Snap Count Analysis from Recent Loss Shared by the Indianapolis Colts

In the NFL, losses often teach more than wins—especially when teams leverage data to uncover flaws in their game plan. For the Indianapolis Colts, a 27-20 loss to the Houston Texans in Week 11 prompted the franchise to release a comprehensive snap count analysis, a rare move that offers fans, media, and internal staff a transparent look at how playing time distribution influenced the outcome. The 16-page report, published on the Colts’ official website and shared via email with season-ticket holders, breaks down snap counts by position group, identifies mismatches that hurt the team, and outlines adjustments for future games. Snap Count Analysis from Recent Loss Shared by the Indianapolis Colts isn’t just a list of numbers; it’s a strategic deep dive that reveals how overreliance on certain players, uneven substitution patterns, and unexpected injuries disrupted the Colts’ rhythm. For a team fighting to stay in the AFC South playoff race, this analysis isn’t just about accountability—it’s about turning a painful loss into a roadmap for improvement.

Snap Count Analysis from Recent Loss Shared by the Indianapolis Colts begins with a focus on the offensive line, where inconsistent snap distribution contributed to three sacks and five quarterback hits on Colts QB Anthony Richardson. The report shows that right tackle Braden Smith played all 68 offensive snaps—despite nursing a knee injury he sustained in the first quarter—while backup tackle Blake Freeland saw zero snaps, even as Smith’s performance declined (he allowed two sacks in the second half). “We made a mistake in not giving Braden a breather,” Colts offensive line coach Chris Strausser admitted in a video accompanying the analysis. “His snap count was unsustainable with that injury, and it showed in his play down the stretch. We should have rotated Blake in to keep Braden fresh— that’s on us.” The analysis also highlights a imbalance in guard snaps: left guard Quenton Nelson played 65 snaps, while right guard Will Fries played just 32, forcing center Ryan Kelly to adjust to two different guard partners. This inconsistency, the report notes, led to three miscommunications that resulted in stuffed runs. For an offense that prides itself on physicality in the run game, the offensive line’s snap count issues were a critical factor in the loss—one the Colts vow to fix.

Snap Count Analysis from Recent Loss Shared by the Indianapolis Colts continues with the defensive secondary, where snap counts revealed a mismatch against the Texans’ passing attack. The report shows that rookie cornerback Julius Brents played 58 of 62 defensive snaps, tasked with covering Texans star wide receiver Nico Collins for 42 of those snaps. Brents, who entered the game with just three starts under his belt, struggled to contain Collins, who caught six passes for 98 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, veteran cornerback Kenny Moore II—who has historically matched up well against Collins—played only 35 snaps, limited by a hamstring injury. “We had to balance Kenny’s health with the need to stop Collins, and we got it wrong,” Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said. “Julius is a talented rookie, but he wasn’t ready for that kind of workload against a player like Collins. We should have adjusted the snap count earlier— maybe used a safety to help over the top.” The analysis also points out that safety Julian Blackmon played all 62 snaps, leading to fatigue that contributed to a late-game pass interference call that set up the Texans’ game-winning field goal. “Julian’s snap count was too high,” Bradley added. “He’s our leader back there, but even the best players need a break. We’ll be rotating more at safety moving forward.”

Snap Count Analysis from Recent Loss Shared by the Indianapolis Colts includes a focus on skill position snaps, where an overreliance on running back Jonathan Taylor hurt the Colts’ offensive diversity. The report shows Taylor played 52 of 68 offensive snaps, carrying the ball 22 times for 87 yards—but the Texans adjusted to his snap count, stacking the box in the second half and limiting him to just 2.3 yards per carry. Meanwhile, backup running backs Zack Moss (14 snaps) and Deon Jackson (2 snaps) were underutilized, even as Taylor’s production dropped. “We leaned too heavily on Jonathan,” Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said in the report. “The Texans knew he was going to be on the field most snaps, so they could game-plan around him. We need to use Zack and Deon more to keep defenses guessing— their snap counts should have been more balanced.” The analysis also highlights a missed opportunity at wide receiver: rookie Josh Downs played 41 snaps and caught five passes for 63 yards, but he was on the bench for 27 snaps in favor of veteran Alec Pierce, who had just one catch for 12 yards. “Josh was our most productive receiver that day, but we stuck with the veteran snap count plan instead of adjusting to the game,” Cooter admitted. For the Indianapolis Colts, the skill position snap count imbalance stifled their offense’s ability to adapt— a lesson they’re already applying to practice this week.

Snap Count Analysis from Recent Loss Shared by the Indianapolis Colts delves into special teams, where snap count issues led to two costly mistakes. The report shows that long snapper Luke Rhodes played all 12 special teams snaps, but he was forced to fill in at tight end for three offensive snaps earlier in the game, leading to fatigue that contributed to a botched punt snap in the third quarter (the Texans recovered the loose ball and scored a touchdown). Meanwhile, backup long snapper Matt Overton—signed just two weeks prior—played zero special teams snaps, even though the Colts had planned to rotate him in. “We deviated from the special teams snap count plan when we needed Luke on offense, and it cost us,” Colts special teams coordinator Brian Mason said. “Matt was ready to play— we should have given him those snaps to keep Luke fresh. That’s a mistake we won’t repeat.” The analysis also notes that kick returner Isaiah Rodgers Sr. played 10 special teams snaps but was limited by an ankle injury, leading to a 2-yard kickoff return that set the Colts up with poor field position in the fourth quarter. “Isaiah’s snap count should have been reduced once we saw he was hurt,” Mason added. “We have other returners who could have stepped in— we just didn’t adjust quickly enough.” The Indianapolis Colts’ special teams snap count errors were a reminder that every position’s playing time matters— even in phases of the game that often fly under the radar.

Snap Count Analysis from Recent Loss Shared by the Indianapolis Colts wraps up with a “lessons learned” section, where the team outlines specific changes to snap count strategy moving forward. These include implementing a strict rotation plan for offensive linemen (no starter will play more than 60 snaps with an injury), increasing snap count flexibility for the secondary (veterans like Moore will see more snaps in critical matchups), and balancing skill position snaps based on in-game production (not just pre-game plans). “This analysis wasn’t easy to share— it meant admitting we made mistakes,” Colts head coach Shane Steichen said in a closing message to fans. “But transparency is important. We want you to know we’re holding ourselves accountable, and we’re using this data to get better.” The report has already sparked changes in practice: this week, the Colts have been rotating offensive linemen every 15 snaps, and they’ve increased Moore’s reps against top wide receivers. For the Indianapolis Colts, the snap count analysis isn’t just a post-mortem of a loss—it’s a tool to build a more resilient, adaptable team. As Steichen put it, “We don’t lose— we learn. And this analysis is how we turn that loss into a win down the road.” For fans, the report is a sign that the Colts are committed to improvement— and that they’re willing to be open about their flaws to get there.