Stephen Holder and Gregg Doyel of IndyStar discuss the Indianapolis Colts' loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Matt Kryger/IndyStar
BALTIMORE – If Joey Mbu was standing among a small crowd, could you pick him out?
Perhaps this is the more appropriate question: Have you ever heard of Joey Mbu? How about K.J. Brent? Mike Person? Ronald Martin? Jermaine Grace?
For the record, these are actual players on the Indianapolis Colts’ roster. And they are players who actually played in Saturday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.
It is with this, um, star-studded roster that the Colts took the playoff-berth chasing Ravens to the brink, losing 23-16 after being stopped on fourth down at the Baltimore 17-yard line with 1:43 left. Their final bid to tie the game came on a pass attempt to T.Y. Hilton that was broken up by Maurice Canady, who appeared to commit pass interference against Hilton but was not flagged.
The loss dropped the Colts to 3-12 and was their ninth defeat in the past 10 games. The Colts’ current reality is as ugly as it has been since their 2-14 campaign in 2011 that everyone would rather pretend never happened.
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But the Colts, entering this game without anything to play for, against a team in dire need of a victory, somehow mustered enough fight to make the Ravens’ collective heart skip a few beats. Thing is, the Colts never seem capable of actually winning these fights.
They did what they always do. Made things interesting, but wound up on the wrong side of the scoreboard.
“That’s a game we could have won,” left tackle Anthony Castonzo said. “There have been so many games this year that have been that close. It just gets old.”
There are two ways to look at a game like this. Castonzo’s frustration is understandable and expected. The fans’ exhaustion is also to be expected. But it’s not unrealistic to also point out that what’s left of the Colts’ roster, which is battered even by the Colts’ standards, does not play like a team with nothing at stake beyond draft position.
When you consider players like undrafted free agent Kenny Moore II have become central figures on the defense, that the Colts have started four different centers and have 17 players on injured reserve, it gives at least some context to the team you’re currently watching.
Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano discusses his team's loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Matt Kryger/IndyStar
The Colts are a team painfully short on talent right now. But they aren’t playing like one that believes it’s overmatched.
“I take my hat off to all the guys,” 13th-year veteran running back Frank Gore said. “When it’s toward the end of the season and your record is 3-11 (entering the game), it would be easy to just give up, man. As a team, we came in here like we were fighting for something.”
“It’s a pride thing, man,” Moore said. “We’re competitive. You’re playing for your last name. You’re playing for your family. For God. For each other. We’re not letting up. We come to play wherever we’re at, if it’s hot, cold, rain, snow.”
Saturday, rain was the order of the day. So, too, were the swirling winds. But, hey, it beats the eight inches of snow the Colts had in their last road game, at Buffalo two weeks ago.
This, at times, unrecognizable team, could have won this game because of many of those aforementioned anonymous names. That includes Moore battling in the secondary. It includes Person carving out running lanes for Gore and Marlon Mack while also giving quarterback Jacoby Brissett a surprisingly clean pocket. And it includes rookie linebacker Anthony Walker beating his man up the middle and blocking a punt that seemingly positioned the Colts to win the game.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett discusses the loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Matt Kryger/IndyStar
Sure, the Colts still had the services of Hilton (six catches, 100 yards), outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard (an irritant of Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco all day) and Gore (who leapt into the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter).
But so many young or newly-acquired players have taken center stage as well.
“I’ve never been around a group like this,” said coach Chuck Pagano, who might be down to one more game in his Indianapolis stint.
Kicker Adam Vinatieri, who had a field goal blocked and just missed a 60-yard attempt, marveled as he looked around a locker room that contained so many faces he did not recognize.
“We’ve had plenty of injuries, a lot of crazy stuff,” he said. “We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, there are no moral victories in football. But I’m very optimistic about this team with how many young players have played well this year. With these kinds of games comes a lot of experience… At the end of the day, this team is gonna be good.”
But that day has not yet come. For now, the Colts will have to take some measure of joy in avoiding the complete meltdown everyone seems to be expecting.
For that, you can thank all those guys you’ve never heard of.
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