The Indianapolis Colts finally got on the board, and now they’re staring at a spot where they might be the most dangerous 1-2 team in the AFC.
That’s a big shift from where things looked a short time ago. Indy’s first win of the season didn’t come with much polish, but it came with the kind of grit this team needed. The Colts were in a fight with another club that badly needed momentum, and they came away with the result that mattered most.
At 1-2, they’re only a game behind the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South, and they’re still in the mix for a postseason push. Maybe it’s early.
Maybe it’s too early to make any sweeping declarations. But among the AFC teams sitting at 1-2, the Colts may have the clearest path to playing beyond Week 18.
The New York Jets sit third in this group, and the picture there hasn’t changed much. With all due respect, they’ve been, are, and probably will be one of the worst teams in football. Their two losses have been avoidable, and even though Aaron Glenn’s team is moving in the right direction, it still hasn’t figured out how to finish games.
They could be 3-0 right now with better game and clock management. Instead, the late-game mistakes have kept them from cashing in. And there’s still the lingering question around Geno Smith, whose ball security has long been an issue and figures to surface again eventually.
New England lands at No. 2, and the early schedule narrative is coming home to roost. Plenty was made of the 2025 Patriots’ slate, and now that they’re running into playoff-level competition, the cracks are showing. Drake Maye hasn’t been able to settle himself, and the team’s thin roster is starting to show on both sides of the ball.
The Patriots are also dealing with the absence of A.J. Brown, who is set to miss at least another month. That leaves Mike Vrabel under real pressure, while Maye looks erratic and like he’s pressing too hard to make things happen after an MVP-caliber campaign.
And then there’s Indianapolis, which sits at the top of this specific AFC 1-2 pile for a reason. Shane Steichen’s team has improved every week, and it wasn’t far from being 2-1, or even 1-1-1, at this point. The schedule is also about to soften.
Next up is the Jayden Daniels-less Washington Commanders in London, followed by games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans. That stretch gives the Colts a real chance to move above .500 soon.
The defense, coordinated by Lou Anarumo, had rough outings in Weeks 1 and 2, but it took a noticeable step forward against the Texans. Losing Alec Pierce will hurt, but this roster still has enough to keep moving and, potentially, put an end to its postseason drought.
In Other News...
Colts Passing Game Just Put Pressure On One New Receiver
Alec Pierce landing on injured reserve because of a heel injury forced the Colts to make a quick adjustment at wide receiver, and Darius Slayton is the latest piece brought in to help keep the passing game moving. The timing is familiar for Slayton, who reunites with Daniel Jones after their years together with the Giants, and he has already spoken about feeling good about that connection while working with wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne.
For Indianapolis, the interest goes beyond simply plugging a roster hole. The Colts need production from a receiver group that has been reshuffled by the injury, and Slaytons arrival adds both familiarity for Jones and another veteran voice in the room. How quickly that translates on the field is the next question, especially as the offense looks for a steadier rhythm and a little more explosiveness from its new-look options. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Passing Breakout Leaves One Big Concern For This Offense
Daniel Jones best passing day of the season came in Week 3, and the ripple effect was easy to see for the Colts. His 235 yards against the Houston Texans gave Josh Downs, Keenan Allen and Tyler Warren a much-needed boost, while Alec Pierces injury and move to injured reserve forced the offense to lean more heavily on that trio in the passing game. For a unit that has been searching for rhythm, the production offered a clearer picture of what this offense can look like when the quarterback is comfortable pushing the ball.
The bigger question now is whether it can last. Pierces absence has already changed the structure of the receiver room, and the Colts do not have a timetable for his return, which means Downs, Allen and Warren may keep carrying a larger load for a while. The Texans game showed the passing attack can be more than just functional, but it also left Indianapolis facing the kind of test every improving offense eventually gets: proving one good day is a start, not a one-off. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Head To London With A Few Costly Problems Still Unsettled
The Colts finally got a win thanks in large part to the defense, but the trip to London arrives with a few offensive questions still hanging around. Against the Texans, Indianapolis showed it can lean on its defense and survive, yet the next step is making the rest of the operation look cleaner against Washington, especially when it comes to finding more reliable downfield pass options and squeezing more out of the offenses formation looks.
There is also a player-by-player element to the cleanup work, with the staff still looking for steadier performances from pieces such as Deion Burks, Jalen Travis and Robbie Gould. Using more 13 personnel is part of the conversation, too, which suggests the Colts are still sorting out how they want to attack from week to week. A win can settle the mood for a day, but it does not erase the list of things that have to be better overseas. [Read more 🡒]