It\u2019s getting dark early in Indianapolis.<\/p>\n
The Colts suffered another embarrassing loss, getting their doors blown off, 42-7, by rival Jacksonville. Already amid a teardown, it\u2019s the type of loss that puts more jobs in question.<\/p>\n
Coach Shane Steichen sits in the crosshairs after Indy already parted ways with GM Chris Ballard and traded away Quenton Nelson<\/a> and DeForest Buckner<\/a>. It\u2019s one thing to be 2-6. It\u2019s a different matter to get walloped by a rival in disheartening fashion for a fourth straight loss.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t good enough, flat-out wasn\u2019t good enough,\u201d Steichen said via the Indy Star.<\/a> \u201cWe got outcoached, we got outplayed and we\u2019ve got to freaking learn from our mistakes in a hurry. The effort and the energy has to be there every week. If not, you\u2019re going to get beat like that.\u201d<\/p>\n The Colts played like a team whose players know there is no coming back this season. Missed tackles, botched offensive plays leading to turnovers, ineffective quarterback play, questionable play calls. Everything was a mess. Those issues fall squarely on Steichen.<\/p>\n \u201cClearly, I\u2019ve got to do a better job, plain and simple,\u201d Steichen said. \u201cIt starts with me as the head coach. I\u2019ve got to do a better job to get these guys ready to go. That wasn\u2019t it today.\u201d<\/p>\n The question is how much longer Steichen is the head coach. Clearly, he couldn\u2019t get his players ready for a division opponent after the week of trades. Might Indy be better served severing ties now than waiting until the new year?<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m focused on getting better,\u201d Steichen said. \u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m focused on right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Beyond Steichen\u2019s future, the Colts have several big questions between now and next week. Jonathan Taylor<\/a>could be traded. The RB had a big 19-yard run out of the gate on Sunday, but did little else the rest of the way, earning 23 rushing yards on eight carries and a fumble on a botched trick play. The Colts may not have wanted to put Taylor in harm\u2019s way with the trade deadline looming, but once Indy was down big, there was little point in putting more tread on his tires, regardless of how things play out.<\/p>\n