This past season, we saw a Kansas City Chiefs team led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid make a Super Bowl run unlike any other. After having to come back from double-digit deficits in all three of their playoff games, including their Super Bowl matchup vs the San Francisco 49ers, the Chiefs are lined up to make another run at the Lombardi Trophy and are in prime position to do so. A team that nobody is talking about that can make a run similar to the Chiefs are the Indianapolis Colts.
Not a lot of people remember that the Colts were 5-2 at one point last season before a knee injury to quarterback Jacoby Brissett pretty much derailed their season. Not because he missed a lot of time, but because he just wasn’t the same after that and the Colts finished the season at 7-9.
Even though one of those wins came against the Chiefs on the road, the Colts knew off-season changes would have to be made, and general manager Chris Ballard made sure to make those changes.
Ballard has always been known to build through the draft, and no spend big money on free agents.
This off-season was different though.
Dealing with the current pandemic, Ballard made sure to bring in a quarterback that could come in and remain consistent throughout the season and was already familiar with the offense. That’s when he signed for Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers to a one-year deal worth $25 million to come in and be the starter for the season. Rivers demonstrated consistency in head coach Frank Reich’s offense when Reich was with the Chargers and already knows the majority of the playbook to be successful.
And with the draft, came talent. The Colts drafted wide receiver Michael Pittman out of USC and running back Jonathan Taylor out of Wisconsin in order to add productivity to an offense that lacked it last year.
Pittman joins a talented wide receiver group led by T.Y. Hilton along with Zach Pascal and Paris Campbell.
And with Rivers, came more free agents.
Offensively, the Colts brought in former bears tight end Trey Burton to be a key piece on offense. Defensively, the Colts signed defensive lineman Sheldon Day and cornerback Xavier Rhodes to one-year deals as well. Both will bring talent to an already talented defense led by linebacker Darius Leonard.
The offensive line is probably the strongest core of the entire team, led by All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson and center Ryan Kelly. Kelly just signed a four-year, $50 million extension to make him the highest-paid center in the NFL.
In order to keep all pieces of the line in tack, the Colts had to convince long-time left tackle Anthony Castonzo to not retire with a two-year contract worth up to $33 million.
With those pieces added to an already great Colts football team, plus a division that got weaker and not stronger, the Colts are ready to make a run at the Super Bowl this year.
