The Colts and Dolphins are meeting at a point in the season where both teams are staring at the same ugly number: seven losses. Indianapolis is the one listed as the favorite, though only by 2.5 points, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The money line is -138, and the over/under is 43.5.
For the Colts, the latest setback was another gut punch. They stayed alive against the Cowboys and even put themselves in position to win late, but a defense that had no answer for the run all day gave up a late bomb and touchdown to drop them to 2-7.
The offense was sluggish in the first half, then finally found a rhythm and grabbed the lead with less than two minutes left in regulation. It still wasn’t enough.
The Dolphins come in with the same record after a flat outing against Detroit. They were only down 6-3 at halftime, but the offense never really got going. Malik Willis finished with 128 yards, no touchdowns, one interception and three sacks, and the result was a 19-9 loss that never felt like much more than a slog.
Neither side is eager to absorb loss No. 8, but the Colts are the ones feeling the pressure most. Their first-round pick belongs to the Jets, and at this stage they’d probably like to keep the damage from getting any worse. This has turned into “pride” season, and even a win over the Dolphins might not do much to change the mood.
In Other News...
Colts Fans Should Be Bracing For A Stunning Sauce Gardner Twist
With the trade deadline approaching, the Colts are being linked to a broader wave of moves as they try to reset after a disappointing start. One of the most surprising names in that mix is Sauce Gardner, the cornerback Indianapolis acquired in a major deal that sent future first-round picks the other way and was followed by a record contract extension.
The possibility is jarring because Gardner was supposed to be part of the long-term core, not a player discussed in a deadline shuffle. Moving him would be complicated, too, with the kind of contract structure that narrows the market and makes any deal harder to pull off, even for a team willing to listen. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Rout Of Colts Just Added A Controversial Twist
The Colts trip to Jacksonville was already a rough one, with the Jaguars rolling to a 42-7 win at EverBank Stadium, but the aftermath brought an extra layer of frustration. Four Jaguars players were fined by the NFL for unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct in a game that quickly got away from Indianapolis, adding a disciplinary footnote to a lopsided division loss.
Anthony Richardsons return also gave the Colts a reason to keep watching the bigger picture, even if the result on the field was hard to stomach. After missing time because of an eye injury, the quarterback was back in action for the first time this season, and his presence offered a glimpse of what Indianapolis has been waiting to evaluate as it tries to move past a game that turned chippy and one-sided in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Face A Josh Downs Decision As Trade Interest Builds
Trade chatter around the Colts has not been limited to the backfield. After receiving offers for Jonathan Taylor and Daniel Jones, Indianapolis is also listening on wide receivers, with Josh Downs drawing interest from several contenders and the possibility of a move becoming a real part of the conversation as the deadline approaches. Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Washington, San Francisco and the Rams are among the teams linked to Downs, and the Colts are weighing whether to keep him in place or capitalize on the market while it is active.
The appeal is obvious from both sides. Downs has a camp that reportedly wants a path to a better quarterback situation, while Indianapolis is taking a broader look at its roster and the value it could extract in return. One offer for Downs is said to include a fourth-round pick, and the Colts may not rush a decision until they have a clearer read on the market, especially with other veteran pass catchers still in the mix. [Read more 🡒]