Former Colts Update: Week Three

The Colts beat the Jaguars 44-17 on Sunday afternoon, a huge victory in which the team played great.  We'll talk about that victory a lot today and in the coming days, but right now let's take a moment to look at how some former Colts fared this weekend:

Quarterback:

Peyton Manning, Broncos

Peyton was Peyton.  He completed 31 of 49 passes (63.3%) for 303 yards and 2 touchdowns with a pick.  Actually, the former Colts quarterback didn't have his best game today and looked to have thrown a game-losing interception late in the fourth quarter in just a bad decision from the game's smartest quarterback.  But then he got the ball back with 59-seconds down 8 with no timeouts needing to go 80-yards.  And against the league's best defense in the league's toughest environment, Manning led his Broncos down the field 80-yards in 41 seconds, hitting Jacob Tamme for the touchdown and Demaryius Thomas for the two-point conversion.  But then, like we've seen happen to Peyton so often, he never saw the ball again, as the Seahawks marched 80-yards down the field in overtime to win it on a touchdown run.

Drew Stanton, Cardinals

Andrew Luck's backup in 2012, Stanton followed Bruce Arians to Arizona.  He's now 2-0 as their starting quarterback this year, and on Sunday he completed 18 of 33 passes (54.5%) for 244 yards and 2 touchdowns without a pick, also adding 16 yards rushing.  He hasn't been anything special, but he's been what the Cardinals have needed - he hasn't lost them games and in fact he's helped them to win them.  Stanton has done a solid job for Arizona so far, including on Sunday.

Running Back:

Donald Brown, Chargers

The former Colts first round pick saw a lot of action on Sunday with Ryan Matthews already out and then Danny Woodhead getting injured during the game.  Brown saw 31 carries (yes - 31 carries!)  Entering the game, the most carries he had received in a single game was 18.  Today, he saw 31.  And get this - he gained just 62 yards, averaging exactly 2 yards per carry.  He did add 5 catches for 27 yards in the receiving game, however.  Brown's workload was heavy, but he wasn't overly impressive.  He's at his best when he's not in a 31-carry-per-game role, as he's best as a change of pace back.

Wide Receiver:

Pierre Garcon, Redskins

Garcon, the former Colts receiver, had a great game on Sunday for the Redskins, catching 11 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown, also recovering a fumble.  Garcon obviously has a good connection with Kirk Cousins, who also looked impressive Sunday, and Garcon has established himself as a very good wide receiver for Washington.  He had another good game on Sunday.

Donnie Avery, Chiefs

Donnie Avery, who was with the Colts in 2012, caught 2 passes for 12 yards on Sunday for the Chiefs.

Tight End:

Jacob Tamme, Broncos

Tamme played with Peyton Manning in Indianapolis and followed the quarterback to Denver (following Peyton is a good career move for any pass catcher) and on Sunday he caught 2 passes for 22 yards and a touchdown.  It wasn't just any touchdown, however - Tamme caught the touchdown with 18 seconds left that put the Broncos in the position to tie the game with a two-point conversion.  When it mattered the most, Manning hit Tamme for the score.

Offensive Line:

Mike McGlynn, Chiefs

McGlynn, the former Colts lineman, played for the Chiefs on Sunday.  I'll just let you guess how it went.

Samson Satele, Dolphins

Similar to McGlynn, Satele was the Colts starting center for much of the past two seasons.  He played for the Dolphins on Sunday.

Defense:

Jerry Hughes, Bills (DE)

Hughes, the former Colts first round pick, notched 3 tackles for the Bills in their loss to the Chargers on Sunday.

Dwight Freeney, Chargers (OLB)

The former Colts pass rushing star is doing the same thing with the Chargers, and on Sunday he notched 2 tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss, and a quarterback hit.  He's on pace for just under 11 sacks on the season - which, at 34 years old and coming off of an injury, that's pretty impressive.

Kavell Conner, Chargers (LB)

Conner spent the past few seasons with the Colts and Chargers GM (and longtime Colts executive) Tom Telesco brought him to San Diego this offseason.  On Sunday, Conner notched 3 tackles for the Chargers.

Marcus Burley, Seahawks (CB)

Burley spent training camp and preseason with the Colts and was impressive and was then traded to Seattle shortly before the season began.  On Sunday, going up against the Broncos and Peyton Manning, Burley made 3 tackles and 2 pass deflections.

Antoine Bethea, 49ers (S)

Bethea was a longtime starter for the Colts and left in free agency for the 49ers this offseason, and on Sunday he recorded 4 tackles against the Cardinals.

Kelvin Sheppard, Dolphins (LB)

Sheppard played for the Colts in 2013 and was cut shortly before the season began during final cuts, and on Sunday with the Dolphins Sheppard recorded one tackle.

Philip Wheeler, Dolphins (LB)

Wheeler is another former Colts linebacker who is now with the Dolphins, and on Sunday he made 6 tackles and a tackle for loss.

Jerraud Powers, Cardinals (CB)

Powers is a former Colts starting corner who is now with the Cardinals, and on Sunday he recorded 4 tackles against the 49ers.

Stevie Brown, Giants (S)

The former Colts backup safety recorded 2 tackles for the Giants on Sunday.

Clifton Geathers, Redskins DL

Geathers played in 8 games for the Colts in 2012, and on Sunday for the Redskins he recorded a tackle and a tackle for loss.

Kicker:

Brandon McManus, Broncos

McManus was the Colts' camp leg last year and on Sunday he hit a 24-yard field goal (his only try of the day) and converted his only extra point attempt of the day.  It's probably the easiest day he'll ever have as a kicker on a team with Peyton Manning, but he made the kicks he was asked to.

Cody Parkey, Eagles

The Colts' camp leg this year who the team traded to Philly and who hit the game-winner against Indianapolis last week, Parkey had another very strong day on Sunday.  He went 3-of-3 on field goals, including a 51-yarder, and hit all four of his extra point attempts.  Parkey has hit 8-of-9 kicks on the season, including several long ones.  He has been very impressive.

Coaches:

Jim Caldwell, Lions

Caldwell was the head coach of the Colts from 2009-11 and in his first three games with the Lions this year, he has Detroit at 2-1.  On Sunday, Caldwell's Lions beat the Green Bay Packers 19-7 in a game that saw Aaron Rodgers throw for just 162 yards all game.  Despite several Matthew Stafford turnovers, the Lions did enough to win.  Impressive win for Caldwell to improve to 2-1 on the year.

Bruce Arians, Cardinals

Arian's has been the Colts' quarterbacks coach, offensive coordinator, and interim head coach in 2012 and Colts fans still love him.  With the Cardinals, he has Arizona playing great football.  Missing several key defensive players and with Drew Stanton at quarterback, Arians' Cardinals came back from a 14-6 halftime defecit to beat the San Francisco 49ers 23-14.  It was a massive victory for Arizona to improve to 3-0 on the year, and Arians has to be the overwhelming favorite for the Coach of the Year award early on this season.