Last season, Colts' cornerback Vontae Davis led the NFL with an excellent +15.8 coverage grade, but almost half of that grade came from one terrific performance against the Broncos. The rest of his season was a little less impressive as he still conceded eight touchdown catches.
However this year has been a different story. During the regular season he had the second highest overall (+21.8) and coverage (+16.5) grades among his peers. He never allowed more than four catches into his primary coverage in a game and only once conceded more than 50 passing yards, in Week 6 when Andre Johnson gained 74 yards against him. He got some revenge in that game, too, forcing a Johnson fumble late in the contest. Also, among corners who played at least 600 snaps, he was one of only five who did not give up a touchdown.
If anything, he’s arguably playing better in the postseason. Targeted 16 times in two games, he’s allowed seven catches for just 22 total yards, and held those receivers to a miserly eight yards after the catch. He’s also defended five passes, including three in Denver that saw him achieve the highest grade (+6.3) a CB has achieved in the postseason since we began grading.
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