Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen seemed to sense the question might arise after his club was eliminated from playoff consideration Sunday with a ghastly 45-33 loss to the host New York Giants in East Rutheford, N.J.
The Giants were 2-13 and had lost a franchise-record 10 straight games entering the contest and their season-high point total Sunday more than tripled their season average of 14.3 points per game.
It was the type of bad loss that leads to head coaches being asked about their job security.
“I control what I can control,” Steichen said of the employment situation.
The Colts (7-9) were outplayed all contest by the team that entered the day with the worst record in the NFL — and with their playoff hopes on the line.
Last season, Steichen’s first as Indianapolis coach, the Colts also fell short, losing to the Houston Texans in the final week of the season to miss the playoffs.
“It was as disappointing as it gets,” Steichen said of the setback against the Giants. “As the leader of a football team, shoot, I always say I’ve got to be better, we’ve all got to be better. That’s a group effort, everyone’s got to chip in and do their part, so stuff like that doesn’t happen.”
Giants quarterback Drew Lock passed for 309 yards and tied his career high of four touchdowns while also running for a score.
Meanwhile, the Colts also went with a reserve quarterback in veteran Joe Flacco and he turned the ball over three times on two interceptions and a fumble. He also passed for 330 yards.
Flacco started because rookie Anthony Richardson couldn’t play due to back and foot injuries.
Indianapolis completes the season next weekend at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“I know it’s a tough situation, obviously, when you’re out of the playoff hunt, but again, I told (the team) we’ve got to be professional about it,” Steichen said. “That’s the biggest thing. We’ve got to show up and do our job still with one week left.”
The Colts last made the playoffs in the 2020 season. Their last playoff win was two seasons earlier.