One of the biggest things we've seen from the Colts through seven games this season is their ability to execute.
They're 6-1 and sit in first place in the AFC, but they approach every game the same way. They're staying even-keeled and focused, and it's largely because of the mindset in the locker room, day in and day out.
As a player, you need to keep your mind focused on, of course, what's at hand – you've got to be in the present, especially on gamedays. But the main thing, in the situations the Colts are in, is to look at what your standard is for you as an individual and what the standard of your team is.
You're focusing on getting better and trying to do the right things for your team, rather than focusing on the records of your opponents and thinking about playing at whatever their level might be.
Because regardless of what team you're playing, you need to play to your own standards in every game. That's how you stay focused, that's how you keep perspective throughout the season, and that's what the Colts did on Sunday.
From an offensive standpoint, they executed at a high level once again, moving the ball up and down the field. They scored touchdowns on the first three drives of their 38-24 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, showing they knew what their game plan was and they knew how to execute it.
The Colts were on a mission, and that mission was to play at a high level – their level – and come out fast. They knew the Chargers were one of the better teams in the red zone from a defensive standpoint, so they prepared for that.
Daniel Jones and this offense set the tone, and that's what you want to do each game. You want to dictate to the other team how the game is going to go. Because, not only does it give you confidence going out there, but it also puts the other team on its heels. And when you're doing that, it puts pressure on your opponents, forcing both their offense and their defense to try to keep up.
The Colts played with that kind of confidence on Sunday, and a lot of it started with Jones' demeanor.
As an offense, it's crucial that you have a quarterback like Daniel Jones who stays even-keeled and confident no matter what.
Not only does Jones display it in his demeanor but in his play as well. He doesn't ever look rattled and he looks confident in what he wants to do on the field. So, when you see your quarterback perform with that kind of confidence, you're reassured in knowing that he is prepared to handle the situation, and the situation is not too big for him.
As a defender, you see that confidence in him as well and it gives you comfort knowing that the offense will do their part to put the team in a good position to be successful.
And because of players like Jones – DeForest Buckner comes immediately to mind – the Colts have stayed focused and on-task. They go out there and perform at a high level and come in every day and work as professionals, setting the tone and the standard.
Looking at one key play
I would say the standout play from this game, for me, would be safety Nick Cross' interception in the end zone in the second quarter.
The Chargers had the ball, it was third-and-seven on the Colts' eight-yard line with about two minutes to go in the half. The Chargers were trailing 20-3 at the time, and if they were to score a touchdown it would've been 20-10. The Colts would have gotten the ball back with less than two minutes and could have gone down to score a field goal and make it 23-10, but they would have been up by only 13 points going into halftime.
The Chargers were also going to get the ball to start the second half, and we saw them go down to score on that first drive – so that would've made the score 23-17, if not for Cross' interception.
Cross' pick kept the score at 20-3 and even gave the Colts the opportunity to turn the interception into a field goal, going into halftime with a 23-3 lead. That was a key turning point and a big play by a defense who, once again, came up big when they needed to.
Those last few minutes of the first half were a perfect example of complementary football. The defense stepped up when they needed to and the offense took advantage, and it ultimately helped the Colts secure the win.
