
The NFL combines the statistics of the week every week during the release of the media. The last page has the most expensive and defended statistics for each of the 32 teams. There is a way to stress.In last week's packet, the Indianapolis Colts chose the top 7 and 16 of the 17 articles listed.
Not coincidentally, the Colts also employ the best in football.Jonathan Taylor, and he's making history at the position in 2025. Taylor entered the game with 12 touchdowns, a total better than or tied with 4 other teams.Since Taylor also won the triple crown in 2021, if he does it again in 2025, he will be the first man to have more than 1 triple crown since a man named Jim Brown did it in 1958, 1959 and 1965.
In any case, Zuriginoch's work, especially on defense, was called 68 points, 924 nets, 924 total nets and the rest of the team.
Because of this, there seemed to be only one way to end the 2-game losing streak against the Computers, 7-1, with a 4-game winning streak at 33.8.
"No," coach Mike Tomlin said of that concept a few days before the game."No disrespect to their work and what they've done, but this is the National Football League. Every weekend you have to prove it. You start fresh every weekend. It applies to us, it applies to who we compete against.
Going 11-20 against a team that went 27-20 prior to November 2nd is a challenge to beat a team like Indianapolis, but there's no question it proves something.
"You know, it's a tough week, but based on how we played last time, we definitely deserved it," Tomlin said afterward."I love these guys soaking it up, putting a smile on their face, ready and waiting for the next opportunity. This is the National Football League. You get an opportunity every seven days. Sometimes you have to put it on. We definitely put it on this week. I admire their spirit, their effort, their determination. Of course, we weren't perfect in any of the three phases. We did what we did, but it was necessary to 'win for the team.'
When it's time to pass the buckets for this "big team win," it's appropriate to start with the defense, a unit that may have had its toughest week yet.Based on the players' pedigrees and resumes and the size of the W-2s required to compile them, expectations for the defense were high up until kickoff and ridiculous from there.
Then came back-to-back quarterbacks, sinesanati Thursday night when Chase Brown made a 108 and J.ram when Jordan Chackers returned Jorddan's cards and 2 touchdowns.
Things did not start well against corruption, however.In the first quarter, the offense of Indianapolis had a problem of 12 games, 79-tard, it was 5-5 for 15 minutes.One thing Mark did was control Jonathan Taylor, who has been as impressive this season as Sacon Beckley was last season.
"I can't say enough about the defense's effort to minimize the rush," Tomlin said."I don't think you're going to slow this team down if you don't slow them down and we've been able to do that. I think that's why we've been able to get them into one-dimensional situations, put some pressure on them, use sacks and stuff. It started with minimizing their dynamic rush. That's who he is. He's dynamic."
A few minutes into the second quarter, as Taylor had only 7 carries for 18 yards, he controlled most of the NFL's No. 1 offense, allowing them to build some pressure.T.J.Watt took it from there.With the Colts closing quickly and leading at least 10-0, Watt beat his man, sacked Daniel Jones and returned the ball to the 44-yard line.
An offense that has not done much until this point, put together a 12-game, 56-Yard drive capped by a 1-yard run by Jaylen Warren, and the score was 7-7.It was a spark and became a 27-10 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
Peyton Wilson had an interception, a fumble that Jack Sawyer turned into another interception, and plenty of tackles all over the field.Alex Highsmith had 2 sacks, including a strip sack that Derrick Harmon recovered.Brandin Echols recovered a muffed punt.Joey Porter Jr. Kyle Dugger arrived in a trade from New England on Tuesday, practiced for the first time with his new team on Thursday, and played many snaps on Sunday because injuries meant he and Jalen Ramsey would have to carry the load at safety.
"I can't say enough about Kyle Dugger. I just gave him the game ball there. This guy jumped on the bandwagon and played a lot of defense for us today, and we needed him. We were very short at safety. We're running very thin, and that guy came in here and gave us some quality work."
Ramsey played well and gave something.He spoke to the team on Saturday night at the hotel.
"But I noticed something changed last night when Jalen talked," Aaron Rodgers said."It's not easy to speak in front of the team, even when you're a player. It's not natural. . . . Jalen went on and on. He had the room's attention. He was saying good things. I'm not going to get into that. It's a must-know type of information. It was significant for me on the offensive end. I felt like we had a different energy in the locker room today."
They are 5-3, and are off to the Open.It is sixth.What time to light the fire.
