The Colts are sliding fast, and ESPN’s latest NFL power rankings have them almost at the bottom of the league.
Indianapolis sits 29th among 32 teams after a brutal 42-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, a result that only deepened the sense that this season is careening off the rails. The Colts are 2-6 now, with four straight losses and 13 defeats in their last 15 games dating back to last season.
Sunday was supposed to show what kind of team the Colts were still capable of being. Instead, it turned into a wipeout.
In the days before kickoff, Indianapolis had already made its direction clear by firing general manager Chris Ballard and trading franchise pillars Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner. That set up a simple question: could the Colts go into Jacksonville, where they had lost 11 straight, and fight back?
Or would they fold?
A 35-point loss answered that.
ESPN ranked the Colts ahead of only the Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers. The Titans are 1-7 and had beaten Indianapolis two weeks earlier for their only win. The Dolphins are 1-6, and the Chargers are 0-7.
The Colts’ front office has clearly shifted its attention to the future, with Nelson and Buckner already gone and Jonathan Taylor, Josh Downs and Grover Stewart mentioned as possible next pieces to move. That doesn’t mean wins are expected right now, but being this easy to handle is a different problem entirely.
Daniel Jones has been at the center of the struggle. His play has been below standard for a year, and 2026 has been especially rough. Against Jacksonville, he finished with one touchdown, two interceptions, 5.1 yards per pass attempt and three sacks.
For the season, Jones is 162-of-268 passing for 1,542 yards, with five touchdowns and nine interceptions. He’s also been sacked 22 times and owns a passer rating of 68.7.
His drop-off has shown up everywhere: completion percentage, passer rating, yards per carry and rushing yards per game are all at career lows.
There was at least some reason to think the defense had steadied itself after giving up 1,029 yards over the first two weeks of the season, but Sunday was a disaster on that side too.
Trevor Lawrence carved them up, averaging 15.0 yards per pass attempt while posting a nearly perfect passer rating. Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. piled up 217 yards of offense and three total touchdowns between them, and the Jaguars averaged 8.7 yards per touch.
The Colts may be looking ahead, but the present is ugly enough on its own.
In Other News...
Colts Just Locked In A Key Defender For What Comes Next
Adetomiwa Adebawores rise has given the Colts something they can actually plan around on the defensive front. A fourth-round pick in 2023, he has steadily worked his way into a more important role, and Indianapolis has now made it clear it views him as part of the long-term core rather than just another young lineman trying to find his footing.
The extension also says plenty about where the Colts think they need to go next up front. With the defensive tackle room set for a rebuild, locking in Adebawore gives the team a dependable starting point as it reshapes the interior of the defense, and it puts more pressure on the front office to find the right pieces around him. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Finally Made A Move Fans Can Feel Good About
After spending much of the season looking for stability up front, the Colts have made a move that should sit well with their fan base. Indianapolis has agreed to a contract extension with defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore, rewarding a player who has taken a noticeable step forward this year in both pass-rushing and run defense.
Adebawores growth has given the Colts a more encouraging piece to build around on the defensive line, especially with his improved disruption in the backfield and steadier play against the run. For a team that has spent plenty of time searching for answers, keeping a young lineman trending in the right direction is the kind of decision that can make the rest of the roster feel a little more settled. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Taylor Trade Buzz Puts Colts In A Tough Spot
The trade deadline chatter around Jonathan Taylor has put the Colts in an awkward position, with the Giants reportedly showing interest in the running back as they look to address both their offense and defensive front. New York is also exploring other playmakers and linemen, but Taylor remains a name to watch because of the kind of impact he can still bring if a deal ever gets serious.
Indianapolis, though, is not in a position to move him cheaply. The Colts are believed to be asking for a steep return, which makes any potential agreement tricky even for a team actively shopping for help. For now, the buzz says as much about the market as it does about Taylor, and it leaves the Colts balancing roster value against the possibility of a deadline move that may never get close. [Read more 🡒]