Everything continues to work out perfectly for Matt Hasselbeck and the Indianapolis Colts.
The Colts are now 4-0 with Hasselbeck as the starter, and his numbers look legit. Though he was not qualified to be included among the list of QBR leaders for the season, he was at a stellar 70.7 through three starts entering Sunday.
Go with what works
Hasselbeck entered the day 14-of-16 for 155 yards and two touchdowns on play-action passes. The Colts decided to stick with that over and over and over again, as Hasselbeck was 11-of-17 for 191 yards and a touchdown off play-action Sunday. His 17 play-action attempts are the most by any quarterback in a game this season, and his 191 yards on such plays are his most in the past 10 seasons.
Fix what doesn’t work
Hasselbeck entered Sunday 8-of-22 on long passes (throws at least 15 yards downfield). The Colts decided to have him throw deep anyway, using play-action to set it up. Hasselbeck was 7-of-9 on long passes Sunday, with all seven completions coming off play-action.
Age is just a number
The Elias Sports Bureau notes that Hasselbeck is the first quarterback to win each of his first four starts as a 40-year-old. Hasselbeck’s four wins are the most by a 40-year-old quarterback since Brett Favre won five in 2010. Hasselbeck’s four-start winning streak is his longest since his five-game streak in 2007.