The Colts’ overtime loss to the Chiefs didn’t just sting on Sunday night. It sent them sliding in most of the Week 3 NFL power rankings, with the defense taking the brunt of the criticism and a big AFC South matchup with Houston now looming.
Not everyone was ready to bury Indianapolis, though. A few analysts came away with a more optimistic read after watching the Colts go toe-to-toe with Kansas City.
The harshest evaluations came in at #25. Nate Davis of USA Today wrote: "Worst defense in the league so far − by quite a few metrics.
Good thing they added CB Sauce Gardner to it. Sunday's game against equally winless division rival Houston could effectively be a playoff elimination bout."
CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco also slotted the Colts at #25, saying: "The offense rebounded in the overtime to loss to the Chiefs, but the defense continues to be an issue. They face a big division game with the Texans this week."
Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports had Indianapolis at #23 and pointed to the numbers piling up against the defense: "The Colts have given up 1,023 total yards in two games. The offense is doing OK, but they’ve got some serious defensive problems that need to be fixed."
Bleacher Report’s Kris Knox landed in the same range at #23, writing: "The problem is that the Colts' defense has looked like a major liability through two weeks, and that's an issue that won't simply go away as Jones and Co. round into form. Lou Anarumo's unit has to be better against the rival Houston Texans next week if Indy is going to avoid a 0-3 start."
Frank Schwab of Yahoo! Sports placed the Colts at #21 and focused on the pressure building around the coaching staff: "Steichen is under a lot of pressure to show progress and keep his job, and an 0-2 start with a questionable coaching decision isn't an ideal beginning."
ESPN was a bit harsher, ranking the Colts at #24. Stephen Holder wrote: "The Colts' record doesn't scream "great QB play," but Jones has mostly done his part.
In Week 2, he showed the full gamut of his game in spite of his recently healed Achilles tear. He helped bring the Colts back from a deficit, scrambled, took a couple brutal hits and stretched the field when he could.
Jones is completing 66.1% of his pass attempts, making the most of an offense that is being sabotaged by an inept defense."
The most encouraging view came from Conor Orr of SI.com, who put Indianapolis at #16. Orr wrote: "Indianapolis’s loss to the Chiefs actually made me more confident in this team, especially after realizing what an absolute task it was to handle the Week 1 matchup against a brand-new Ravens team and then a Week 2 matchup against a still-brand-new looking Chiefs team. The Colts’ schedule doesn’t let up, but the defense is not giving up 500 yards a week in perpetuity, and the running game is as steady as ever."
The overall picture is clear: the Colts are still being dragged down by a defense that has given up huge yardage, but the offense’s response against Kansas City gave at least a few observers reason to think Indianapolis may not be as far off as the record says.
In Other News...
Jonathan Owens And Simone Biles Just Gave Colts Fans A Glimpse Off The Field
Simone Biles gave Colts fans a small off-field window into the life she and Jonathan Owens are building together when she opened up on TikTok about a frightening incident at her Chicago home. Biles said three masked men stole her Porsche, but the vehicle was later recovered, and she also explained that the episode was part of why the couple decided to get a Doberman for protection.
For Indianapolis, the bigger takeaway is the one tied to Owens next chapter. Biles confirmed plans to officially move to the Indianapolis area so she can support the Colts safety, adding another layer of visibility around a pairing that already draws plenty of attention well beyond football. It is the kind of personal update that does not affect the depth chart, but it does give fans a better sense of the life surrounding one of the teams more recognizable players. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Could Face An Anthony Richardson Decision Much Sooner Than Expected
An already unsettled quarterback landscape around the league has the Indianapolis Colts back in an uncomfortable spot, this time because another team may be forced to look for help sooner than expected. With Jaxson Dart expected to miss the rest of the season because of injuries, the New York Giants have a glaring hole under center, and that has naturally pushed attention toward possible veterans or young passers who might be available if they decide to swing for a solution.
For the Colts, that kind of outside interest matters because Anthony Richardson remains one of the leagues more intriguing unknowns, and any discussion about his future tends to come with a price tag attached. If the Giants really do explore him as a replacement option, Indianapolis would have to weigh Richardsons long-term upside against whatever trade value could be extracted now, a choice that could arrive much earlier than the Colts expected when the season began. [Read more 🡒]
Marvin Harrison Jr. To Indy Suddenly Feels Less Far-Fetched
Marvin Harrison Jr. has only been in the league a short time, but the trade chatter around him has already started to pick up. According to ESPNs Dan Graziano, some NFL executives are at least considering whether the Arizona Cardinals would listen before the Nov. 10 trade deadline, a notable turn for a player whose early production has not matched the anticipation that followed him into the league.
For Indianapolis, the idea lands in a place where the fit is easy to see. The Colts had interest in Harrison Jr. before the 2024 draft, and they have been piecing together help at receiver after injuries thinned the group, recently adding veteran Darius Slayton. Whether Arizona would actually move on from Harrison Jr. is the bigger question, but the fact that the conversation is happening at all makes the possibility feel a little less imaginary than it did a week ago. [Read more 🡒]