By rssfeeds-admin 
Like when the Indianapolis Colts lost Anthony Richardson Sr. in pre-game warm-ups Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. The backup quarterback fractured an orbital bone in an eye when he was working with a resistance band.
Like when the Colts lost Charvarius Ward prior to the game. Their $60 million cornerback suffered a concussion while casually warming up and running into tight end Drew Ogletree.
Like when they had to dip so far into their cornerbacks’ bag that it was hard to recognize the healthy choices. Arizona backup and former Colt quarterback Jacoby Brissett took that patchwork group apart for 320 yards and two touchdown passes.
Until it absolutely mattered.
Complicated or not, the Colts moved their record to 5-1 — their best start since 2009 — by getting signature closing possessions from the offense and defense.
After entering the game with three wins by at least 21 points and an NFL-best plus-74 point differential, Indy found a way to add further misery to the Arizona Cardinals with a 31-27 victory. The Cardinals have lost four straight by a total of nine points.
Again, the Colts scratched, clawed, found a way.
“No doubt,’’ said Colts coach Shane Steichen. “That’s this league. A lot of this league is what happened today.
“It’s the back-and-forth, but I liked the way our guys found a way to finish it.’’
It was quarterback Daniel Jones finding a way. Especially in the second half, and especially in the fourth quarter when there was no room for a misstep.
The Colts’ two fourth-quarter drives after trailing 24-17: six plays and 67 yards that resulted in Josh Downs’ first touchdown of the season, an 8-yard strike in the back of the end zone; nine plays and 66 yards capped off with running back Jonathan Taylor’s well-schemed 1-yard TD on a pitch to the left from Jones.
“It’s good to see us able to execute in that situation, go down and score,’’ Jones said.
That drive, which included a 22-yard Jones-to-Alec Pierce connection, gave the Colts a 31-27 lead and put the game’s outcome in the hands of their defense. It was a unit that would yield 400 yards to an Arizona offensive without its starting quarterback (Kyler Murray) and top two running backs (James Conner and Trey Benson), and would lose wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. during the game with a concussion.
Over the final four minutes, 26 seconds, all Jones could do was watch and serve as cheerleader for an injury-depleted defense.
“You always want the ball in your hands with a chance to win the game,’’ he said. “That’s what we all prepare for and want. Especially as a quarterback, you want the ball in your hands with a chance to go down and win it, for sure.
“But I’m not going to complain if the defense stops them.’’
And the defense did, but only after Brissett drove the Cardinals from his own 13-yard line to a first-and-10 at the Indy 12 with 1:16 remaining.
Kwity Paye insisted an aura of confidence followed the defense onto the field.
“Absolutely,’’ he said. “We have some big playmakers playing for us, a lot of guys with a lot of confidence.’’
On third-and-9, Paye brought down Brissett for a 9-yard sack.
On fourth-and-ballgame, Brissett looked for go-to tight end Trey McBride, who was bracketed in the end zone by corner Chris Lammons underneath and safety Cam Bynum from behind.
“We knew they wanted to go to 85, and you just had to put your big-boy pants on and make a play right there,’’ Lammons said.
Brissett’s 44th and final pass of the day sailed over McBride’s head. While McBride ran to side judge Jim Quirk, begging for an interference penalty that never came, the Colts celebrated.
Again, sometimes things are downright difficult, but playoff-caliber teams figure it out.
At 5-1, the Colts currently are the top-seeded team in the AFC. The 194 points by the offense is an Indy-era record for the first six games of a season.
“It’s just resilient,’’ said Jones. “The game, back and forth. It wasn’t the cleanest the whole time, and we certainly make some mistakes here and there.
“The fact we were able to kind of come down and execute down the stretch and make sure we were at our best when we needed to be, I think that goes a long way.’’
Lammons and the Colts’ depth at corner exemplified that resilience. He was in position to make the play at the end because injuries have ravaged the cornerbacks room. There was Ward’s freaky pre-game concussion along with Kenny Moore II dealing with an Achilles injury and Jaylon Jones (hamstring) and rookie Justin Walley (knee) being on IR.
With so many unavailable, coordinator Lou Anarumo turned to Lammons, Mekhi Blackmon, rookie Johnathan Edwards and Cameron Mitchell. Blackmon came up with his second interception.
“We always prepare,’’ Lammons said. “Our preparation is what keeps us going. I think we filled in pretty well.
“You’re going to have ups and downs in this league. It’s how you weather the storm, to be honest, and I think we weathered the storm.’’
And that final play?
“Just lock in and make a play for the team,’’ he said. “It was just so simple: Just make a play.
“Last play of the game. Fourth down. Make a play for your team.’’
More from Jones
Add another successful week to Jones’ fresh start with the Colts.
“I thought he played in rhythm all game,’’ Steichen said.
Jones completed 22-of-30 passes for 212 yards with touchdowns to Downs and rookie tight end Tyler Warren (eight yards). He suffered his third interception of the season when he failed to put enough air under a pass intended for tight end Mo Alie-Cox that linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. intercepted.
“Holy crap. That was a helluva play by that guy,’’ Steichen said.
The fourth-quarter comeback was the second by Jones this season and 11th of his career.
The Jones-led offense was 4-for-4 on red-zone possessions, and now have scored TDs on 10 straight.
This and that
*Taylor finished with 123 yards and one TD on 21 attempts. He entered the game as the NFL’s leading rusher and pushed his season total to 603 yards along with seven rushing TDs.
*Warren led the Colts with 63 yards and one TD on six catches.
*Downs finished with 42 yards and one TD on six receptions.
*After missing two games with a concussion, Pierce had two catches for 48 yards on four targets.
*Linebacker Germaine Pratt, who was signed this week, started and led the defense with 11 tackles.
*The Colts had two sacks, both by Paye.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.
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