Colts fans are still uneasy, but there’s a clear sign that the temperature in Indianapolis has come down a bit. In this week’s Stampede Blue Reacts results, 47 percent of fans said they’re confident the team is headed in the right direction. That’s hardly a ringing endorsement, yet it does suggest the mood is not quite as bleak as it was only days ago.
That shift comes on the heels of one of the most demoralizing losses of the season. The Colts were up 13-0 at halftime against the previously winless Tennessee Titans and still lost 26-20. It was the kind of collapse that leaves fans shaking their heads, especially because it fit so neatly into the frustrations that have followed this team: inconsistency, squandered chances and a habit of letting winnable games slip away.
Less than 24 hours later, owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon made the move that many around the fan base had been waiting for. She fired general manager Chris Ballard, ending a run that had become a major point of frustration for Colts supporters. It doesn’t magically fix the roster, and it doesn’t erase the ugly start, but it did send a message that ownership was willing to do something significant instead of simply riding the same course.
That may be part of why confidence ticked upward. The 47 percent figure still leaves a large chunk of the fan base unconvinced, but it also shows that optimism hasn’t vanished entirely.
The door is still open for Shane Steichen’s team to change the conversation. A few wins could quickly swing the mood back in the other direction.
Another rough stretch could send it right back down.
For now, though, nearly half of Colts fans still think the franchise is headed the right way.
Steichen also surfaced in another leaguewide fan question: which head coach will be the first fired this season. He drew 17 percent of the vote, tying Tampa Bay’s Todd Bowles for second place behind Washington’s Dan Quinn, who led with 34 percent.
Given Indianapolis’ disappointing start and Ballard’s firing, Steichen’s presence near the top of that list is no surprise. He remains under pressure to get this team moving in the right direction, especially with the Colts still trying to stay in the AFC playoff picture.
A couple of wins would help his case. Another long skid could make things a lot more uncomfortable before the season is over.
In Other News...
Jonathan Taylor Is Back In A Colts Debate Fans Dread
Jonathan Taylor is suddenly back in the middle of a familiar Colts conversation, and it has less to do with what he has done on the field than with what has changed around him. The firing of general manager Chris Ballard has reopened speculation about nearly everything in Indianapolis, and Taylors name has surfaced again as a player who could draw interest if the franchise decides to reset further. For now, though, the Colts have not shown any appetite for moving one of their most recognizable offensive pieces.
Still, the chatter is hard to ignore because it fits the kind of autumn debate fans hate to hear around a key player. Around the league, the Giants and Vikings have been mentioned as possible landing spots, but Indianapolis is not entertaining trade talks at this point. If the Colts season goes sideways, though, that stance could become a lot more complicated before the deadline arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Have A Daniel Jones Problem They Cant Ignore
The Colts came out of their loss to the Titans with a familiar issue hanging over the offense, and it was hard to miss where the momentum was coming from. Jonathan Taylor gave Indianapolis a sturdy ground game, piling up 94 rushing yards and a touchdown, while the backs as a group kept churning out yards and helping the offense stay afloat when the passing game never really found its footing.
Daniel Jones admitted he forced plays during the game, and the numbers reflected the frustration. He finished 22 of 42 for 259 yards with two interceptions, a line that put even more pressure on the Colts to think carefully about how they want to move forward, especially when the run game has been the cleaner path. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Slide Is Putting Shane Steichen In A Tougher AFC South Fight
The AFC South has a way of tightening quickly, and the Colts are feeling it after back-to-back losses have left Shane Steichen managing a much tougher division race than it looked like not long ago. Indianapolis and Houston both sit at 2-4, but the Texans have started to look like the club with the cleaner playoff path, which adds more pressure on the Colts to steady themselves before the gap in the standings becomes harder to close.
Houstons recent surge has changed the tone of this battle, especially with the schedule giving the Texans a chance to keep moving while the Colts try to stop the slide. If Indianapolis cannot answer soon, the division picture could tilt even further in Houstons favor before the next meeting between the two teams, turning what was already a challenging AFC South chase into a far tougher one for Steichen and his roster. [Read more 🡒]