The Colts walk into Week 2 with a tougher assignment and a sharper sense of urgency. Patrick Mahomes is waiting on his home turf, the Chiefs are coming off a season-opening win over Denver, and Shane Steichen’s team can’t afford to play it safe if it wants a shot at stealing one in Kansas City.
That’s the backdrop for a game that could get messy in a hurry. The Chiefs looked like one of the AFC’s teams to beat in Week 1, but they also showed cracks on both sides of the ball. That opens the door, at least a little, for Indianapolis to make this thing uncomfortable.
One way that happens: the Colts get after Mahomes. Kansas City’s left tackle situation is unsettled, with undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson stepping in after holding his own against Nik Bonitto and the Broncos’ front in Week 1.
The problem for Benson is simple - that was his first NFL game at left tackle, and now the Chiefs have a full week of tape on him. Add in Mahomes coming off a big injury and not necessarily moving the same way, and the Colts have a real chance to turn pressure into turnovers.
With Laiatu Latu coming off another strong outing, Indianapolis could get to Mahomes more than once and force multiple takeaways, including one deep in Chiefs territory.
On the other side, Tyler Warren looks like a bounce-back candidate with teeth. Week 1 was rough.
He caught only three passes for 13 yards and a garbage-time touchdown, which made him the offense’s most disappointing player after all the preseason buzz. But the matchup is there.
The Chiefs’ linebacker group is described as soft, and Warren is exactly the kind of tight end who can stress that kind of defense. The expectation here is a big day - his first 100-yard game of the season - plus multiple touchdowns, including one on a play out of the backfield.
Daniel Jones is also in line for a stronger showing. His return from injury came with some bumps, but that’s not exactly surprising after a major injury, especially when the passing game didn’t give him much help in terms of separation.
Week 2 should be different. Against an inexperienced secondary, Jones is projected to look more comfortable and more aggressive, with a 250-plus-yard performance and three-touchdown-level production.
He’s also playing for more than just a single win; he’s trying to show he can be the guy in Indianapolis, not just a quarterback leaning on Jonathan Taylor to carry the offense.
Even with all that, this still feels like a game that lives on a knife’s edge. The Chiefs are better than they were last season, even if their defense is still sorting itself out.
The Colts, meanwhile, are the kind of team that may have to play loose and take chances because they’re under the gun early. That combination points to a game with lead changes, tension, and a finish that comes down to the final moments - with Spencer Shrader potentially having the last word.
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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
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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 🡒]