The Colts finally found something to build on in Sunday’s win over the Houston Texans, and that alone changed the mood a bit around a team that had been stuck in the mud through two weeks. But with Week 4 sending Shane Steichen’s group across the Atlantic to face the Washington Commanders, the margin for error is still thin. Indianapolis is favored early, yet that edge won’t mean much if a few familiar problems show up again.
Some of the fixes are obvious. Others are more about squeezing more out of what the Colts already have on hand. Either way, if they want to leave the UK with another win, they have to sharpen up in a handful of key areas.
The biggest issue starts with the passing game and the lack of true downfield juice. Alec Pierce’s absence is being felt hard.
Josh Downs, Tyler Warren, and possibly Keenan Allen after his better showing Sunday are all useful targets, but none of them naturally threaten defenses deep. Downs and Warren can take shots downfield, sure, but that should be the exception, not the plan.
That leaves the Colts looking for help elsewhere. Laquon Treadwell has flashed on a couple of downfield plays, though he does not look like the answer there.
Ashton Dulin could eventually help once he returns. For now, the most immediate candidate is rookie Deion Burks.
He has been easing into the offense, and Steichen needs to give him a few chances to stretch the field. Even incomplete shots can open things up for Jonathan Taylor.
And if Darius Slayton is ready, this Sunday could be the day he starts making his presence felt.
Another wrinkle that could help is more work out of 13 personnel. With Pierce and Dulin out, it may be the Colts’ best path to creating some balance. Mo Alie-Cox and Andrew Ogletree can both be useful over the middle, and the setup with one back, one receiver, and three tight ends could be the best way to free up Tyler Warren for deeper routes.
The Colts will still lean run-heavy from that look, and defenses will crowd the middle to slow Taylor. That is where Warren can potentially pop loose against a safety and make a play downfield.
Up front, Jalen Travis has another test waiting after dealing with the ghost of Will Anderson. He has handled right tackle duties well as a starter, but Anderson and Danielle Hunter were always going to be a serious challenge. Travis had his struggles, though not to the point of being overwhelmed in a way most tackles wouldn’t be against Houston.
Washington brings its own edge threats, but after seeing one of the league’s best pass-rush duos, Travis should be better prepared to settle back in.
Defensively, the Colts need to keep leaning into the strength that carried them Sunday: the interior line. Their turnaround against Houston started in the middle, where they took advantage of a weak Texans offensive front. That same area could be important again against Washington, especially if right guard Sam Cosmi is out.
Still, this is not a soft matchup by default. Washington’s interior group just went toe-to-toe with the Seattle Seahawks and held up well, so DeForest Buckner and the rest of that front will have to earn it. This could easily be the matchup that decides the game.
And then there’s Robbie Gould, who gave the Colts a boost with two strong returns on Sunday, one on a punt and another on a kickoff. After some criticism, he answered back in a hurry.
But he also let one punt go by early in the third quarter, and that’s the kind of mistake a dedicated punt returner cannot make. In a close game, that’s the sort of detail that swings field position and, eventually, the result.
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 🡒]
Keenan Allen Just Delivered The Colts Moment Fans Desperately Needed
After a rough start to the 2026 season, the Colts finally gave their fans something to exhale about with a win over the Houston Texans that snapped a nine-game losing streak. Indianapolis got contributions across the board, with the offense, defense and special teams all playing a role in a much-needed breakthrough. Daniel Jones, Jonathan Taylor and Tyler Warren helped steady the attack, while Adetomiwa Adebawore and Spencer Shrader also had their moments in a performance that looked a lot more like the version of this team the Colts had been waiting to see.
Keenan Allen was right in the middle of it, too, making an immediate mark with his first touchdown as a Colt while also moving past Andre Johnson for 12th place on the NFL's all-time receptions list. For a team that had gone far too long without a win, it was the kind of night that could matter beyond the standings, giving Indianapolis a little momentum and a reminder that there is still enough talent here to change the tone of a season. [Read more 🡒]