Donald Brown to Colts Fans: How do you like me now?

Colts fans are being shown this season how much difference the offensive line makes to the running game - if they care to notice.  The Colts have rededicated themselves to running the ball, mostly to their left side using finesse runs behind Charlie Johnson and Kyle DeVan.  Donald Brown had three really nice game changing runs. Longtime fan favorite Dominic Rhodes had a couple of nice plays as well.

Austin Collie was having a great game after coming back from a concussion, but unfortunately he suffered another one and I don't expect to see him again during the regular season.  It might be in his best interest to be shut down for the year regardless.

This was an exciting game in the end, after looking like a Colts runaway early in the game.  But it always goes this way with Jacksonville.

I expect us to have a very difficult time with Oakland next week.  We do not match up with them very well and a loss would not surprise me.

Expecting a loss does not make it any less painful

No matter how a overtime defeat goes down, it is going to be painful.  To have it happen on another Manning interception is just adding insult to injury.  Manning was peppering the left side of the field with one short pass after another to bring the Colts back to tie the game, but threw one too many over there and got the last one picked.

A fine effort by the defense in the 2nd half was wasted by the offensive miscues.  A returning Gary Brackett had a fine game at MLB and the interior defensive line played well, lead by the steadily improving Fili Moala.

The running game was merely useless this week, much improved from the futile effort against the Chargers.  Both James and Hart had a few positive runs to break the trend of short losses on running plays.

I expect things to get better next week with the return of Austin Collie from the head injury caused by the dirty hit by Patriots SS Rodney Hariweather.

Jeff Linkenbach's performance Sunday against the Bengals = a mixed bag.

In re-watching the game I noticed some issues with Linkenbach playing right guard in the place of the injured Mike Pollock.  The Colts reportedly started him over Devan because he brings more power to the position.  The tape bears that out.  He definitely is a better run blocker at guard that DeVan is.  But that is not hard.

The problem came when it came time to pass block.  Or not pass block as was the case.  Linkenbach required help to handle Bengals DT Pat Simms, who is a good player.  Whenever he did not get help, he was a turnstile.  He was not getting bullrushed, the problem was lateral quickness.  This was surprising to me since you would figure since he is listed as a tackle that he would do better in that area.  This may be something that can be fixed with technique; so he bears watching.

The rest of the line played ok for most of the game.