Monday Night Football Recap: Buccaneers 24, Colts 17

The positives mostly surround the play of Curtis Painter. Yeah, the completion percentage was crap, with CP7 hitting 13-30, but the two long touchdown throws to Pierre Garcon (87 and 59 yards) were outstanding. Absolutely outstanding.

The negatives are the very thing that has defined this franchise the last few years more than wins or championships: Injuries.

Lots and lots and lots of injuries.

Eric Foster had a truly gruesome leg injury in the second quarter, an injury that looks career threatening. Drake Nevis had back issues. Anthony Castonzo was knocked out in the first quarter with an ankle injury. Ben Ijalana, who stepped in for Castonzo at left tackle, left in the third with a knee injury.

In one game, picks one through three in the 2011 NFL Draft went down... bang, bang, bang.

It's frustrating. It's disheartening. It's time for the Colts to seriously reevaluate their training and conditioning staff. Injuries happen. I know. But, crippling injuries happen to the Colts far too often for it to be 'normal.'

Still, despite the injuries, this team battled. Prior to LeGarrette Blount's 35-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter, the run defense for the Colts had been outstanding, limiting Blount to 4 yards a carry.

Overall, the effort made the game enjoyable to watch. Lots of heart in Indianapolis. Lots of pride. But, heart and pride were not enough to pull out a win tonight.

The Colts are 0-4. This season is over. The Colts are not going to make the post-season after starting winless for the first quarter of the season.This is the first time since 1998, Peyton Manning's rookie year, that Indy has been this bad. Yes, there are things to build from, but 0-4 is 0-4. There is nothing 'positive' about 0-4. Nothing 'good' that can be taken from it.

0-4 is bad. Really bad. And with all these injuries, this team could be winless for a while now.

Big props to Painter, Garcon, Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, Kavell Conner, and Pat Angerer for playing balls-to-the-wall tonight. It would be great is effort and toughness were enough. Unfortunately, this team has too many flaws and too many injuries to win.

0-4.

Yeah, this season really f*cking sucks.