The Indianapolis Colts are on a four-game winning streak thanks to a defense that has stepped up big since losing one of its best players for the year.
Defensive tackle Cory Redding credited the team’s response to the loss of sack master Robert Mathis as the turning point in their season.
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“I just think everything is coming together at the right time,” Redding said per ESPN. “We learned a lot about ourselves in those first two losses and we all had to make some decisions on doing things right. Guys started taking it upon ourselves to go out there and make plays and good things are happening.”
The Colts defense allowed 61 points in the first two games of the 2014 NFL season before turning around and allowing 75 in the next four. The team has been stingy as it’s torn through each of its divisional opponents once in that four-game stretch to move them up to 4-2.
Instead of sitting back and hoping that Andrew Luck wins the game, the Colts defense is stepping early and often with more blitzes that lead to more stops and mistakes from the opposing offense. These blitzes have either led to sacks — which the team was missing after losing Mathis, who provided 22.5 sacks last season — or to turnovers a la the Houston Texans game Thursday night game.
“We’re playing guns blazing with nothing in the barrel,” Redding said. “We’re going to give everything we’ve got. Why not? Play like there’s no tomorrow, and that’s what we’re doing. It’s a good motto to have right now because we’re doing some good things.”
The Colts hope to continue that streak as the competition toughens up once more. Indianapolis will host the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7 action.
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