Stephen Holder

stephen.holder@indystar.com

ARLINGTON, Texas — Granted, this wasn't a playoff game for the Indianapolis Colts. It was, however, a game that might strongly indicate whether the Colts are equipped to win in the fast-approaching postseason.

If this game was a realistic gauge of their playoff success, the Colts might as well go ahead and make vacation plans for the second week of January.

Just as they have done on a number of occasions this fall, the Colts fell short against a quality opponent. They were thumped by a playoff team with Sunday's 42-7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys at opulent AT&T Stadium, looking like a team unworthy of playing on the NFL's most elaborate stage.

The Colts are now 0-4 against teams that have already clinched playoff berths, also losing to the Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots. In three of those four losses, the Colts gave up at least 42 points and were blown out.

On Sunday, the Colts were overrun, the offense failing to achieve a first down until 5:49 remained in the second quarter and the defense yielding five mostly effortless touchdown passes.

Not exactly a recipe for success in the postseason, which begins in exactly two weeks.

"They just whooped our ass," linebacker Erik Walden said. "There are no ifs, ands or anything. No way around it. They whooped us. They outplayed us in all three phases. We didn't respond like I thought we would. It's over. But I've said this before: This is a gut check. We have to make sure we really get our stuff together because if something like that happens in the playoffs, man, you're going home. Period."

The Colts talked about rebounding and fixing what ails them — it's a long list — but their identity right now is that of a team that inspires no confidence of advancing in the playoffs.

"I think there's a bunch of good players in that locker room," said quarterback Andrew Luck, who was removed in the third quarter when the game was out of hand and posted the worst passer rating (41.7) and fewest passing yards (109) of his career. "I would like to think we're a better team than we showed, but the nature of sports is they say you are what you put on film. And that's what we put on film."

The Colts approached an awkward game in clumsy fashion. They had little to gain by winning — they clinched the AFC South championship and a home playoff game last week — but wanted to put together a performance that would build some rhythm heading into Week 17 at Tennessee and the playoffs that follow. They were without their big-play threat, receiver T.Y. Hilton, who sat out with a hamstring strain, and started their first offensive series with three straight running plays despite facing long down and distance. What was bizarre was the fact that the Colts followed that conservative opening series with a shockingly bold decision to try a fake punt when backed up in their own territory.

The play failed when punter Pat McAfee's perfectly-thrown ball went through the hands of backup safety Dewey McDonald. And the Cowboys immediately took advantage, quarterback Tony Romo throwing a 19-yard strike to receiver Dez Bryant on the next play.

At that point, it already was 14-0 and the rout was well underway.

It got to the point where scoring at all seemed doubtful, but Dallas ultimately felt confident enough to empty its bench and the defensive reserves gave up a 1-yard touchdown pass from Matt Hasselbeck to backup running back Zurlon Tipton.

An important trend continued in this game. In those four losses to playoff teams, the Colts started horrifically in almost every instance. Against the Broncos, the Colts trailed 24-7 at halftime. Pittsburgh scored a whopping 35 points in the first half. Give the Colts credit for making it a game through two quarters with the Patriots, waiting until the second half to yield the 28 points that blew the game open.

Sunday, the ugliness came early and often.

The Cowboys had 17 first downs before the Colts got their first. The galactic-sized discrepancy in total yardage at the 6:32 mark of the second quarter, when the Colts trailed 28-0: 231-13.

There were many issues to bemoan: The lack of a pass rush, the inability of anyone not named Vontae Davis to defend a deep ball, costly and inexcusable penalties.

But the offensive issues are of particular concern. And they're not new. For a team that has had the league's No. 1 offense for most of the season, the Colts have been sputtering for the better part of the past month. Sure, the loss of Hilton is incalculable. He is the best threat Luck has going for him. But the remaining targets flat out failed to help their quarterback. (Where was Donte Moncrief? And what was up with all the Dwayne Allen drops?)

"There's high expectations for us on the offensive side of the ball," Luck said. "We want to go out and score on every play and get points and move the ball. And when we don't, it's disappointing. Guys have pride and going out and playing like this is a bad feeling. We managed to get a couple wins early and survive some of those mistakes, but against a good team like the Cowboys, you're not going to."

Exactly. A playoff team. The kind the Colts are yet to beat.

Follow Star reporter Stephen Holder on Twitter: @HolderStephen.