While the original cast of Saturday Night Live will forever be known as “The Not Ready for Prime Time Players,” the 2022 Indianapolis Colts have a claim to that title.
Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers was the Colts‘ fifth island game of the season and stunningly, their fourth straight. Indianapolis won its first such game, a Thursday Night game over the Denver Broncos in Week 5. But that game was more about Denver’s ineptitude than anything Indianapolis did well. It was, however, the most desirable island game result that the Colts have had this season — by a wide margin.
In Week 12, the Colts hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night. The final moments of that game featured some head-scratching clock management from interim coach Jeff Saturday, who should have known better. Indianapolis then went on the road to take on the Dallas Cowboys in Week 13. That seemed like it would be a good game for a while, then the fourth quarter happened. The Colts were humiliated by the Cowboys 54-19, thanks to a 33-0 fourth quarter.
After a Week 14 bye week, the Colts returned to action in Week 15 for a Saturday afternoon game against the Minnesota Vikings. Again, the 33-0 scoreline would prove problematic. Indianapolis led 33-0 at halftime but ended up on the wrong end of the greatest comeback in NFL history. Then came Week 16 against the Chargers.
And while this game didn’t have the same historical rammifications as the losses to Dallas and Minnesota, the Colts were soundly defeated, losing 20-3 to a Chargers team that did not play a smart game.
Even before Monday night’s game, there was some trepadation about another prime time game for Indianapolis. On Sunday, Josh Norris of Underdog Fantasy tweeted “the colts are on primetime again tomorrow night ayfkm” while Paul Ross of CTV in Toronto said “There needs to be a federal investigation into how the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts get so many primetime games this season. Someone needs to answer to their crimes.”
the colts are on primetime again tomorrow night ayfkm
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) December 26, 2022
There needs to be a federal investigation into how the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts get so many primetime games this season. Someone needs to answer to their crimes.
— Paul Ross (@RealPaulRoss) December 26, 2022
After several embarrassing prime time performances this year, when will the #colts be allowed to play in prime time again?
— dave calabro (@calabro13sports) December 27, 2022
One of Indianapolis’ fan, who goes by ColtsFanCole on Twitter, had a similar feeling, saying “I can confidently say the 2023/2024 Indianapolis Colts will NOT have any prime time games.”
I can confidently say the 2023/2024 Indianapolis Colts will NOT have any prime time games
— ColtsFanCole (@ColtsFanCole) December 27, 2022
If what we saw in 2022 is any indicator, less of the Colts of the prime time may be a good thing in 2023.
