The Colts are staring down a brutal early-season test, and the margin for error is already thin after last week’s home loss to the Ravens. Now comes a prime-time trip to Kansas City, where the Chiefs present a far steeper challenge and the possibility of an 0-2 hole hangs over Indianapolis.
That kind of start has been a rough road for plenty of teams. Since the merger, clubs that open 0-2 have reached the playoffs about 10% of the time.
The number improves to 16% since 2020, but the climb is still steep. For a team that does not look like a Super Bowl-caliber group, escaping that kind of start can be even harder.
At the same time, the Colts would be running into two of the AFC’s better teams right out of the gate, which leaves at least some room for optimism.
It may be getting ahead of things, and it may even sound like conceding too much before kickoff. But after what unfolded last week, it’s hard not to wonder how this matchup plays out if those two versions of the Colts and Chiefs show up again.
The Colts need a sharp jump in performance right now. With the Texans, Commanders, and Steelers coming up over the next three weeks, this game carries extra weight.
Indianapolis has had success against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs before, even in spots where it looked like the matchup would break the wrong way. That history is one of the few encouraging points the Colts can lean on heading into Arrowhead.
They have been in 0-2 territory plenty of times over the past decade or so, and many of those seasons never really recovered. Still, nothing is decided yet.
A win would send the Colts home at 1-1 and change the tone fast. A loss would drop them into the exact start they want to avoid.
In Other News...
Colts Fans Just Got Another Painful Michael Pittman Jr. Reminder
Michael Pittman Jr. keeps turning up in conversations that Colts fans probably would rather avoid. After being traded out of Indianapolis, the receiver has settled in with the Pittsburgh Steelers and made an immediate positive impression even while dealing with an injury, the kind of steady, professional presence that once helped define his role in the Colts offense.
DK Metcalf, another former Colts wideout, has already praised Pittman for the experience and leadership he brings to the room, which only sharpens the contrast for Indianapolis observers. The bigger question now is how far that tandem can go with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback and whether he can get the most out of two receivers who have already shown they can matter in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Tyler Warren Saw One Colts Problem Fans Shouldn't Ignore
The Colts left their opener with more questions than answers after getting handled on both sides of the ball by Baltimore. Rookie tight end Tyler Warren provided one of the few bright spots, scoring Indianapolis only receiving touchdown, but the bigger takeaway from the day was how many chances slipped away. The offense sputtered in the spots that tend to decide September games, and the defense had its own breakdowns too.
Warren pointed to missed opportunities as the area that stood out most, and it was hard to argue with him. Indianapolis had trouble on third downs and inside the red zone, the kind of issues that can turn a competitive game into a frustrating loss in a hurry. For a team that wants to show growth early, cleaning up those details will matter just as much as the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Already Made One Defensive Change After Week 1 Breakdown
The Colts did not wait long to tinker with their defense after the Week 1 breakdown, and Lou Anarumo was candid about why. He said the unit was caught off guard by the opponents tempo plays, a problem that forced Indianapolis to look closely at its communication and alignment issues before moving on to the next game.
One immediate change has already been made in the secondary, with the green dot removed from DB Cam Bynum as the Colts try to clean things up back there. The shift is aimed at getting everyone on the same page faster, a reminder that early-season fixes sometimes start with something as basic as getting lined up correctly before the snap. [Read more 🡒]