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We mentioned earlier in the week about how tough it is on players having to plain a game on Sunday and then again on Thursday, and we definitely can't diminish the toll that can take with just four days in between games. But here's the positive side of things: after the Thursday game teams have ten days before their next game. With the Colts playing (and winning) Thursday night in Houston over the Texans, they're now able to enjoy a mini-bye week before their game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
"We've got 10 days off until we play again," head coach Chuck Pagano said on Friday. "We're going to have a chance to get some guys back. We're going to have a chance to heal up. We're going to have a chance to get healthy. An opportunity to take another look at ourselves from a self-scout standpoint, kind of assess where we're at and how we can get better in all three phases."
The Colts have a late bye week this year (week ten), so this is a very welcome break. Pagano gave the players Friday and the weekend off before they come back to prepare for the home matchup against the Bengals on October 19.
The players have certainly earned a couple of days off after their Thursday game. After starting 0-2, the Colts are currently on a four-game winning streak that has seen them go from tied for last place in the AFC South to sole possession of first place in just under one month. There was the 44-17 win over the Jaguars, the 41-17 victory over the Titans, the 20-13 win over the Ravens and then Thursday night's 33-28 victory over the Texans. Led by the league's number one ranked offense, a defense that has allowed a combined three third down conversions in the past three games (and just seven combined in the past four games), and a special teams unit that features Pat McAfee (who is having an All-Pro year), the Colts are now 4-2, are first in the AFC South, and are on a roll.
They've got a tough test against the Bengals coming up, but first they get to enjoy a miniature bye this weekend - one they've very much earned, too.