Former Oregon Ducks star rips his NFL team, says changes need to be made after missing playoffs again

DeForest Buckner is tired of sitting at home during the NFL playoffs.

The Indianapolis Colts (7-9) were officially eliminated from the playoff race after an embarrassing 45-33 loss to the lowly New York Giants on Sunday. The win snapped a 10-game losing streak for the Giants (3-13), who entered the game ranked No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft, but fell to no. 4 after the win over the Colts.

The Colts allowed Giants journeyman quarterback Drew Lock to look like Peyton Manning. Lock threw for 309 yards and four touchdowns – a career high – and one rushing touchdown with no sacks or interceptions. The Giants scored 45 points despite entering the game with the worst offense in the league. It was the most points the Colts have allowed all season.

Not surprisingly, the Colts’ defensive lineman was not pleased.

“I’ll be honest, as (a) whole team, we (show) the bed,” Buckner told reporters after the game. “Another year and it’s frustrating. Do you know what I mean? Because like I said, I can see what we have. It’s just that we’re not getting over that hump … I just feel like it’s really details that we’re missing that hurt us.”

The loss marked the third time in the last four seasons that the Colts have failed in a must-win situation when it comes to the playoffs. They have not been to the playoffs since the 2020 season, Buckner’s first season in Indianapolis.

The Colts’ inability to win critical games late in the season and the ongoing playoff futility raised questions about possible changes in the offseason.

“Obviously there will be people who will still be in the building, people who aren’t,” Buckner told reporters after the game. “Changes are going to have to be made, you know what I mean? I understand that, and we all understand that in the building. You’ve got to make those changes for the better.”

The Colts close out the season with a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.