Aftermath of meltdown: Coach says no changes

Jeff Saturday still believes the Indianapolis Colts made the right calls in Saturday’s inexplicable loss at Minnesota, writes Michael Marot of The Associated Press.

The interim coach contends they didn’t play too conservatively after taking a 33-0 halftime lead and has no regrets about trying a quarterback sneak on fourth-andinches that came up short rather than attempting a long field goal to extend their lead late in regulation.

Regardless, the 39-36 overtime loss that capped the NFL’s largest comeback in league history only added one more embarrassing chapter to a season most Colts fans would rather forget.

“I wouldn’t change any of it,” Saturday said of his decisions. “It is what it is, you’ve got to get it. The game is over if we get it. I’ll never back down from that call, I can assure you. I loved where we were. I felt that was how we were going to close the game out and unfortunately, we didn’t.”

That’s certainly the way Saturday the player and his teammates would have approached it during their careers. Of course, back then, Peyton Manning was orchestrating his own comebacks.

But things have changed dramatically for a franchise that has been seeking stability at quarterback since Andrew Luck’s sudden retirement in August 2019 and hasn’t found a solution to their turnover disparity or inability to protect leads.

Now the Colts (4-9-1) find themselves on the edge of becoming the third AFC team to be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs while entering another uncertain offseason after a host of midseason changes.

Plus, the Colts must decide what to do with 37-year-old quarterback Matt Ryan — perhaps sooner rather than later given the circumstances. Saturday says Ryan will continue to start.

But even that will be up for debate after this season. After losing four straight since winning his head coaching debut at Las Vegas in early November, fans are clamoring for more changes and Saturday’s clock management and playcalling have been heavily scrutinized.

And yet, Saturday still wants the job, and his players still want him in the locker room.