Leonard: Colts' defense has 'got to be way better' after loss to Ravens

INDIANAPOLIS — Darius Leonard and DeForest Buckner expect the Indianapolis Colts‘ defense to ace each week’s test — regardless of the challenge.

It’s why they consider Sunday’s 24-10 loss to Baltimore a failure.

“We’re a good team, but we’ve got to be way better,” said Leonard, the playmaking Pro Bowl linebacker. “I think they rushed for 112 yards overall. That can’t happen.”

Never mind the Colts (5-3) held the league’s top rushing attack to its second-lowest total this season, its first sub-140 yard game in four weeks and well below its per-game average of 178.7 yards.

Never mind Indy kept Lamar Jackson pretty much in check. He was 19 of 23 with 170 yards while carrying 13 times for 58 yards.

Never mind Ravens coach Jim Harbaugh, who has presided over some of the league’s top defenses during his 13-year tenure, praised Indy’s young, vastly improved unit.

It wasn’t good enough for Leonard or Buckner because they know what’s still on the docket.

Sunday’s matchup with Baltimore (6-2) was the start of a brutal four-game stretch that includes two MVP quarterbacks — Jackson and Aaron Rodgers — and three contests against last season’s conference runners-up. They’ll face Tennessee twice and Green Bay in two weeks. The Ravens also were the AFC’s top seed last year and all four could be contenders again this season.

To those who wondered whether the Colts defense could hold up against some of the league’s top teams and best talents, the Ravens game certainly provided some promising signs. Indy allowed only 13 yards rushing in the first half and forced Baltimore out of its traditional run-first philosophy in the second half.

But Leonard and Buckner, the Pro Bowl defensive tackle, know Indy can — and must — play even better during the second half of the season to make the playoffs.

“Guys played hard, we competed, but it’s the little mistakes that we need to clean up to come out with a win,” Buckner said….

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