Minshew cant extend Colts win streak but playoffs are still within reach

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CINCINNATI (AP)  The Indianapolis Colts had managed to get into playoff contention without their starting quarterback and star running back.But their four-game winning streak ended Sunday as Coach Shane Steichen acknowledged he wasn't sure how it happened.I wish I had an answer for you, he said. I really do.The Colts were humming along with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew, who had engineered wins over four struggling teams: Carolina, New  Dre Greenlaw Jersey England, Tampa Bay and Tenne see. But against the suddenly resurgent Bengals, Minshew and the Colts (7-6) made T.y. Mcgill Jersey  too many mistakes to keep it going.ADVERTISEMENT  A lot of self-inflicted stuff happened out there (Sunday), Steichen said. We had a drive going, and a penalty moves us back. We have another drive going, and another penalty moves us back. We have a holding call. A lot of stuff.Rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson went down with a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 5, and 2021 rushing champion Jonathan Taylor has mi sed five of 12 games with ankle and thumb injuries. Minshew, a backup for most of his career, has been serviceable. Against the Bengals, he was 26 of 39 for 240 yards with a touchdown and an interception. His touchdown pa s to Moe Alie-Cox in the second quarter was the only offensive score Ben Garland Jersey  by the Colts. Minshew was sacked three times.Indy was penalized nine times for 66 yards and was held to 46 yards rushing.We've been doing some good things, and today we just couldn't figure it out, said Zack Mo s, who carried the ball 13 times for 28 yards. Today wasn't what we're about and what we want to be about. We have to figure it out," Minshew said. I think we should still have a lot of confidence in the body of work we put on tape this year and the work we've done together, the QB added. So I think we're Weston Richburg Jersey  going to come together, get better and be ready  Robbie Gould Jersey to go next Saturday.Indianapolis hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have lost two straight games and like the Colts are 7-6. Both teams are still in the playoff picture but could easily fall behind in the tightly bunched AFC.We've still got everything we want right ahead of us, tight end Will Mallory said. So we've just got to handle busine s this upcoming weekend. This one stings but you've got to move on.___AP NFL: