Colts Jeff Saturday explains 4th-down QB sneak call vs. Chargers Looki

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The Colts' play has alternated between putrid and catastrophic since Jeff Saturday signed on to become the team's interim head coach.On Monday, Indianapolis served up another subpar showing in a 20-3 lo s, struggling to string together anything against a frantic Chargers defense.Yet, despite three intereceptions and seven sacks, the Colts were still in the game early in the fourth quarter.After Indianapolis' defense jarred the ball from Justin Herbert's hands for a turnover, the Colts found themselves in Chargers territory for the first time in a while. They got the ball to Los Angeles' 12 before Michael Pittman was stopped short of the marker on third down.MORE:Saturday had two options: kick the chip shot field goal and cut the Bolts' lead from 10 to seven. It would have been a conservative, but understandable, choice, especially given that Indianapolis' defense had been solid. The other option: go for it.Saturday wanted a touchdown to make it potentially a three-point game, so he kept the offense on the field. Needing le s than a yard, the former ESPN analyst put the ball in his interim quarterback's hands, calling for a sneak.But Nick Foles got stuffed at the line. Even Saturday's supposed wrinkle  putting Pittman in the backfield rather than, say, a fullback, tight end or offensive lineman capable to offering more of a push  came up short.Nick Foles fighting the good fight  Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) MORE:Saturday and the Colts were promptly punished. LA, led by Herbert, Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, laid siege to a tired defense, stringing together JaKarr Sampson Jersey  a 12-play, 88-yard drive capped by an Ekeler 1-yard rushing TD. The score e sentially put the game on ice.Saturday explained his move in the postgame pre s conference, telling reporters the ball was always going to Foles.MORE:"From the way we were practicing and the way Nick had been moving the football, you know you still had a chance, " Saturday said. "We got down there on the fourth down, fourth and short, inside the red zone. . . . You're looking for some kind of spark. Going to someone else wasn't the answer right there.""I don't have any reservations about that right now," Saturday added.MORE:Neverthele s, Saturday's decision invited plenty of criticism on social media, with many accusing Saturday of not having a solid understanding of situational football:Time to fire Jeff Saturday. What is even going on here?? Foles is somehow much worse than Ryan. Dude is slow AF and he tries to sneak him on 4th and 1   Mike van Veen (@MJDoubleV) Jeff Saturday has cost the how many points tonight? Going for it on 4th down with Nick Foles and getting shutdown everytime. You deserve to not have a coaching job. BobSwishMi s (@swishmi s2469) ~Anyone who has ever played or watched peewee football: Take the points and be down one score.~Jeff Saturday: Our offense is rolling. We're going for it so we're only down one score. Brandon Stuard (@bstu2397) Jeff Saturday opted to QB sneak on 4th and 1 when he could've used a FG. Peak Colts Football Dee Gambles (@DeeGambles)  are averaging 5 yards per carry, and have forced 2 turnovers. Yet they only have 3 points. This one is on Jeff Saturday and Jeff Saturday only. You cannot just keep having Nick  Jeremy Lamb Jersey Foles air it out, and try to sneak. This defense and team deserves better. Josh (@Josh50451736) Jeff Saturday thought he had the eagles offense on that sneak  (@iamnot_p)