Colts Find a Potential Gem in Blake Grupe, While Bills Roll the Dice on Michael Badgley
Week 15 didn’t end the way the Indianapolis Colts wanted. A narrow loss to the Seattle Seahawks stung, especially with recently unretired quarterback Philip Rivers delivering a performance that was more steady than spectacular. But even in defeat, the Colts may have uncovered something that could pay dividends well beyond this season - and it came from an unexpected place: the kicking game.
Let’s talk about Blake Grupe.
After a short stint with the New Orleans Saints that didn’t quite pan out, Grupe found himself with the Colts - and in his debut, he looked every bit the part of a long-term solution. He drilled a 60-yarder with under a minute left, a kick that would’ve been impressive in any context, let alone in a pressure-packed NFL game. He also nailed his lone extra point attempt, which might not sound like much, but given the Colts' recent kicking woes, it was a welcome change.
Grupe’s arrival came after Indianapolis parted ways with Michael Badgley, who had been struggling with consistency. His third missed extra point of the season came in Week 14 against the Houston Texans, a miss that forced the Colts to chase touchdowns instead of settling for tying field goals - a costly margin in a close game. After that, the team decided it was time to make a change.
And so far, it looks like they made the right call.
Meanwhile in Buffalo… a Familiar Name Reemerges
The Buffalo Bills are taking a very different approach. With longtime veteran Matt Prater nursing a right quadriceps injury and listed as week-to-week, the Bills signed Michael Badgley to their practice squad ahead of a Week 16 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
Badgley hasn’t kicked in the NFL in 2024, and while he did convert 10 of his 11 field goal attempts during his most recent stint with the Colts, those missed extra points loomed large. The concern with Badgley has never been leg strength - it’s been about reliability in what should be automatic situations.
So why bring him in now?
The Bills are in a strong position at 10-4 and look playoff-bound. With Prater sidelined and a road game in windy Cleveland on deck, Buffalo might be thinking short-term.
One game. One fill-in.
Get through it and move on. Even if Badgley isn’t perfect, the thinking might be that the Bills have enough firepower to survive a few hiccups.
Still, kicking in Cleveland in December is no picnic. And if the game comes down to a late field goal, Badgley could find himself in the spotlight again - this time with playoff seeding on the line.
A Twist of Irony for the Colts
Here’s where things get interesting. If Badgley ends up hitting a game-winner for Buffalo this week, and the Colts fall to the 49ers on Monday night, it would be a cruel twist for Indianapolis. That scenario would push the Colts closer to missing the postseason - a stunning turn for a team that started the year 7-1.
It’s a reminder of how thin the margins are in the NFL, especially when it comes to special teams. One missed extra point can tilt a game.
One 60-yard bomb can keep hope alive. And sometimes, the kicker you let go ends up shaping your playoff fate - just from a different sideline.
For the Colts, the future may be brighter with Grupe. For the Bills, the hope is that Badgley can be good enough, just long enough.