It won’t shock anyone if the Indianapolis Colts miss the playoffs. The team is currently third in the AFC South with a not-so-fantastic 4-5 record. Only the 3-5 Tennessee Titans have a worse record in the division.
If the season were to end right now, the AFC division leaders Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Miami Dolphins would be in the playoffs. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Bengals would grab the three wild card spots.
Indianapolis is currently battling teams like the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers, and the Aaron Rodgers-less New York Jets for a final wild card spot. Although they have a slim chance of making the postseason, don’t count the Colts out just yet.
Why the Indianapolis Colts Can Reach the Playoffs This Season
They Have the Personnel
Having an elite quarterback under center certainly helps an NFL team succeed. Just ask clubs like the Chiefs (Patrick Mahomes) and Philadelphia Eagles (Jalen Hurts).
The Colts’ biggest problem is that they don’t have a top-notch signal-caller to lead the way. Rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, of course, is out for the season with a shoulder injury.
With Richardson sidelined, the Colts start veteran Gardner Minshew. He’s no Prime Peyton Manning, but he’s probably the NFL’s best backup quarterback. He also has the eighth-best QBR in the league with 65.1. Minshew has a pair of talented receivers to throw to: Michael Pittman Jr. and rookie Josh Downs.
One of the Colts’ biggest strengths is their running game. They possess not one, but two great running backs in Zack Moss and Jonathan Taylor. Moss is currently the league’s second-leading rusher. Taylor, who missed the first four games of the season on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) List, is one of the league’s top players when healthy. The 2021 Pro Bowler has looked good at times this season as he returns to form.
On the defensive side of the ball, Indianapolis has key pieces like DeForest Buckner and Zaire Franklin, who is currently second in the league in total tackles. And you can’t forget about cornerback Kenny Moore II, the star of the show during the Week 9 matchup with the Carolina Panthers. Moore came up huge with two pick-sixes in the 27-13 win.
Strength of Schedule
An easy schedule doesn’t really exist in the NFL. Any team can beat anybody. For example, the lowly Arizona Cardinals upset the Dallas Cowboys. The struggling Denver Broncos even surprised the defending champion Chiefs.
Indianapolis’ remaining schedule isn’t necessarily easy, but there are several winnable games. The team has eight games left this season. They’ll play the New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Titans, Bengals, Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders and Texans. Out of those teams, only the Bengals and Steelers (both 5-3) are above .500.
A Week 10 victory over the Patriots would bring the Colts’ record to 5-5. After that, the team will have a bye week, which can help them recharge and get healthier.
Franklin and rookie Julius Brents have missed time due to injury plus Downs left the Carolina game after hurting his knee. Grover Stewart is serving a PED suspension and is expected to return later on in the year. If the Colts can get these guys back and win the games that they should, a trip to the postseason may be in the cards this season.
Main Photo: Robert Scheer – USA Today Sports
