Colts’ 40-6 blowout of Raiders included much more from Ashton Dulin

INDIANAPOLIS — Michael Pittman Jr. has been there for the past five-plus seasons as Ashton Dulin has done whatever he’s been told.

Day after day. Week after week. Season after season.

“He really busts his ass every single day,’’ Pittman said Sunday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium. “He’s giving effort. He does everything right.

“He does so much dirty work here that he kind of flies under the radar. When he gets his chance, he’s always making plays.’’

Sunday, Dulin got an opportunity to be more than one of the NFL’s premier special teams players.

The Colts moved to 4-1 for the first time since 2013 by spotting the Las Vegas Raiders a 3-0 lead, then overwhelming them with 40 unanswered points.

The 40-6 victory was the Colts’ third in five games by at least 21 points, and that requires a bit of context:

*In the previous 55 games — dating back to a 31-0 win at Houston in week 13 — they had exactly zero wins by at least 20 points.

*In 2024, the Colts’ eight wins all were in one-possession games, by a total of 30 points.

As for long-range ramifications, 23 of 25 teams to start a season 4-1 have reached the playoffs since the NFL expanded the postseason to 14 teams in 2020.

“I think we got everybody involved,’’ Colts coach Shane Steichen said postgame. “Complementary football all the way around.’’

Daniel Jones completed 20-of-29 passes for 212 yards, two touchdowns and a 113.0 rating.

Running back Jonathan Taylor shrugged off a slow start — eight yards on his first seven carries — to wear down the Raiders with 66 yards and three TDs on 17 attempts.

Segun Olubi blocked a punt in the third quarter that led to Taylor’s 1-yard TD.

The defense kept the Raiders out of the end zone, sacked Geno Smith four times and got interceptions from defensive end Laiatu Latu and cornerback Mekhi Blackmon. Latu’s was his second of the season, and he joined Billy Newsome (1971) as the only linemen in club history with two in a season.

And then, Ashton Dulin.

“I think he led us in yards, right?’’ Pittman asked.

Yes, he did. Fifty-five yards on two catches.

Heading into the Raiders game, Steichen told Dulin to prepare himself for a maximum workload. Along with his usual special teams snaps, the 2021 second-team All-Pro would handle the “X’’ reps at wide receiver. Alec Pierce was out for a second game with a concussion and AD Mitchell was relegated to sideline observer until late mop-up time because of his two major gaffes in last Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

“Trust in myself, trust in my work ethic, trust in my coaches to put me in the right position to be successful,’’ Dulin said. “Week-in and week-out, I’m always preparing as a starter.

“If my number gets called, I’m going to be ready.’’

Sunday, he had 35 and 20-yard receptions on five targets — Jones’ two longest completions. Dulin also had a 98-yard touchdown on a first-quarter kickoff wiped out by Joe Bachie’s holding call.

“Yeah, that was some bull****,’’ Pittman said.

But the rest of the game was a testament to what Dulin has brought to the Colts since 2019.

“I’m so freaking happy for him,’’ Pittman said. “I’m super proud of him.

“Just seeing him do that and getting some shine is awesome.’’

In the first four games, Dulin had pretty much stayed in character. He was on the field for 41 offensive snaps and 68 special teams plays. He had one catch for 11 yards on one target.

Then, Sunday.

“If they let him play a little more on offense,’’ Pittman said, “he might turn into an offensive weapon.’’

That’s debatable, but his appreciation for Dulin was clear.

So was Steichen’s.

“He’s as gritty as they come, and he does anything that’s asked,’’ he said. “And he understands his role. I go over roles and opportunities to start the season, and I go over every player.’’

His message to Dulin?

“I say, ‘Hey, you’re our special teams ace, and you’re going to go cover kicks. When you get your opportunity on offense, go make the most of it,’’’ Steichen said. “Today, obviously, he had a helluva opportunity to play a ton on offense and made some big-time plays.

“Hats off to him. Just a tremendous worker is what he is.’’

Shrader injured

The blowout win over the Raiders might have come at a major cost.

Kicker Spencer Shrader, who was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month, suffered an injury to his right knee when Las Vegas’ Tristin McCollum dove into him on a PAT in the second quarter. McCollum was penalized for roughing the kicker.

Teammates surrounded Shrader as he remained on the field for several minutes. He eventually got to his feet and limped off, and was helped to the locker room.

“It doesn’t look good, but I don’t have the full update,’’ Steichen said.

Before being injured, Shrader had converted 13-of-14 field goals and all 14 PATs on the season.

With Shrader ruled out, Steichen opted for two-point PATs. The Colts were 1-for-4.

If Steichen had decided for a conventional PAT, punter Rigoberto Sanchez would have done the kicking, normal snapper Luke Rhodes would have been the holder and tight end Drew Ogletree the snapper.

The Colts will look for a replacement for Shrader — either short or long-term — this week. One option might be rookie Maddux Trujillo, who was with them in training camp.

This and that

*The Colts have piled up an NFL-best plus-74 point differential.

*The Jones-led offense scored TDs on six consecutive possessions, tying the longest streak in team history since at least 1993. The last time it was accomplished was week 2 of 2001 at Buffalo.

All six were red-zone trips.

*The offense converted 8-of-10 third-down situations, the team’s best in a game since at least 1991.

*Jones is the first Colts QB to throw for at least 200 yards in each of the first five games of a season since Peyton Manning in 2010.

*The Raiders entered the game with at least one sack in 39 consecutive games, but were shut out by the offensive line and Jones’ protection. Jones has been sacked four times in five games.

*Tyler Warren continued to expand his resume. The rookie tight end finished with 44 yards on four receptions, including his first TD catch. On the 11-yarder, Warren flowed left and dragged safety Jeremy Chinn to the pylon.

He’s the first tight end in NFL history to average at least 10 yards per catch in each of his first five career games.

Warren also misfired on his first pro pass attempt.

You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.