DeForest Buckner: Colts didn’t play up to our standards, whatsoever

The Colts’ defense gave up 304 passing yards and 202 rushing yards in their Week 1 loss to the Ravens, and Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner says it was unacceptable.

“We didn’t play to our standard at all whatsoever, and we know we’re better than that and what we put on tape,” Buckner said, via JJ Stankevitz of Colts.com. “But obviously, you’re only as good as your last game and that’s what we put on tape. So we got to continue to prove to ourselves and prove to everybody else that we’re a better defense than that.”

The Colts are 6.5-point underdogs at Kansas City on Sunday night, and they know they need to play a lot better, or else Patrick Mahomes and Kenneth Walker can put up the same kinds of numbers that Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry did. Colts head coach Shane Steichen said he’s emphasizing not letting Walker break tackles.

“The big thing is tackling, right? That’s the biggest thing,” Steichen said. “You got to get this guy on the ground. He runs low, he runs hard, and then our run fits have got to be great.”

If the Colts’ defense again doesn’t play up to its standards, it could be an ugly night against the Chiefs.