NFL Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis Colts Need ‘Turnover Prevention 101′ For Christmas

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By @jerry2landry

Andrew Luck Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Needs to Stop Turnovers

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The Indianapolis Colts have a terrible rush defense, or so we’re inclined to believe. In the context of Fantasy Football, it’s far from ideal, and is a frequent deciding point for many owners’ flex positions. But in reality, the Colts’ rush defense isn’t terrible — it’s not good — but instead as middle-of-the-pack as it gets. The Colts are tied for 15th in rushing defense, surrendering 110.4 yards per game.

What really stymies the precocious AFC South champs is their inability to hold onto the football. The Colts are third-worst in the NFL with 28 giveaways, and they split these drive-killers equally among 14 fumbles lost and 14 interceptions.

Every clichéd “keys to the game” conversation centers around turnover margin, and deservedly so. Just take a look at the top-three in the NFL in turnover differential — Green Bay Packers (+15), Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans (+12), and New England Patriots (+11). Three of these four teams are not only in the playoffs, but also battling for home-field advantage, and Arizona could argue their excellent turnover differential is the subtext to the Cardinals having their best season since 2008.

I’d like to view the game against the Dallas Cowboys as an intentional outlier. The Colts clinched their division in Week 15, and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs was already out of reach by game time — New England owns the head-to-head, and the Patriots won their 12th game before kickoff. It’s a no-brainer to sit T.Y. Hilton, and pump the breaks a bit. 42-7 looks terrible on score tickers, but a playoff win is worth the short-lived embarrassment in a near-meaningless Week 16 game.

As the season winds down, the Colts’ itemized approach should read like this: goal No. 1: get healthy for the playoffs. Goals No. 2-593: stop turning the ball over. Indianapolis has already secured a home playoff game, but it won’t really matter where they play if they can’t secure the football.

Jerry Landry is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow Jerry on Twitter at @Jerry2Landry, “Like” him on Facebook or add him on Google.

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