I come to praise Chris Ballard, not to bury him.

[Colts And Orioles]

o


After Another Colts Rout, It’s Time to Acknowledge Them for What They Are: Contenders

(By James Boyd)

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...nathan-taylor/


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INDIANAPOLIS — Braden Smith remembers how things used to be and the scars those failures have left behind. So often recently, the Indianapolis Colts would start slow and spend the whole season trying to claw their way back into the playoff picture. Most of the time, those campaigns ended in agony, with Indianapolis now four years removed from its last playoff berth.

But this season feels different, Smith said Sunday following Indianapolis’ 40-6 shellacking of the Las Vegas Raiders. More hopeful. More promising. More serious. As the Colts’ starting right tackle stood in a joyous locker room at Lucas Oil Stadium and looked around, he took a deep breath to compose himself before explaining why.

Smith pointed to his team’s humility and lack of ego. Then, his tone shifted a bit.

“We’re tired of just being mediocre,” Smith said. “Everyone’s just putting in the work. It’s the work that it takes every day to kind of push past that.

“To be a contender.”

Excuse me, a what ???

If someone had called the Colts a contender before the start of the 2025 season, they likely would’ve been laughed at. That’s a word that hasn’t been synonymous with this franchise since the days of quarterback Peyton Manning and, for a brief stretch, Andrew Luck. But after a 4-1 start, with Daniel Jones playing at a near-MVP level, running back Jonathan Taylor looking like an early favorite to win NFL Offensive Player of the Year and the new-look defense generating eight turnovers in five weeks, this no longer feels like an anomaly. It feels like the standard.

And being a contender feels like a reality.

According to The Athletic’s Austin Mock’s NFL Projection Model, following Sunday’s beatdown of the Raiders, the Colts now have a 90 percent chance of making the playoffs, a 14 percent chance to earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC and an 8 percent chance to win the Super Bowl. The only AFC team with better odds in those three categories? The Buffalo Bills, led by some guy named Josh Allen.

Of course, there’s still a lot of season left, and Smith couched his “contender” talk by noting that it’s only Week 5. But to his point, how else should this year’s team be described? Save for kicker Spencer Shrader sustaining a knee injury, which Colts coach Shane Steichen said after the game, “doesn’t look good,” there were hardly any lowlights for Indianapolis on Sunday.

The Colts were simply dominant — again.

The Dolphins were no match for them in the season opener. The Titans had nothing for the Colts in Week 3. On Sunday, it was the Raiders’ turn to look outclassed. Those lowly teams have a combined record of 3-12, so now isn’t exactly the time to start planning the parade route through downtown Indianapolis. But a roadmap to the postseason and the team’s first AFC South title since 2014? That seems as real as ever.

Last year, all eight of the Colts’ victories were by one possession. On Sunday, Indianapolis notched its third victory this season by at least 20 points. The Raiders’ six points marked the second time this year Indianapolis kept its opponent to single digits.

Linebacker Zaire Franklin could not care less about the Colts’ strength of schedule. From his perspective, strength is subjective — until someone else feels it.

“That’s what shows up on film,” said Franklin, who tallied one of Indianapolis’ four sacks Sunday. “I think regardless of the level of competition that we play, I think we play to a certain standard. And it’s either you’re gonna get to that standard, or you’re gonna get ran off the field.”

Segun Olubi set the tone early.

With the Colts already leading 7-3 in the second quarter, the linebacker knifed through the Raiders’ protection unit and blocked a punt by Las Vegas’ AJ Cole. Four plays later, Taylor scored on a 3-yard touchdown run that was the start of an offensive avalanche. After going three-and-out to start the game, Indianapolis scored a touchdown on its next six possessions, which is tied for the team’s longest streak since at least 1993, according to Colts PR.

Taylor was held to a season-low 66 yards on 17 carries, but still tallied three rushing touchdowns. Entering this season, Taylor had just two career games with at least three total touchdowns. Through just five weeks this season, he already matched that total.

Not to be overlooked, Jones was nearly flawless on Sunday, completing 20 of his 29 passes for 212 yards and two TDs, both in the second quarter. One play after Steichen dialed up a trick play for tYler Warren, in which the rookie tight end was the passer but wisely threw the ball away when he saw the Raiders snuffed it out, the coach went back to his star — yes, star — quarterback. Jones delivered with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Warren that marked the first receiving TD of his career.

“I didn’t see Tyler’s pass,” Jones said through a grin when asked to grade Warren’s QB skills. “Looked like they covered it up pretty good, but I like the play.”

The Colts’ defense had its highlights as well, as four different players recorded a sack. Defensive end Laiatu Latu also picked off Raiders quarterback Geno Smith in the second quarter, marking Latu’s second interception of the season. Cornerback Mekhi Blackmon intercepted Smith in the third quarter, as the Las Vegas passer finished the game with his second-worst passer rating of the season (63.2.)

But perhaps the best argument for why these aren’t the same old Colts is how the team handled wide receiver AD Mitchell. Following last week’s blunders against the Rams, in which Mitchell’s mistakes cost the team two touchdowns, he was effectively benched until garbage time in the fourth quarter. It didn’t matter that starting receiver Alec Pierce missed his second straight game due to a concussion. Steichen wanted to send a message.

“I told you guys AD has got to earn it,” the coach said afterward.

Steichen had been noncommittal about Mitchell’s role all week and opted instead to play Ashton Dulin, a core special teamer, over the 2024 second-round pick. Dulin, who went undrafted in 2019, responded by notching two catches for a team-high 55 yards, in addition to doing his usual jobs as a gunner and return man.

“He’s as gritty as they come,” Steichen said. “He’s as tough as they come.”

That’s the mindset Steichen wants his whole team to embody in a conference that, outside of the 4-1 Bills, feels wide open. The Ravens, with an injured Lamar Jackson, are 1-4. Patrick Mahomes and the reigning AFC champion Chiefs look more vulnerable than in years past and are just 2-2 entering Monday night’s game against the Jaguars. And Justin Herbert and the Chargers, who started 3-0 with a resounding victory over the Chiefs in their season opener, are now 3-2 after back-to-back losses to the Giants and Commanders.

Franklin, who fully acknowledged that it’s still early in the season, doesn’t see why the Colts can’t be in the “contender” conversation at the end. That’s what they’re building toward and, for the first time in years, they may finally have the right tools.

“Respectfully, I feel like we gave (the Rams) too much credit,” Franklin said, reflecting on how Indy responded after its first loss of the year. “I think after we played L.A., we realized we’re that team.

“We’re the team that’s a test for everybody else.”

o

[Pez]

Good article, love the end, “We’re the team that’s a test for everybody else.”

I cant imagine there is anyone that really wants to play us.

[Oldcolt]

Saw both Mitchell and AR celebrating with teammates on the sideline and not showing any signs of pouting. Somehow the whole mental attitude of this team seams to have changed. Nice

[Colts And Orioles]

o


The Colts' Most Stunning Redemption Story Is Already Breaking Franchise Records

(By Lee Vowell)

https://horseshoeheroes.com/indianap...nchise-records


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The Indianapolis Colts were right ...... general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen clearly knew what they were doing this off-season, even when others around the NFL doubted them. After six games, Indy sits atop the AFC South at 5-1.

Obviously, there are several reasons for this. Some of the players fans already knew were great, or likely to be so, have been just that. Running back Jonathan Taylor, for instance, has long been one of the best backs in the league. This year, he has been the best so far.

But very few expected quarterback Daniel Jones to be as terrific as he is. He likely can continue his elite run, as he appears to be a perfect fit in Shane Steichen's system. The quarterback tends not to make careless mistakes, and is the excellent point guard QB Steichen needs.


Daniel Jones Is the Latest Redemption Story for the Indianapolis Colts


Jones, in fact, isn't simply a fantastic redemption story; but he is playing like a Pro Bowl quarterback. He just needed to rid himself of being a part of the awful New York Giants organization, spend some time with the Minnesota Vikings, and join Indy, a team that has a wonderful core of offensive weapons.

The Colts' QB1 is completing 71.7 percent of his passes (third in the NFL), has a quarterback rating of a career-high 104.4 (10th in the league), and has augmented his 8 touchdown throws with 4 rushing touchdowns. He's made the argument of Anthony Richardson ever starting again moot.

But Jones has also done something that not even Peyton Manning could do. Through 6 games, Indianapolis has scored 194 points. That is the most in franchise history. Daniel Jones isn't the only reason Indy is scoring so much, but without him, the team doesn't reach the same level.

Clearly, the quarterback deserves a lot of credit for his play. He doesn't just make smart throws, but he prepares exceedingly well. He is a smart guy on and off the field, and it shows in the way that he runs the offense. That isn't going to change, barring an injury.

But Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen deserve credit, too. They took a chance on Jones being the starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts when maybe no other team would have. Those teams have a right to be jealous now. The only drawback for Indy is that next off-season, Jones is going to want to be signed to a huge new contract ...... and he's earned it.

o

[Colts And Orioles]

o


(vs. SEAHAWKS, 12/14)


Even though the Colts lost the game today, I am no longer afraid of the thought of facing the 49ers, the Jaguars, or the Texans to finish out the season ...... in addition to the way that they started the season before Daniel Jones broke his left fibula, I believe that this game is further evidence that Ballard has put together a complete team ...... they came within a hair of beating what may be the best team in the NFL on their homefield with a 44 year-old quarterback who hasn't played in 5 years.

o

[Oldcolt]

Ballard has put together another mediocre team. It will never be a 'complete' team until he finds the ability to scout and sign the most important positions in football, pass rush and QB. Every year we have this 'great' team that somehow always misses the playoffs. Always. Maybe, just maybe, this is ,has been and will continue to be an average NFL team. Or maybe our record just lies. I'm sick of this, as are most of us and have no idea of where to go from here. I can only hope Carlie does.

[Oldcolt]

I would also like to point out that since Luck retired there are a total of 5 starting QBs that were then on their current team that are starting for that current team: Mahomes, Allen, Jackson, Prescott, and Murray. Everyone else had a player starting that was not on the team at that time.

[Kray007]

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

Ballard has put together another mediocre team. It will never be a 'complete' team until he finds the ability to scout and sign the most important positions in football, pass rush and QB. Every year we have this 'great' team that somehow always misses the playoffs. Always. Maybe, just maybe, this is ,has been and will continue to be an average NFL team. Or maybe our record just lies. I'm sick of this, as are most of us and have no idea of where to go from here. I can only hope Carlie does.

What sheer and utter nonsense.

By the time the whistle blew to end the game in Seattle, the Colts had 6 pro bowlers out of action. Their starting Quarterback had undergone season ending surgery on Tuesday and plan B at the position was nursing a bizarre eye injury. That left a 44 year old grandfather who had, charitably, 3 days of practice with the team.

If you want to complain that Ballard has a hard time finding high quality pass rushers, okay. That’s valid. But Quarterback? Sometime in the next 4 months, Daniel Jones is going to sign a blockbuster contract. He’s generally considered to be one of the top 3 players available, and only God knows how much it’s going to cost to bring him back.

Were they as good as they seemed over their first 10 games? Maybe not. But, playing through more injuries than I’d wish on anyone…except perhaps the New England Patriots…they lost to Pittsburgh, in Pittsburgh, in a game in which they held the steelers to 224 yards. They lost to the defending AFC champions by 4 after a trademark Patrick Mahomes comeback. By 4 to Houston, and by 2 to Seattle.

The bottom line is that they were good enough to win every game they played, and there are damned few teams in this, or any other league, who can say the same.

[Oldcolt]

If this was one season I might agree. The record never changes. year after year. Always middle of the pack. Glad you think this .500 team is fabulous.