The Colts are staring at a Week 2 matchup that already feels enormous, and the path to avoiding an 0-2 start starts with three simple priorities against the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football.
First, Indianapolis has to get Jonathan Taylor rolling. Kansas City limited Denver to 61 total rushing yards last week, although part of that came after the Broncos fell behind by multiple scores in the second half.
Still, if the Colts want their offense to function at its best, Taylor needs room to work. That begins with the defense doing its part and the running game finding early lanes.
Last year, when these teams met, the Chiefs were able to bottle up Taylor.
The other major factor is pass protection for Daniel Jones. Kansas City got after Bo Nix early and often in Week 1, and NBC Sports noted that Nix was pressured at the fourth-highest rate in the league last week, along with the third-highest quick pressure rate.
Jones has had trouble when the heat comes, too. Last week, he averaged less than a yard per pass attempt under duress and completed just 27.3% of those throws.
If Indianapolis wants consistent offense, Jones has to be kept upright.
The final piece is limiting explosive plays. Baltimore created them in bunches last week on the ground and through the air, with Lamar Jackson averaging 13.0 yards per pass attempt and Derrick Henry going for 6.0 yards per rush. Big gains tend to turn into points, and that’s the kind of damage the Colts have to avoid.
In Other News...
Jonathan Owens And Simone Biles Just Gave Colts Fans A Glimpse Off The Field
Simone Biles gave Colts fans a small off-field window into the life she and Jonathan Owens are building together when she opened up on TikTok about a frightening incident at her Chicago home. Biles said three masked men stole her Porsche, but the vehicle was later recovered, and she also explained that the episode was part of why the couple decided to get a Doberman for protection.
For Indianapolis, the bigger takeaway is the one tied to Owens next chapter. Biles confirmed plans to officially move to the Indianapolis area so she can support the Colts safety, adding another layer of visibility around a pairing that already draws plenty of attention well beyond football. It is the kind of personal update that does not affect the depth chart, but it does give fans a better sense of the life surrounding one of the teams more recognizable players. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Could Face An Anthony Richardson Decision Much Sooner Than Expected
An already unsettled quarterback landscape around the league has the Indianapolis Colts back in an uncomfortable spot, this time because another team may be forced to look for help sooner than expected. With Jaxson Dart expected to miss the rest of the season because of injuries, the New York Giants have a glaring hole under center, and that has naturally pushed attention toward possible veterans or young passers who might be available if they decide to swing for a solution.
For the Colts, that kind of outside interest matters because Anthony Richardson remains one of the leagues more intriguing unknowns, and any discussion about his future tends to come with a price tag attached. If the Giants really do explore him as a replacement option, Indianapolis would have to weigh Richardsons long-term upside against whatever trade value could be extracted now, a choice that could arrive much earlier than the Colts expected when the season began. [Read more 🡒]
Marvin Harrison Jr. To Indy Suddenly Feels Less Far-Fetched
Marvin Harrison Jr. has only been in the league a short time, but the trade chatter around him has already started to pick up. According to ESPNs Dan Graziano, some NFL executives are at least considering whether the Arizona Cardinals would listen before the Nov. 10 trade deadline, a notable turn for a player whose early production has not matched the anticipation that followed him into the league.
For Indianapolis, the idea lands in a place where the fit is easy to see. The Colts had interest in Harrison Jr. before the 2024 draft, and they have been piecing together help at receiver after injuries thinned the group, recently adding veteran Darius Slayton. Whether Arizona would actually move on from Harrison Jr. is the bigger question, but the fact that the conversation is happening at all makes the possibility feel a little less imaginary than it did a week ago. [Read more 🡒]