Heather Lloyd: Colts’ season fades after sixth straight loss INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis Colts Daybreak Contributor Heather Lloyd returned to the WISH-TV studios on Monday to recap Sunday’s game between the Colts and the Jags, but her beloved Victory Blazer remained at home. Inst ead, Lloyd was wearing black and prepared to deliver a “postmortem” for the Colts, whose 23-17 loss was their sixth in a row. Indianapolis was also eliminated from playoff contention, becoming just the sixth team in NFL history to miss the postseason after starting the year with a record of 8-2 or better. But it wasn’t all bad on Sunday, according to Lloyd. Colts put in effort against Jags In the end, Lloyd says, the Colts couldn’t make enough plays to get the win — but it wasn’t for lack of effort or intensity. “The Colts showed up and played hard on Sunday, going back-and-forth with one of the best teams in the AFC. Coming off a six-game winning streak, the red-hot Jaguars offense was challenged all day by the Colts defense. They allowed 121 rushing yards, but held Trevor Lawrence to 249 passing yards, forced two turnovers, and had two sacks. “Watching this game, you would have thought these two teams were battling to win the AFC South — but sadly, only one team was, and it wasn’t the Colts.” Father Time catches up with Philip Rivers “Robert Mathis has saying, ‘Father Time is undefeated.’ I feel like we watched that play out in real time on Sunday. We watched him catch up with Philip Rivers on the field.” Lloyd says Rivers, who turned 44 on Dec. 8, showed his age against the Jags. “He was 17 of 30 passes for 147 yards, with one touchdown and one interception, but he struggled with the downfield passes and said the never really got into sync, calling it the ‘worst game’ of his three starts for the Colts. Still, he said he’s had an absolute blast and would do it all over again.” Rivers was brought in to make a playoff run with the Colts, and with that window now closed, head coach Shane Steichen left the door open to potentially start Riley Leonard in the last game of the season next week. “It’s possible we saw Rivers’ last game…again. I have to say, even though he’ll be remembered as a Charger, Philip Rivers will always be one of my favorite Colts.” Time to reflect…and rebuild? The Colts play their last game of the season in Houston this week, with kickoff for Sunday’s game set for 1 p.m. After that, they’ll have some tough decisions to make, Lloyd says. “The Colts haven’t been to the playoffs since before Philip Rivers retired the first time — so, that’s been five years — and, once again, they’re eliminated before Week 18 for the second straight year. None of this is where you want your franchise headed, right? Yes, there were injuries this year. It is hard to lose your starting quarterback and your top two corners and your best defensive lineman. But to start 8-2, then lose six straight? Like Jonathan Taylor said, ‘Good teams do not lose five or six games in a row.'” Even if the Colts break the streak and finish with the season a win, tough decisions are coming, Lloyd says. “It’s looming. One of the questions the Irsay daughters are going to have to ask themselves is, whether the franchise is better off than it was 10 years ago. And, right now, it would be really difficult to say that.” ...read more read less