The Indianapolis Colts are coming off of an 8-8 season that saw them miss the playoffs for the first time since 2011. Andrew Luck missed nine games in 2015, and had the worst season of his career. However, the Colts made some upgrades on the offensive line, like former Alabama center Ryan Kelly. They added Robert Turbin and Jordan Todman at running back as well.
Other notable additions include cornerback Patrick Robinson, safety T.J. Green, and defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway. The overall depth on the team looks more impressive and Luck is healthy heading into the season, so let’s take a look at the playoff expectations for the Indianapolis Colts in 2016.
Indianapolis Colts Playoff Expectations in 2016
Hopes are high in Indianapolis leading into the 2016 NFL season. The Colts are looking at a predicted 10-6 season, based on an ESPN schedule analysis for their 2016 season. According to Odds Shark, the Colts have the 13th highest odds of winning the Super Bowl at +2500 odds. However, their odds are higher than the next best team from the AFC South, with the Houston Texans at +3300.
Furthermore, they have only missed the playoffs three times since 1999. Considering the two most recent seasons the Colts did not make the playoffs, 2011 and 2015, they did not have their starting quarterback healthy gives hope for a better 2016. The odds look good for the Colts to make a return to the playoffs once again in 2016.
How does the roster stack up in 2016?
Some of the more important additions the Colts made in the 2016 off-season were mentioned like Kelly, Robinson, Turbin, and Todman. However, they do lose some big names from last season including Andre Johnson, Coby Fleener, and Jerrell Freeman. The loss of Freeman is one that should not be underestimated. According to ESPN, he recorded 112 combined tackles, good for second on the team, and three sacks, in 2015.
D’Qwell Jackson, Sio Moore, and Robert Mathis will be expected to make up for the loss of Freeman at linebacker. Furthermore, the secondary should be improved this season. Green and Robinson will join Vontae Davis and Mike Adams to make for a formidable set of defensive backs.
On the offensive side of the ball things are looking up as well. Luck returns for his fifth season with the Colts. He also comes into the season with a brand new, record breaking contract. Dwayne Allen returns at tight end but Fleener left in free agency for the New Orleans Saints.
Running back Frank Gore is coming off a 967 yard season in 2015. He will look to be the first thousand yard rusher for the Colts since Joseph Addai in 2007. The receiving corps also looks strong with T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief, and Phillip Dorsett. Yet the worst part of the offense last season, the offensive line, looks revamped after adding four lineman in the 2016 NFL Draft.
2016 Schedule and Expectations
According to NFL.com, the Colts have the 22nd toughest schedule. They’re also in a good position in the AFC South, arguably the worst division in the AFC. Some of their more important games on the road include the Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings. At home they will have to face the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Chicago Bears.
Winning at least four of their six divisional games will be a major key toward making the playoffs in 2016. However, this could be more of a challenge than in years past with an improving Jacksonville Jaguars team and a talented Texans team in the division. Expect a result of between ten and 11 wins this season for the Colts.
