Insider: Colts beat themselves in loss to Saints

Want to lose an NFL football game? Let the Indianapolis Colts show you how.

You can start by throwing two interceptions in the first half – it helps if one comes in the red zone, with seconds left on the clock, on an unnecessary and forced throw that rids any shot you have at a field goal.

You can further the damage by fumbling a kickoff return. By getting burned on a fake field goal. By holding on third down. By not making it past midfield on offense until 47 seconds remain in the first half. By turning the ball over three times in the first half and spotting your opponent a 20-zip lead.

You can cement the loss by, after clawing back into the game, giving up a 47-yard pass on third down from the opponent’s 3-yard-line. On another critical third down with two minutes left, by allowing a 20-yard pass to be completed. By getting outcoached, outplayed, outexecuted by an opponent that entered Sunday’s game 2-4 on the year.

The Colts did everything they could to lose to the New Orleans Saints Sunday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium, which they did, 27-21, further solidifying the notion they’re an average football team playing in a bad division. With the defeat the Colts fall to 3-4 on the year.

That’s 3-0 vs. AFC South teams and 0-4 vs. everyone else. They’re also 3-4 through seven games of a season in which they were pegged as a Super Bowl contender.

The disappointing defeat further muddies the status of coach Chuck Pagano, who again failed to have his team ready to go Sunday. The Colts were down 27-0 before they ever started playing.

The mistakes came in bunches. Early on, Colts quarterback Andrew Luck tossed a bonehead interception – his way of describing such mistakes – that the Saints quickly turned into a touchdown. Then return man Griff Whalen fumbled a kickoff – which the Saints quickly turned into a touchdown. Luck finished 28-for-44 for three touchdowns and two interceptions.

There was more. A lot more. After getting off the field on a third down deep in their own territory, the Colts bit on fake field goal attempt from the Saints, who turned it into a 25-yard gain. A play later the Saints scored their first touchdown. And with 13 seconds left in the first half, Luck threw another mindless interception, easily picked off by the Saints in the end zone.

Dating back to last season, Luck’s now had multiple interception games in six of his last seven starts.

Even coming out of the locker room, trailing by 20 points, desperate and hopeful, the Colts yielded a too-easy touchdown drive that featured runs of 36 yards and 17 yards.

Then, suddenly, life. Luck to his trusty target, T.Y. Hilton, who dropped Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux, then weaved 87 yards past safety Jarius Byrd for a touchdown. It gave the fans at Lucas Oil Stadium something they hadn’t felt since kickoff – juice.

It continued. The defense stiffened. Held. Forced punts. Luck drilled Hilton again, after another Saints cornerback hit the turf, and just like that it was 27-14. On back-to-back possessions Hilton had hauled touchdown catches of 87 yards (a career high) and 46 yards.

But the Colts couldn’t finish. On a critical third down from their own 3-yard-line, with the Colts’ defense desperate to get off the field, the Saints (somewhat surprisingly) lined up in shotgun. Brees drilled a bullet to Brandin Cooks, who zipped by Darius Butler for a monstrous 47-yard gain.

The 20-yarder to Colston on the game’s last significant play really did it.

Call Star reporter Zak Keefer at (317) 444-6134 and follow him on Twitter: @zkeefer.