INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts bounced back from their first loss of the season, blowing out the Las Vegas Raiders for a 40-6 win.
Here are the winners and losers from the Colts’ dominating performance:
Winner: The Colts offense
Indianapolis moved the ball at will through the air and on the ground. The Colts scored touchdowns on six of seven drives with their starters in the game. Jonathan Taylor scored three rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Daniel Jones added two through the air to Tyler Warren and Michael Pittman Jr., respectively. Backup running back Ameer Abdullah added a touchdown run in the third quarter, moving the score to 32-3 with 5:49 left in the third, effectively ending the game.
The Colts did what good teams should do to bad ones. They got up early, built on their lead and never let the Raiders back into the game.
Winner: The Colts pass defense
Stopping rookie running back Ashton Jeanty was the focal point of the Colts’ defensive gameplan. Jeanty had a solid game, amassing 109 total yards, but the Raiders inability to stop the Colts offense put them in a hole, forcing a pass-heavy game script. Playing with the lead allowed the pass rush to pin its ears back and the secondary to focus on stopping the pass. Playing without the recently retired cornerback Xavien Howard, the Colts intercepted Raiders quarterback Geno Smith twice, allowing 228 yards on 25-for-36 passing.
After a slow start to his Colts tenure, Mehki Blackmon had a near pick-six in the third quarter. Second-year lineman Laiatu Latu had his second interception of the season in the first.
Winner: Ashton Dulin, WR Colts
Second-year receiver Adonai Mitchell suited up but did not play the first three quarters Sunday after his fumble cost the team a touchdown against the Rams. With Mitchell benched, special teams ace Ashton Dulin saw an increased role on offense. Dulin returned a kick for a touchdown in the first quarter, but the play was negated by a holding penalty. He took a shot from former Fishers star Jeremy Chinn along the sideline, breaking up what initially looked like a nice grab in the second. Outside of the near misses, Dulin played well, making two catches for a team-high 55 yards. Known more for his long speed, Dulin looked comfortable navigating the middle of the field. It’s unclear how long Mitchell — who played with the reserves in the fourth quarter — will be benched, but Dulin has proven to be a reliable option when called upon.
Loser: Geno Smith, QB Raiders
Outside of a three-touchdown game against the Washington Commanders, Smith’s first year with the Raiders is not going well. The former Jets, Giants and Seahawks starter has thrown an interception in four of five games and multiple interceptions in three games. Smith doesn’t look comfortable in the pocket, and he cannot connect with his receivers down the field. Five games into the season, it’s too early to tell if Smith’s struggles are him declining or on a struggling supporting cast. Star tight end Brock Bowers is battling through a bone bruise in his knee. The Raiders don’t have a No. 1 wide receiver and their offensive line is one of the worst units in the league. The Raiders are limping to a 1-4 start and could be in position to draft a quarterback high in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Loser: Joe Bachie, LB Colts
Bachie, a former special teamer turned starting linebacker, had a game to forget against the Raiders. In the first quarter, Bachie was beat for 29 yards on a wheel route from Jeanty. In the second, Bachie got hit for a rare double-penalty when he was called for a facemask penalty on Jeanty and tripping on the same play. Only the tripping penalty was enforced, but committing two penalties on one play highlighted just how poorly Bachie played.
Loser: Colts two-point offense
With kicker Spencer Shrader injured, the Colts were forced to go for two after each touchdown. The Colts did well getting the ball into the end zone, but their two-point offense needs to improve. The Colts went just 1 for 4 on two-point tries. Their lone conversion was a Jonathan Taylor toss to the left. In a game they dominated, red zone offense is one obvious area of improvement.
Joel A. Erickson covers the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.