Here are the top takeaways and highest-graded players from the Indianapolis Colts’ 25-12 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
– It was an up and down day for Tampa Bay QB Jameis Winston, who missed on a number of deep ball opportunities. He was 0-for-7 on passes thrown at least 20 yards down the field, including an overthrow of a wide open Mike Evans late in the fourth that would have been a sure touchdown, and even the one drop could have been laid out further for Evans. Winston did sprinkle in a couple precision passes: a deep out along the sideline in the middle of the first, and a well-placed post route for his touchdown late in the first half. But, missing on the deep ball and throwing what amounted to a game-ending interception kept him at a -0.1 as a passer and +0.9 overall for the game.
– Mixing in two bad plays for every splash play, rookie LB Kwon Alexander (-1.6) led the Bucs with a team-high five stops but also tackled on five missed tackles to his league-leading total of 25. He got his hands on one pass, and blew up a few runs in the backfield, but there are still too many times that Alexander gets lost in space as a tackler or he’s completely wiped out of a running play at the second level.
– Making just his fourth start, Jude Adjei-Barimah (-3.1) was attacked early and often by the Colts’ passing game as he was targeted 11 times, surrendering eight catches for 71 yards and a score. Like Alexander, Adjei-Barimah had trouble wrapping up, adding three missed tackles of his own, and combining with Alexander for eight of the Bucs’ 10 misses on the day.
Top performers:
LG Logan Mankins +4.8
DT Akeem Spence +1.9
TE Cameron Brate +1.9
WR Vincent Jackson +1.8
OLB Lavonte David +1.6
Indianapolis Colts
– Another efficient outing for old-man Hasselbeck as Matt finished at +3.6, his third positive grade in four games as starter. He used the same formula that he’s used in the past, making good decisions and getting rid of the ball quickly (2.57 seconds). Even on the deeper, 7-step drops, Hasselbeck often got rid of the ball in the 2.4 or 2.5 second range, much quicker than the 2.8 or 2.9 seconds that usual starting QB Andrew Luck prefers. For the game, Hasselbeck only missed on a handful of throws and he completed all three of his deep attempts for 72 yards and a touchdown. He kept the ball out of harm’s way on all but one forced throw that was nearly intercepted by Alexander over the middle as it was another fine performance for the 40-year old signal caller.
– Pairing with Hasselbeck was WR Donte Moncrief who put together the best game of his young career at +3.8. He caught all eight of his targets for 114 yards and each reception moved the chains. Whether making a sliding catch on a wheel route, working the sideline on a comeback, or running away from Adjei-Barimah on a shallow cross, Moncrief made plays all over the field for the Colts.
– LB Jerrell Freeman has quietly had an excellent season and he now ranks eighth among all linebackers at 86.9. He notched a team-high six stops and he’s missed only one tackle since Week 3. Freeman graded positively in all phases against the Bucs, good for his fifth straight overall positive grade.
Top performers:
WR Donte Moncrief +3.8
QB Matt Hasselbeck +3.6
LT Joe Reitz +2.3
OLB Robert Mathis +1.9
LB Jerrell Freeman +1.5
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