Amid Frustrating Loss To Commanders, Why Colts’ Offense Saw Signs Of Progress With Sam Ehlinger At Quarterback

The Colts had six drives scythe inside the Washington Commanders’ 30-yard line on Sunday. Two drives ended with lost fumbles, three ended with field goals, and one ended with a touchdown.

“We needed literally one more touchdown,” running back Nyheim Hines said. “One of those drives, we have to find a way to score a touchdown and we’re not having this conversation.”

This conversation was one that’s become too familiar to the Colts in 2022, who fell to 3-4-1 with a 17-16 Week 8 loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Colts’ offense felt like it played well at times, and was as explosive as its been all season – encouraging for a team quarterbacked by first-time starter Sam Ehlinger.

But the mistakes, be it turnovers or negative plays in critical situations, were too much to overcome.

“I thought as an offense we had a lot of opportunities,” Ehlinger said. “We just shot ourselves in the foot. We got down on the other side of the 50 multiple times and didn’t come away with points — two turnovers. We came down to the inch-yard line and came away with three points. That’s not good enough in this league.”

In the first half, an 11-play, 64-yard drive stalled after Commanders defensive tackle came unblocked through the A-gap to sack Ehlinger for a loss of six at the 24-yard line, leading to a Chase McLaughlin field goal. On the Colts’ next possession, Ehlinger drew a facemask penalty to move the Colts to the Washington 13-yard line; a Deon Jackson run lost four yards and Ehlinger lost a fumble on the next two plays.

In the third quarter, the Colts took over possession at midfield after E.J. Speed stuffed running back Brian Robinson for a loss on fourth and one, but Jonathan Taylor was stopped for no gain on a third and three at the Commanders’ 21-yard line. McLaughlin then connected on his second field goal of the game.

And later in the third quarter, a 47-yard Ehlinger shot to Alec Pierce was squandered when Taylor lost a fumble just inside the…