The Indianapolis Colts were able to go 9-8 last season despite them starting their backup QB for most of the season.
Following the year, they retained nearly all their in-house free agents, with the only notable players leaving in free agency being backups Gardner Minshew (QB) and Zack Moss (RB). As well as having a draft class that many view as one of the strongest in the NFL for 2024.
But NFL.com's Adam Rank seems to think the Colts are going to be taking a slight step backward .
As he does each season, Rank's predictions for each team's record in 2024 have begun to be posted on the NFL's official YouTube channel. Rank's prediction for the Colts is up, and he has the team finishing the year with a record of 8-9, so worse than they finished in 2023.
Here are the results he predicted:
- Week 1: Vs. Houston Texans Win
- Week 2: @ Green Bay Packers Loss
- Week 3: Vs. Chicago Bears Loss
- Week 4: Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Win
- Week 5: @ Jacksonville Jaguars Loss
- Week 6: At Tennessee Titans Loss
- Week 7: Vs. Miami Dolphins Win
- Week 8: @ Houston Texans Loss
- Week 9: @ Minnesota Vikings Loss
- Week 10: Vs. Buffalo Bills Win
- Week 11: @ New York Jets Loss
- Week 12: Vs. Detroit Lions Loss
- Week 13: @ New England Patriots Win
- Week 14: BYE
- Week 15: @ Denver Broncos Loss
- Week 16: Vs. Tennessee Titans Win
- Week 17: @ New York Giants Win
- Week 18: Vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Win
- Record 8-9
Arguing which games anyone predicts as a win and which as a loss seems like a waste of time. There are surprising results each year, so predicting each game correctly is nearly impossible.
But as I said in the opening section of this article, the Colts are returning every starter on their roster from last season, as well as having a draft class many around the NFL view in a positive light . Their key additions of edge rusher Laiatu Latu and WR Adonai Mitchell are expected to make an immediate impact on the team. Even if you are not high on the Colts, I don't see how you can have them taking a step backward from last season due to the big upgrade at QB expected to occur with Richardson returning from injury.
Head coach Shane Steichen had the team's offense playing like one of the best in the NFL last year, doing so with a QB whose skill set didn't allow them to deploy the deep ball, limiting Steichen's playbook. The only reason I can think anyone has the Colts taking a step back this season is if they don't believe in QB Anthony Richardson or if they don't trust that he will stay healthy in 2024. If that is Rank's reason, I guess we will have to wait and see, but I think there is even an argument to be made that the Colts upgraded their backup QB with Joe Flacco in terms of his skill set being a better fit in Steichen's offense than Minshew.
My prediction for the Colts in 2024 was significantly more optimistic than Ranks. Feel free to check out my entire AFC South prediction, which includes my Colts record prediction and where I think they finish in the division.
Related: 2024 AFC South record predictions
Related: The likelihood of Jonathan Taylor and Anthony Richardson breaking the Colts single-season rushing records for RBs and QBs in 2024
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