Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan (2) looks to pass against the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

If only we could have seen the Colts train wreck coming

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 12/17/22

The Indianapolis Colts' embarrassing loss to the Minnesota Vikings was historic.

The Colts blew a 33-point lead, the biggest blown lead in NFL history, losing 39-36 in overtime after leading 33-0 at halftime.

If only there was a way we could have seen it coming.

Colts brass, including president Pete Ward and GM Chris Ballard, expressed reservations to owner Jim Irsay about Jeff Saturday hire (per @RapSheet + @TomPelissero)https://t.co/f08ATMLU4G pic.twitter.com/xhQrJuGjqN
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) November 13, 2022

Newly named interim #Colts HC Jeff Saturday went 3-7 in his final year coaching high school football in 2020.
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) November 7, 2022

Jeff Saturday has no one on his Colts staff who has called NFL plays before

Colts' playbook in Week 10: pic.twitter.com/4M2bzF38GU
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) November 7, 2022

The decision to hire Jeff Saturday as interim head coach looked ridiculous then and looks like the kind of move that should disqualify Jim Irsay from making football-related decisions in the future. But no one could have possibly known that hiring someone with more experience on TV than they have coaching could lead to a laughable, once-in-a-lifetime defeat. Absolutely no one.

Every media member who defended the Jeff Saturday hire should lose one week of pay https://t.co/Jl4ZXYG4Yk
— Tanya Ray Fox (@TanyaRayFox) December 17, 2022

So now that Jeff Saturday has blown the biggest lead in NFL history, and hasn’t won a single game since beating the Raiders, do those of us that said the hire was an embarrassment *still* owe him an apology, or were we right all along?

Asking for myself, @JoyTaylorTalks & others
— nick wright (@getnickwright) December 17, 2022

.@JoyTaylorTalks gives her thoughts on the Jeff Saturday hire. pic.twitter.com/FuYpOmjCqq
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) November 14, 2022

"For an owner to hire a coach who has never been an assistant at the college level or the pro level...its a disgrace to the coaching profession." - Bill Cowher on Jeff Saturday pic.twitter.com/lpbwqyXPS9
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 13, 2022

The fourth-quarter meltdown against Minnesota makes the Colts' other fourth-quarter meltdown against the Cowboys on Dec. 4 look like child's play. In that game, Indianapolis trailed 21-19 before allowing 33 fourth-quarter points and losing 54-19. The timeout gaffe against the Steelers on Nov. 28 looks quaint compared to the bloodletting on Saturday.

Matty Wheels

: #PITvsIND on ESPN
: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/PvpVdrwXpl pic.twitter.com/TqGKWlGspL
— NFL (@NFL) November 29, 2022

With under a minute to go and down a touchdown, the clock ticked following a Matt Ryan scramble and the team holding all three of its timeouts.

"They have got to take a timeout here, I imagine," said play-by-play analyst Joe Buck. Saturday did not call a timeout. It turned out to be for the best.

The clock can't run out soon enough on this farce.

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