Entering the Indianapolis Colts Week 1 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals we knew there were some real questions that needed answered on both sides of the ball. With so many new aspects to the team http://www.coltscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-kenny-moore-jersey , we essentially had no clue what to expect from this young roster. While a single game isn’t much to go on in terms of getting a full picture on how this team will perform throughout the season, we did however, get some insights into a few of the more basic of expectations.Colts defense is what the staff hoped forEarly on in today’s game it was the Colts defense that impressed and made plays. Al Woods pressured Andy Dalton on the Bengals first possession (hit his right arm) which forced an interception for Kenny Moore, and Matthias Farley forced a fumble to give Andrew Luck the ball back for a second time.Clayton Geathers even forced a fumble late in the game, but the Colts didn’t recover that one. The Colts were flying around, hitting hard and were even able to get some pressure on Dalton. The Colts were able to get 7 points off of those two turnovers — without Luck’s interception it would have been at least 10 points — and that’s supposed to be enough for a young defense with minimal expectations. Unfortunately, the bend-but-don’t-break approach allowed a ton of rushing yards, and Andy Dalton was able to settle down in the second half and eventually gave the Bengals the lead well into the fourth quarter.Ultimately though, the Colts allowed way too many big plays which made everyone’s day harder in the end. But, you have to love the energy they bring. Let’s just hope that’s enough going forward. Without the Colts two turnovers, this game is a 10-point win for the Colts.There may be somebig-yardage games on the horizon from opposing offense’s, but I think we are seeing a scrappy unit that can assist Andrew Luck in changing the result in a few games this year.Andrew Luck was excellent in his first game backWe knew Luck was going to give us some of his YOLO throws this year. That’s just what we’re getting with him as the quarterback. You love it most of the time, but you might just break your own nose by slapping yourself in the face after some of his other aimless tosses. It comes with the territory.Luck gave us a couple of those today as well. He threw into double coverage inside the red zone which resulted in an interception, and he nearly threw a couple more in the second half. On the other hand, Luck was phenomenal on third downs overall, he was able to get through several reads and pick apart the Cincinnati secondary and he showed no negative signs of his shoulder issues of the past. Luck was 39-of-53 for 319 yards, threw 2 touchdowns and an interception. We also saw his ability to work in high-pressure situations as he took the offense down the feild (down 4) for a potential game-winning drive scenario. He did his part, aside from that red zone interception, and uncorked a couple deep balls as well throughout the game. That’s quite a workload, and performance and further understanding that there’s nothing to worry about with Luck as a passer. Margus Hunt came through in a big way in Week 1Hunt, a guy that most of us felt the Colts defense could do without this year, was quite productive in his first action of the year. Hunt came away with the team’s only 2 sacks on the day, tallied 3 tackles for loss and forced the ball carrier inside per his positional requirements.Hunt is clearly not the speed option for the Colts at defensive end, but he earned his stripes in terms of physicality. He smashed the guy across from him multiple times and was consistently chasing the quarterback out of the pocket. A nice start for Hunt’s 2018 season.Darius Leonard is necessary for the Colts’ defense in 2018Leonard has come out and played really well through the preseason, but there’s always questions as to how a rookie will perform when the lights come on. Leonard answered that call with 9 total tackles in his NFL debut.He was constantly in the mix in pursuit, often having to sift through the trash crossing the field Clayton Geathers Jersey , and made Dalton’s day miserable with his ability to get into passing lanes, especially in the first half. He didn’t officially defend a pass, but he altered the vision of Dalton several times and was often ripping the ball soon after the catch as well.His speed and instincts are shining through just as Frank Reich and Chris Ballard had hoped.Any encouragement his effort gives to some of the younger pieces of this defense the better. I told you that this defense would offer some excitement.Frank Reich’s debut as a play-caller was very solidThe battle between calling plays, and reacting to the results will go on forever. But, for Reich, his first game acting as the head coach and play-caller was pretty impressive overall. We saw the offense called to get Andrew Luck in a rhythm, and it worked. We saw the route combinations offer deep-ball ability, plus the option to get it safely underneath which kept the Bengals’ defense on their toes.The offense was 11-of-17 on third downs, Luck threw for over 300 yards in spite of only a 6-yard average per attempt. The running game was up and down, but overall Reich showed that he’s going to be pretty even across the board in terms of his approach to each play. 22 carries is about what you want for a young running back group in their first outing, and allowing Luck to drive this team down the field is the way the Colts will win this year. That much is pretty obvious.Reich is definitely going to be using his tight ends pretty liberally, and that’s another aspect to how important it is for Luck to have three levels of play makers to keep drives alive. Additionally, on 6 of the Colts 10 meaningful drives they were able to churn out 8 plays or more, and that’s a winning approach with Luck under center any way you slice it. Derek Carr avoided a sack, stepped up in the pocket and found Brandon LaFell for a go-ahead 6-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter for the Oakland Raiders.He then let out a scream in his most boisterous celebration of the season, letting out the pent up frustration from one of the more trying weeks of his career.It proved to be short-lived relief as the Raiders collapsed again in the fourth quarter and lost for the sixth time in seven games this season, falling 42-28 to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.Carr's no-good, very bad week that started with a trade of his No. 1 receiver Amari Cooper, featured reports questioning his toughness and his teammates' belief in him as well as his long-term future with the Raiders ended with another loss."I had to answer some funny questions, but you know I know that you guys have to do your jobs," Carr said. "It's nothing personal, I know that. It was different. If I'm being honest as a human, it was hard. A lot of the stuff that was going around, I was like, 'Man, that's just not true and that hurts.' Especially just as a man Cheap Ryan Kelly Jersey , not even a football player. My goodness, enough is enough. Just to be able to go out here and play football again."Carr played well, throwing three touchdown passes and running it in for a fourth score. He completed 17 straight passes at one point and played turnover-free for just the second time this season.But it wasn't enough to get the Raiders (1-6) out of their rut thanks to an even better performance from Andrew Luck and the Colts (3-5), who broke the game open with three touchdowns in the fourth quarter."I think he's the strength of this team and I'm excited about him," coach Jon Gruden said.Here are some other takeaways from the game:MOST POINTS IN NFL HISTORYVinatieri set the record as the NFL's top all-time scorer in the first half. He kicked a 26-yard field goal in the first quarter to tie Morten Andersen with 2,544 points and then added a 25-yarder late in the second to set the record. Vinatieri scored three more points, giving him 2,550 for his career."I never thought I'd play that long," said the 45-year-old Vinatieri, who is in his 23rd NFL season. "I never thought I'd be standing here talking to you guys about all-time records. But I love my teammates — all of them — for the last 20-something years, unselfishly going out there and helping me do my job. A lot of great memories along the way. I think that's the best part about this day — less the record and more that we got the record in a win."TIGHT END TRIOLuck threw TD passes to tight ends Mo Alie-Cox, Eric Ebron and Jack Doyle, making the Colts the first team since the 1970 merger to get TD catches from three tight ends in the same game. Doyle's 10-yarder put the Colts up for good but the most impressive was the first, a 26-yarder with one hand by Alie-Cox."I don't get too emotional on the sideline, but I got pretty jacked up after that catch," coach Frank Reich said. "That was unreal. That catch will rival anything that we'll see. Big time."MIGHTY MACKColts running back Marlon Mack followed up last week's career-best, 126-yard performance against Buffalo with an even better one. He ran for 132 yards and two TDs. This is just the sixth time the Colts have had a 100-yard rusher during Luck's seven NFL seasons and the first time since Joseph Addai did it in 2007 that a back topped the century mark in consecutive games."Definitely as a running back, more carries you feel like you get more comfortable in the game," Mack said. "That really, truly helps you out. Even if you do get less, you have to make what (they give you) work."MARTIN'S GAFFEThe game turned in the fourth quarter when Doug Martin fumbled on the first play from scrimmage after Luck's TD pass to Doyle had given the Colts the lead. That set up Mack's second TD run and spoiled what had been a promising day for Martin in his first start in place of the injured Marshawn Lynch. Martin had 13 carries for 72 yards and caught two passes for 17."To fumble like that at the end, it sucks but a lot of guys went out there and played their hearts out," Martin said. "They put it all out there on the field."