Carson Wentz on interceptions: ‘Beating myself up’ over late-game blunders that cost Colts in loss to Titans

Carson Wentz would not want the criticism on his two late recreation interceptions that price the Indianapolis Colts Sunday. He is his personal largest critic. 

Wentz had a horrific interception deep in his personal territory that was returned for a landing with underneath two minutes to play that gave the Tennessee Titans a late fourth-quarter lead. Wentz was capable of lead Indianapolis to a tying landing to pressure extra time, however threw a foul interception within the extra time interval to Kevin Byard that catapulted Tennessee to the 34-31 victory. 

Wentz threw only one interception within the first seven video games of the yr. He had two within the closing eight minutes of Sunday’s loss. 

“They each damage me. Little question,” Wentz stated after the loss. “Particularly they have been already in discipline aim vary. I belief our protection and I’ve confidence, however I put them in a foul state of affairs. I compelled that one. Hats off to them, however I’ve to make a greater choice.”

Wentz’s first interception that gave Tennessee a 31-24 lead with 1:33 left could have been arguably the worst turnover of his profession. The Colts quarterback faked a handoff to Nyheim Hines and did not throw a display screen cross to Mo-Alie Cox, as a substitute retaining the ball and attempting to maneuver to his left with two defenders proper on high of him. Wentz tried to throw the ball away along with his left hand, which got here out horrendously and into the arms of Elijah Molden for the landing.

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“Attempting to simply grime it. Simply grime it. Do not pressure it. That is what I used to be attempting to do however subsequent factor you recognize,” Wentz stated in disgust. “Yeah, that one I’m nonetheless mad at myself. Beating myself up over these ones on the finish of the sport for certain.

“They’d it coated up fairly good clearly. Horrible play. Horrible play one on one, looking for a solution to simply do away with the ball and subsequent factor you recognize I am about to go down. So yeah, one I positively need again. That one hurts somewhat bit.”

Wentz’s second blunder got here in extra time when he faked a handoff to Jonathan Taylor and fired a cross within the course of Michael Pittman. Taylor was large open in the course of the sector, however Wentz compelled the ball into protection — and allowed Byard to choose off the cross and return it to the Colts’ 32-yard line. Randy Bullock kicked the game-winning 44-yard discipline aim 4 performs later. 

“I in all probability tried to do an excessive amount of,” Wentz stated. “I attempted to pressure that one there to Pitt (Michael Pittman Jr.). He had a step on the beneath protection, however (Kevin) Byard got here out of the sky and made a heck of a play. I am certain in hindsight I had the checkdown in all probability large open, however thought I had Pitt and Byard made an awesome play. These two positively damage for certain.”

Wentz had his first recreation with a number of interceptions this yr and threw the second-most cross makes an attempt in his profession (51). He completed 27 of 51 for 231 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions, together with his first interception in 212 cross makes an attempt. 

The Colts wanted Wentz to ship in a giant second with any hopes of successful the division nonetheless on the road. As a substitute, Wentz’s interceptions despatched them to 3-5 — three video games behind the Titans for the division lead and Tennessee holding the tiebreaker by sweeping Indianapolis this yr. 

The one hope for the Colts to make the playoffs now’s the wild card. 

“It is a lengthy season. We all know the place we’re at,” Wentz stated. “Luckily, a loss like this we obtained a fast turnaround. ‘Thursday Night time Soccer’ is at all times robust on our our bodies, however typically it is good to your mindset to simply transfer on previous this one. 

“We’ve to be taught from it. Errors we now have to complete higher. I’ve to complete higher – little doubt about that. And we’ll.”