Getty Image / Michael Hickey
First-year Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Shane Steichen has done an outstanding job this season getting the Colts into potential playoff position. But, a huge clock management mistake potentially cost the Colts a spot in the playoffs, as they lost to the Texans in a must-win game for both teams, 23-19
The winner of the game would have clinched a playoff spot at 10-7, with the loser eliminated. And, it came down to the last few minutes.
The game was back-and-forth the whole way, as the Colts rallied from a 14-3 deficit to tie the game at 17 before a CJ Stroud touchdown pass and missed extra point put the Texans up 23-17 with 6:20 remaining in the game.
The Colts moved the ball down deep into Texans territory, and faced a huge 4th and 1 with under two minutes left and the clock running. The Colts had all three timeouts left, meaning if they went fast, didn’t convert, and stopped the Texans, they would have around a minute to go down in score.
Instead, Shane Steichen let the play clock run down to zero to try to get Houston to jump offside, and then called a timeout. He actually called a great play to convert, only for reserve running back Tyler Goodson to drop the pass wide open in the flat.
DROPPED BY GOODISON OH NO pic.twitter.com/44kS9TbxAa
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) January 7, 2024
That is obviously not his fault, but calling the timeout was a huge tactical error. There was no real benefit to it, especially when they could’ve hurried to the line and handed the ball off to Jonathan Taylor.
As bad as that 4th down play call was for Indianapolis, trying to draw an off sides and wasting a timeout on the play before was way worse
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) January 7, 2024
Wasted a timeout and took guy you gave big contract off the field in biggest play of season. Game management can’t be that hard
— kyle (@knicks_tape99) January 7, 2024
Steichen has been so good with game management all year but using the timeout there killed them
— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) January 7, 2024
The Texans would take a safety with one second left, and the Colts attempt of lateraling the ball into the end zone on the ensuing free kick was unsuccessful.
Indianapolis finishes the season at 9-8 and will miss the NFL playoffs. Still, for a team that went 4-12-1 last year, this was a huge improvement. Anthony Richardson, whom they took fourth-overall, missed most of the season with injury. His development as the team’s franchise quarterback will be the top storyline in 2024.