Biggest Takeaways from Indianapolis Colts' Week 7 Loss

Despite a near-comeback in the fourth quarter, Sunday was a dark day for the Indianapolis Colts. 

Losing to a bad New Orleans Saints team is one thing. Falling behind 27-0 because the team is unprepared and not ready to play is another. 

The Colts were, in short, embarrassed on Sunday, whether the final score of 21-27 looks all that embarrassing or not. The team with the worst defense in the league marched into Indianapolis and held Andrew Luck and the offense scoreless through two-and-a-half quarters. They ran a fake field goal to perfection, a relentless reminder of the Colts' disastrous fake punt attempt in Week 6. 

It was, for a lack of a better word, a nightmare. 

Now the Colts enter the most difficult three-game stretch of their season at 3-4, with 3-6 being a very real possibility when they enter their bye week in Week 10. 

What can we learn from the loss? What does it tell us about the team, what can change and what is simply a part of this team's makeup?

Andrew Luck Is Broken

R Brent Smith/Associated Press

Andrew Luck is broken. 

Perhaps not permanently, but this is an issue beyond just a normal dip in his play. Five weeks of bottom-five quarterback play is not who Luck has ever been. 

Sure, he's had the odd game here or there that makes you scratch your head. 

But this has been consistently bad all season. He's put together a few good quarters, but overall has looked hesitant, inaccurate and confused for most of the season. On Sunday, New Orleans totally took him out of the game, and they've had the league's worst secondary to start the season. 

Some of the issues may be lingering from his unexplained shoulder injury, which has had so much secrecy and misdirection attached to it that it's hard to speculate on its effect. But there seem to be more mental and comfort issues than physical problems that have been present all season. 

Luck still makes some throws that wow you (see his second touchdown to T.Y. Hilton on Sunday), but his floor right now is the lowest it has ever been. 

The Colts Are Wasting Frank Gore

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Not all of Ryan Grigson's free-agent signings have worked out this season. 

Andre Johnson has been a no-show, outside of a revenge game back in Houston. Trent Cole has added little to the pass rush. Kendall Langford has been a mixed bag. 

But Frank Gore is one signing the Colts would do again and again. 

The 32-year-old back has been rejuvenated by lighter boxes in Indianapolis, averaging over 4.6 yards per carry for the second time in the last six seasons. He was effective on Sunday, rushing for 43 yards on just nine attempts. 

With the game getting out of hand so quickly and the Saints struggles against the pass this season, you can understand why the Colts went away from the ground game. But it still seems like far too few carries for a guy who has been phenomenal this year, especially when Luck was struggling so much to start the game. 

Because the Colts have been starting so slow, they've rarely been in position to stick with a run-heavy game plan, and it's killing the offense. Gore looks very good running the ball, exuding vision that the Colts haven't seen from a running back in a long time, but it's been wasted so far this year. 

Anthony Castonzo's Rough Year Continues

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Prior to this season, the Colts' lone redeeming quality on the offensive line was left tackle Anthony Castonzo. 

Castonzo, the Colts' 2011 first-round pick, was 10th overall in Pro Football Focus' tackle grades, and he gave up just two sacks in over 900 pass-protecting snaps. The Colts' line was full of below average players, but the ability to leave Castonzo on an island and have trust that it would be okay was a huge part of the team's offensive identity. 

But this season, Castonzo has been, as he told Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star, "f-----g terrible."

"

I'm just going to call it like it is.

I have to play better, straight up. Forget what my contract is. As the starting left tackle on this team, my teammates rely on me. I don't care if I was making $5 a game; it doesn't matter, they expect me to get the job done and I'm not doing that.

"

Castonzo had two more holding penalties in the game against New Orleans, and he is now up to five penalties in the last two weeks. His eight penalties through seven games (three false starts, five holding) are the most of any offensive player in the league, per NFLpenalties.com.

He also allowed his third sack of the season on Sunday, per Pro Football Focus. This eclipses last year's total in less than half a season.

If the Colts are going to turn the ship around offensively, their best players have to start playing like it, and that includes Castonzo.

The Defense Is Subpar, but Not the Reason for Losses

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Let's get this out of the way: The Colts defense was not good on Sunday. 

Allowing Mark Ingram to rush for 143 yards on 14 attempts is not acceptable. Allowing Drew Brees to pass for over nine yards per attempt (on a day where he didn't play particularly well) is not acceptable. 

But the team allowed just one scoring drive in the second half, and consistently gave the offense chances to get back into the game. Half of the points given up came after turnovers by the offense and special teams gave New Orleans the ball inside the Colts' 30-yard line. 

The defense is what it is for 2015. They lack speed in the middle of the field. There aren't enough playmakers. The pass rush is abysmal. But the defensive line has still been surprisingly effective, especially in run defense, and the secondary has enough talent to be effective when healthy. 

They are a below-average unit, certainly, but they've been playing well enough to win, if the offense holds up its end of the bargain. That hasn't been happening, and until it does, the Colts will not win. The defense is not equipped to carry the team.

Changes Are Coming

R Brent Smith/Associated Press

Changes have to be coming for Indianapolis. 

This season has been a nightmare, and the loss to New Orleans was simply an unacceptable display of undisciplined, unprepared play that has been far too common this season. 

Will Chuck Pagano get fired midseason? We'll have to wait and see for that. But his job security in Indianapolis is now next to zero, barring a miraculous turnaround this season. 

And in reality, the entire staff has to be in jeopardy right now. Cleaning house will certainly be on the table if the Colts have a losing record on the season, even if they do win the AFC South. Even the front office could feel the heat, with the overall talent level on the Colts being below par

But if just one of the coach-GM pairing is gone after this season, my money would be on Pagano. He has a lot of redeeming qualities as a head coach, but it's not working in Indianapolis. The team needs somebody who will instill more discipline, as well as offensive coaches that can coax more life out of Andrew Luck and what should be a high-flying receiving corps. 

You can't underperform this poorly and expect everybody to be back in 2016.