The Indianapolis Colts failed to make the playoffs in the final metres of the regular season. The whole team failed in the 11:26 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The symbol of the defeat, however, is Carson Wentz, whom the Colts acquired from Philadelphia at a high price before the season.

Munich/Jacksonville – “It really pisses me off.” That’s what linebacker Darius Leonard said on “Fox” after the surprising as well as embarrassing loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. With 11:26, the Indianapolis Colts lost at the team that will be allowed to pick first in the NFL Draft in April because it was the worst of the 2021 season.

Even though the entire Colts team did not play what they would have been capable of, the criticism is mainly piling up on quarterback Carson Wentz, who is the symbol of missing the playoffs.

Wentz: “I have to be better “

The latter took the blame at the following press conference. “It’s disappointing. We weren’t as explosive as we thought we were. I have to protect the ball better, in general I have to be better,” Wentz said, visibly crestfallen.

However, Head Coach Frank Reich did not want to hear of any criticism of his playmaker: “Carson did a lot. I think he will be our quarterback in the future. We’ll grow from this year and there were a lot of bright spots from him, too.”

The 29-year-old Wentz, selected second overall in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, is under contract until 2024. He had signed that with the Eagles.

Wentz just an expensive misunderstanding?

While Wentz did indeed have “some bright spots”, he had significantly more questionable throws and performances. Not only did Wentz fall short against the Jaguars (17/29 passes attached, 185 yards, TD, INT), but he wasn’t the saviour he wanted against the Las Vegas Raiders (16/27, 148 yards, TD) and New England Patriots (5/12, 57 yards, TD, INT).

Since early December, Wentz has only completed more than two-thirds of his passes once, in a 31-0 loss to the Houston Texans (72.7 percent). When the running game works and the defence works, the Colts’ No. 2 usually works, too.

But for his lavish salary (128 million dollars for four years) Wentz has to show more, experts as well as the man himself agree. Not only does the former Philadelphia Eagle earn well, but the Colts also gave away a first- and a third-round pick for the trade. In the upcoming draft, assuming there are no more trades, the Colts will likely watch the best college talent leave on day one.

Now in his fifth year, they know what kind of quarterback Carson Wentz is. And this season, the 29-year-old has held back rather than carried his highly talented team. Not just on the field, but in cap space.

What’s next for Indianapolis?

Actually, the Indianapolis Colts have everything it takes to be a playoff team. An opportunistic defense, a top 3 running back in the NFL, an offensive line that is second to none, and a very good head coach who is a playcaller.

So why are the Colts sitting on the couch starting next week and not making the playoffs? Carson Wentz is not the guy who leads the way in big games and wins games. The Colts lost both games against the division rival Tennessee Titans and the last two games of the season. And you have to win big games if you want to make the playoffs.

At the end of the day, the Colts have to stick with Carson Wentz, with the trade they sort of inevitably committed to. His cap hit next year is more than $28 million.

Additionally, you have to give Wentz credit: Even though he already knows Frank Reich from Philadelphia, it was his first year in the new Colts system. And that the 29-year-old can play at a high level, he proved in the 2017 season.

And finally, there are 21 other players on the field who also didn’t make the plays they needed to against the Jaguars.