Colts blame themselves for costly miscues but need solutions to salvage fading playoff hopes

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — One by one, the Indianapolis Colts took responsibility for the long list of embarrassments Sunday

Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. regretted showing his frustration on the field. Rookie receiver Adonai Mitchell explained he never saw Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto when he lobbed a fateful lateral across the field toward quarterback Anthony Richardson. And running back Jonathan Taylor apologized to his teammates for dropping the ball — literally and figuratively.

The explanations continued Monday when coach Shane Steichen told reporters he was ultimately responsible for the miscues that led to the devastating 31-13 loss at Denver.

“It comes down to consistency and it starts with myself,” Steichen said. “We've got to be consistent in everything we do. We've got to take care of the football moving forward because I thought our defense played a heck of a game.”

But it's the lingering inconsistency that may wind up costing the Colts (6-8) a playoff spot.

Indy hasn't had consecutive wins in two months. And while some growing pains are expected from a second-year quarterback such as Richardson, his play has varied wildly, sometimes from drive to drive or play to play.

And on Sunday, it wasn't just Richardson's two interceptions or Mitchell's ill-advised throw that Bonitto turned into a game-changing touchdown. Steichen blamed himself for trying to give his team a spark with the play call and putting Mitchell in a tough spot.

“It was there pretty much until (No.) 15 (Bonitto) turned into Ed Reed,” Mitchell said, referring to the ball-hawking Hall of Fame safety.

Indy had five turnovers, including a rare lost fumble from Pittman, which led to a field goal for Denver, and the one Taylor will never forget when he let go of the ball before crossing the goal line.

Instead of giving the Colts a 20-7 lead, the touchdown came off the board and Denver got the ball back because it bounced out of bounds for a touchback.

“We've talked about those (situations),” Steichen said, referring to similar circumstances that have happened around the league this season. “We talk about letters and logos (in the end zone) and finishing through the end.”

But with three games left and Indy two games out of the AFC's seventh and final playoff spot — and down a tiebreak to the Broncos — Sunday's debacle could seal Indy's postseason fate.

Turnovers. While it's an up and down season for the Colts' defense, too, one facet where they have excelled is takeaways. Indy intercepted Denver rookie Bo Nix three times and it helped Indy take the lead into the fourth quarter.

Complementary football. The Colts still have not really found an answer to why the offense, defense and special teams have not played well together all season. The loss to Denver was a perfect illustration. On a day the defense gave up only 10 points through three quarters, the offense essentially gave away 14 with the fumble return and Taylor's drop.

S Nick Cross. He's having a breakout season in his third year. He has 130 tackles, after logging only 56 total in 2022 and 2023, the first sack of his career and against Denver he picked off his third pass of the season.

Mitchell. The rookie has been criticized all year over a variety of issues. First, it was dropped passes. Then, it was questions about his route running. Now, he's being asked about the decision to throw the ball.

WR Alec Pierce left with a concussion and Steichen said he's in the concussion protocol. ... The bigger questions continue to center on the offensive line. Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly was not activated from injured reserve this week and even though backup Tanor Bortolini could have played, Steichen went with Danny Pinter at center anyway. The Colts also announced Saturday that RT Braden Smith has been placed on the reserve/non-football illness list, ending his season. Smith has been dealing with an undisclosed personal matter.

.190 — That's the winning percentage of Indy's final three opponents — Tennessee (3-11), the New York Giants (2-12) and Jacksonville (3-11).

Steichen is encouraging his team to stay hopeful that if it plays hard the next three weeks, it just might get the help it needs to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020. And if that doesn't happen, he wants everyone to know there's still plenty on the line this season.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

Denver Broncos' Courtland Sutton catches a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Broncos' Kris Abrams-Draine breaks iup a pass intended for Indianapolis Colts' Alec Pierce during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Indianapolis Colts' Jonathan Taylor runs for what would have been a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. Taylor dropped the ball before crossing the goal line. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos' Nik Bonitto celebrates his interception and return for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner heads off the field after an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson heads off the field after an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. swept onto Capitol Hill late Monday as the anti-vaccine health guru from the famous political family reintroduced himself to senators, this time as President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the nation's Health and Human Services Department.

It was a soft-opening debut for Kennedy, whose wide-ranging views — yes to raw milk, no to fluoride, Ozempic and America's favorite processed foods — are raising alarms in the scientific community and beyond. In the Senate he's facing a mix of support, curiosity, skepticism and downright rejection among the senators who will be asked to confirm him to Trump's Cabinet.

Kennedy's first stop Monday was on potentially friendly terrain, to the offices of a few GOP senators allied with Trump, the start of a robust, weeks-long process.

One Republican, Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, said Kennedy told him, “I 100% support the polio vaccination.” But Mullin added that their conversation also turned to other childhood vaccinations. He predicts Kennedy will be confirmed.

“The more you talk to him, the more he explains it, the more you like him,” Mullin said.

The man known simply as RFK, Jr., 70, is the latest in the Trump rival-turned-partner orbit, a former Democratic presidential hopeful now in line to run the world's largest public health agency, with its whopping $1.7 trillion budget, and some of the U.S. most important public services.

HHS has a broad reach across the lives of Americans — inspecting the nation's food, regulating medicines and overseeing research of diseases and cures. It provides health insurance for nearly half of the country — poor, disabled and older Americans, including via Medicare.

Richard Besser, CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, called Kennedy “a truly dangerous” choice.

Besser, in an op-ed in U.S. News and World Report, said Kennedy stands out as a “single potential Cabinet member who could do the most damage to the American people’s lives.”

Ahead of Kennedy's arrival he was given a word of advice from one important voice: outgoing Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, a childhood polio survivor, who cautioned the nominee against views opposing the vaccine.

“Anyone seeking the Senate’s consent to serve in the incoming Administration would do well to steer clear of even the appearance of association with such efforts,” McConnell said recently.

Trump said Monday during his own press conference he’s a “big believer” in polio vaccines and sought to tamp down fears about Kennedy, saying he will be “much less radical” than people think.

The incoming GOP leader, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, said Kennedy will have to address questions about his views on the polio vaccine and other issues.

“Well, I think he’ll have to address that,” Thune said. “We’ll find out.”

But hardline Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a House member who has no vote in the confirmation process, has been influential in supporting and amplifying Kennedy’s views on vaccines.

In the Capitol on Monday, Republican senators said they want to hear more about Kennedy’s views.

“I’m open," said GOP Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina. But “if you come in and say I won’t consider myself successful unless I eliminate these vaccines, that could be problematic.”

Kennedy’s nomination will test the nation’s emerging political realignment, as Trump expands his base of supporters to include former Democratic voters shifting elsewhere. Kennedy’s views find favor but also opposition from both sides of the political aisle.

In particular, Kennedy's ideas about ridding the nation’s food of additives has drawn interest if not support from some Democrats, but his criticism of major farm interests have also raised concerns from the agricultural industry.

Iowa GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley says he’s interested in what Kennedy says about pigs “because Iowa is the number one pig producer.”

Other Trump nominees are also expected back on Capitol Hill this week. The president-elect's choice of Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary, Tulsi Gabbard for Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Kash Patel for FBI director and others are all running into turbulence from wary senators.

With Republicans taking control of the Senate in the new year, Trump's nominees have a pathway to confirmation. But with just a 53-47 majority, any nominee can only lose a handful of GOP supporters, in the face of Democratic opposition.

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Associated Press writers Amanda Seitz and Stephen Groves contributed to this report

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, arrives at the Hart Building to meet with Senators at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, arrives at the Hart Building to meet with senators at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)