Rams Stun Colts, 38-8

Despite Sunday's unexpected 38-8 blow out at home, the Indianapolis Colts are still in a good position moving forward and still atop the AFC South.

But, the Rams onslaught at Lucas Oil Stadium exposed a team that's been living on the edge recently.

"Can't keep digging ourselves in a hole and hoping for another miracle, another comeback.  Can't play football that way," said head coach Chuck Pagano.  "Sooner or later it's going to catch up and it caught up.  There's just not enough rabbit's foot in the pocket."

The Colts pulled off a classic comeback last week in Houston against a Texans team reeling from the mid-game loss of its head coach.

Sunday, Indianapolis dug a hole too deep  and had no answer for the Rams pass rush, special teams, and Tavon Austin.

The rookie wide receiver used Lucas Oil Stadium as the stage for his coming out party with a 98-yard punt return and two catches for 138 yards, both went for touchdowns. 

"They move him around a lot.  They put him in mismatch situations using his speed to run away from coverage," said Colts cornerback Vonte Davis.  "It's the NFL, they got good players on both sides of the ball.  We just have to step up our play.  Just play better and eliminate the big play."

The Rams' dominance started early when Robert Quinn sacked and stripped Colts quarterback Andrew Luck forcing a fumble that Chris Long returned 45 yards for a touchdown.

"I got thrown off," said offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo.  "We had a chip and the chip and I were kind of off rhythm and I just kind of misjudged it."

St. Louis pushed the lead to 14-0 in the second quarter with a Zac Stacy one yard touchdown run and then Austin took over.  He scored three straight touchdowns starting with the punt return.  He followed that up with 57- and 81-yard scoring grabs and just like that it was 35-0.

Andrew Luck has orchestrated ten fourth  quarter comebacks in his young career.  He is good.  Very good.  But, down 35 in the third, that's a task too tall for even the luckiest of players.

And he needed more than good fortune, he needed protection.  The Colts offensive line gave up three sacks and Luck was picked off three times, including twice in the end zone.

"When you get down, I think I forced a couple of balls," said Luck.  "When you get down like that you have to take chances.  I'm not trying to make an excuse for throwing interceptions - they were bad throws, bad decisions - but, when you can't line up with full back and tight end and run the ball and do what we pride ourselves on, you get one dimensional."

Sunday was not a good day for the Colts.  But, thanks to Jacksonville getting its first win of the season against Tennessee, Indianapolis still has a commanding lead on the division.

It's a short week for the Colts, who travel to the Titans, Thursday. 

"We know what we have," said defensive end Cory Redding.  "Our mental mentality, our toughness, our belief in one another has not wavered."

"The best thing about it is, we've got Tennessee on the road, Thursday night, divisional game.  Get this taste out of our mouth quick and bounce back and get back on this winning streak."