The AFC South looks a lot different now than it did a few weeks ago, and the Colts are a big reason why. After stumbling out of the gate at 0-2, Shane Steichen’s team has ripped off two straight wins and put itself right back in the mix. The last two outings may not have been pretty, but Indianapolis got what it needed most: results.
That matters in a division where two teams are still winless. With the Colts climbing and the competition wobbling, Indianapolis suddenly has a real shot to not only get back to the playoffs but also take the AFC South.
Jacksonville sits at the top of these rankings at 3-1, and for good reason. The Jaguars have been the division’s most balanced team, and Liam Coen has gotten strong play out of Trevor Lawrence even after the team let its workhorse running back walk in free agency.
They’re living up to expectations, and they don’t have many obvious weak spots. Still, this is Jacksonville, and the self-inflicted mistakes that have haunted this team in the past could show up again.
For now, though, they look like a problem.
Indianapolis is right behind them at 2-2, and the story there is pretty clear: the Colts are winning despite some uneven quarterback play. Daniel Jones hasn’t exactly been lighting it up, and there have been some worrying signs of a return to his old New York Giants form.
That conversation is coming eventually. But the team is finding ways to win anyway.
Jonathan Taylor remains the engine. He’s still a superstar and, as the source puts it, the most underrated running back in football.
The passing game hasn’t fully clicked yet, and that should improve once the Colts are back at full strength. Alec Pierce is clearly missed.
The defense has started to settle in, too. DeForest Buckner has delivered back-to-back elite performances and looks like he’s turned back the clock.
The linebacker group has also bounced back after two rough games to open the season, and the secondary has taken steps forward as well. Sauce Gardner is still leaving plenty to be desired, but Justin Walley is beginning to find his footing in the slot, and Lou Anarumo’s unit appears to be moving in the right direction.
Houston lands at No. 3 despite all the preseason noise about the Texans being one of the league’s best defenses and a legitimate Super Bowl contender. That hasn’t matched reality through four games. They’re 0-4, and the defense that was supposed to carry them has been a shell of itself, giving up 30-plus points in half their games.
C.J. Stroud and the offense have actually been surprisingly effective, but it hasn’t been enough to make up for the drop-off on the other side of the ball. There’s still talent there, and the Texans could finish strong, but right now there isn’t much to celebrate in Houston.
Tennessee checks in last at 0-4, and that’s no surprise either. The Titans reshaped the roster and brought in Robert Saleh and Brian Daboll to help Cam Ward develop, but the former No. 1 pick has raised more questions than answers. Even with a defense that’s better than it was, it still sits in the middle of the pack.
The bigger issue is that there hasn’t been much progress anywhere. Unless something changes fast, Tennessee looks headed for another top-five draft pick in 2027. And with the lack of improvement on both sides of the ball, the Saleh era in Music City could end after one year.
In Other News...
Colts Sideline Debate Just Got Bigger At A Delicate Time
Carlie Irsay-Gordons habit of planting herself on the Colts sideline has become one of the more unusual talking points around the team, especially as she continues to work in plain view with a playbook in hand and notes at the ready. The principal owner and CEO has framed her approach as part of being an attentive leader, saying in an interview that listening and understanding matter, which fits the image she has presented during games.
But the conversation around her presence has widened, and not everyone views it as harmless curiosity. Bill Simmons questioned the sideline involvement on his podcast, adding another layer to a discussion that is already unfolding at a delicate point in the season, with Indianapolis sitting at 2-2 and trying to keep its focus on football rather than the attention orbiting above it. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Suddenly Have A Khalil Mack Decision Fans Can't Ignore
The Colts pass rush remains a talking point as the season approaches, and the latest name to surface is a familiar one: Khalil Mack. Indianapolis has been searching for more help off the edge after injuries thinned that group, and Macks track record would instantly change the tone of that conversation if the Colts decide to get aggressive. He is on a one-year contract, which makes him the kind of short-term fix teams often explore when a roster hole becomes too obvious to ignore.
Still, any potential move is not entirely in the Colts hands. Mack also carries a no-trade clause, so he would have to sign off on any deal, and the Chargers would likely want draft compensation in return if they are willing to listen at all. That leaves Indianapolis weighing a familiar NFL dilemma: whether to pay for immediate help now or hold its picks and trust the current rotation to survive the next stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Add A Familiar Pass Rusher With Anarumo Ties
The Colts added a familiar edge presence to the practice squad on Wednesday, bringing in veteran defensive end Carl Lawson as they continue sorting through their pass-rush depth. Lawson arrives with a clear connection to defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo from their time together in Cincinnati, which gives Indianapolis a built-in level of familiarity as the team looks to fortify the front seven.
Lawson has been around plenty of NFL locker rooms over his eight-year career, with stops in Baltimore, New York, and Dallas in addition to his years with the Bengals. He has 32 sacks to his name, and the question now is whether that experience and Anarumo familiarity can quickly translate into a larger opportunity in Indianapolis. [Read more 🡒]