Biggest Takeaways from Indianapolis Colts' Week 9 Win

It doesn't get much bigger than the Indianapolis Colts' 27-24 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday afternoon. 

The Colts desperately needed a win after starting the season 3-5, both to gain some space at the top of the suddenly crowded AFC South and for morale purposes. Offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton was fired early last week, and there was a sense in Indianapolis that drastic improvements needed to be seen. 

Well, those improvements came on Sunday. 

The Colts controlled the game from start to finish on Sunday, a stark difference from the double-digit deficits that have been so common this year. With a bye coming up, the Colts have a chance to regroup for the second half of the season. 

Can this game be the launching point for a complete turnaround? 

Andrew Luck Is Back?

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If the Colts are going to turn their season around, it has to start with Andrew Luck. 

After struggling for the first half of the season, Luck put together his best game of the year on Sunday, against the best defense in the league. While his final stats (252 yards on 58.3 completion percentage with two touchdowns) don't blow you out of the water, the fact that they came against this Denver defense is stunning. 

Luck put a full game together, making smart decisions all game while using both his legs and arm to make plays. He connected with both T.Y. Hilton and Griff Whalen on long touch throws and also scrambled for multiple first downs.

Perhaps most impressive was Luck's third-down conversions. Luck and the Colts had decent third-down numbers this year, but they were boosted by success in their fourth-quarter comeback attempts. This time, Luck was able to connect on third down all game, extending drives and keeping the ball out of Peyton Manning's hands. 

The biggest one came on the game's final, game-clinching drive, as Luck found Griff Whalen over the middle for an 18-yard gain on 3rd-and-10, beating the blitz.

If Luck can continue to stay cool and collected under pressure, the Colts offense has a chance to put up some big numbers down the stretch. 

Rob Chudzinski Makes His Mark

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Of course, Luck playing better is the biggest factor for Indianapolis getting back on track, but Rob Chudzinski did an excellent job in his first week as offensive coordinator to put Luck in positions to succeed. 

In addition to being more committed to the run and multiple tight end formations (which was aided by the fast start), Chudzinski put Luck in a position to make easier throws over the middle of the field to get into a rhythm. 

Prior to Week 9, just 47 percent of Luck's throws were aimed over the middle of the field, per Pro Football Focus. But in Week 9, Luck threw more than 63 percent of his throws over the middle, a significant difference. 

It paid off, too, as Luck completed nearly 74 percent of his passes for 9.42 yards per attempt and a touchdown (120.3 passer rating) over the middle of the field. Against a team with stellar cornerbacks and a ferocious pass rush, the Colts prepared Luck to look to the middle of the field, with great success. 

This was also a big reason why the Colts were so successful against the blitz. Luck had struggled against the blitz for most of this season, but he was 16-for-26 for 190 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday, per ESPN Stats & Information.

Luck playing well will make offensive coordinators look good, and if Chudzinski keeps putting him in favorable positions, the Colts will keep looking.

Anthony Castonzo's Rebound Continues

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It seems like all of the Colts' top players who had been struggling got their "swagger" back on Sunday, something Rod Chudzinski challenged the Colts to do, T.Y. Hilton told Kevin Bowen of Colts.com.

Vontae Davis had his usual stellar day against the Broncos' receivers. T.Y. Hilton played through injury to lead the Colts in receiving against a stellar Denver secondary. Luck was obviously back to what we've expected to see from him. 

For left tackle Anthony Castonzo, he's now had two straight stellar games, and the Colts are very hopeful that this is a trend that will continue. 

Last week, Castonzo didn't allow a single pressure, and against DeMarcus Ware on Sunday, he allowed just one hurry, per Pro Football Focus. His Pro Football Focus grade of positive 4.1 was the highest on the offense, and the second-highest of any tackle in the league. 

The Colts' offensive line isn't as bad as some would have you think, but for them to perform at an adequate level, they need Castonzo (who just signed a $43 million contract) to play well. 

Pass Rush Returns, but Likely Not for Long

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The key to beating Peyton Manning has always been to get pressure on him. That's no secret. 

From his rookie season to 2015, you have always had to make Manning uncomfortable in the pocket in order to win. This, of course, was a huge concern for Indianapolis, whose pass rush has been a mess all year. 

The team simply did not have any individual who could consistently provide a pass-rushing threat. Robert Mathis was the closest to this, but at 34 years old, he is a better complementary player at this point in his career than a focal point. 

But against Denver on Sunday, the Colts figured it out. 

While Manning was only sacked once, he was constantly under pressure. The Colts were credited with nine official quarterback hits on the day, with Kendall Langford leading the way with five. Others got in on the fun as well, however, with both Zach Kerr and David Parry getting hits on Manning on his two interceptions, both critical plays that led to points for Indianapolis. 

Can this kind of play continue, however? The amount of pass rush for Indianapolis was more a sign of Denver's offensive line struggles than the Colts suddenly getting it together. 

Chuck Pagano's Job Is Saved

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No matter what happens for the rest of this season, Chuck Pagano's job is safe. 

That is, at least until the end of the season. 

Pagano had to be feeling the heat after a disappointing start to the season, and rumors had floated around about his job being in jeopardy for a midseason firing, particularly during the bye week. 

But with a win over the Broncos, that's not going to happen. Pep Hamilton was the sacrificial goat, it turns out, and the win over Peyton Manning will justify the move, at least to owner Jim Irsay. Do not underestimate how important it is to Irsay to beat Manning, especially in front of the Colts fans in Lucas Oil Stadium. 

To Pagano's credit, the win was well-earned.

The team's slow starts and game-killing penalties that were characteristic of the first eight weeks? Gone. 

All the distractions and criticism after a slow start? Ignored. 

The difficulty of transitioning to a new offensive coordinator on a short week against the league's best defense? Handled perfectly. 

As much as Pagano has gotten criticized for poor play by Indianapolis, he should get credit for Sunday's impressive showing, and that should be enough for him to stick for the rest of the season, no matter what happens.