The Indianapolis Colts are a tricky team in a precarious position as the 2024 NFL season gets underway. They are nowhere near the level of the top teams in the league, but they have enough talent on their roster to pose problems to others.
After a change in 2023 in the head coaching department, Shane Steichen was able to turn around a disappointing 2022 campaign into a winning season with a 9-8 record. More importantly, the Colts’ hopes of making the postseason hinged on the last game of the season, which they ended up losing to the Houston Texans. The Texans took the AFC South crown and, with it, the only available playoff spot from that division.
Even so, the Colts are still capable of finding a spot in the postseason and we will take a look at how that may be possible ahead of the 2024 season.
Year 2 of Anthony Richardson
Indianapolis spent their 2023 first-round pick on selecting what they thought to be their next franchise quarterback by taking Anthony Richardson.
Richardson is not the typical quarterback you get to see in the NFL. He is a big, strong, and athletic player who has the ability to run the ball as well as throw it.
Last season was supposed to be the year he learned how the NFL operates and he was supposed to gain experience for the future. Unfortunately, though, a shoulder injury in the fourth game of the season forced him out for the year.
Now, coming back to the team as the starter and looking perfectly healthy, Richardson seems to have gotten more muscular than ever as he prepares for the battle ahead. He has the talent and skill to take this franchise to the next level provided he plays smart and limits the chances of getting injured again with his hard runs.
Top 5 offensive line
Quite possibly the strongest position group of the Colts is their offensive line. That is a solid foundation for the Colts’ offense, as a good O-line will allow Richardson plenty of time to assess the play as it unfolds. Moreover, the backfield, especially Jonathan Taylor, will also benefit from a strong O-line blocking for him.
As per Pro Football Focus, Indianapolis’ offensive line, which consists of Bernhard Raimann, Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, and Braden Smith, ranks third amongst all teams.
Both tackles Raimann and Smith had an excellent year in 2023 and finished inside the top seven highest-graded offensive tackles. Kelly at center had a career-best year and was the No. 1 pass-protecting center in 2023.
Healthy Jonathan Taylor
Taylor was out injured for the first seven games of the 2023 season. That means he and Richardson never got a chance to play together, and the Colts missed both players on an individual basis.
When Taylor returned, he played in 10 games and amassed 741 yards and seven touchdowns. The last couple of seasons have been difficult for Taylor due to injury, but in 2021 he led the league with over 1,800 yards. If he can get back to his best, the Colts can expect a big year from him.
Potential for a top offense
Most of Indianapolis’ hopes of making the playoffs rests on the team’s offense, as the Colts’ defense is the weaker of the two units.
On offense, if they are firing on all cylinders, then they will have Richardson making plays from under center, Taylor doing his thing from the backfield, and Michael Pittman Jr. as their WR1 coming off his best season yet in 2023.
Josh Downs, who will be entering his second NFL season, has shown that he is an able No. 2 receiver, as his rookie season was quite impressive last year. It is true that the Colts don’t possess a top of the line receiving core, but with the return of Richardson and his strong arm, more receivers could come to the party.
Additionally, both Richardson and Taylor will provide a potent running attack behind a top five offensive line.
The Colts’ schedule
First and foremost, the Colts who have six divisional games against the Jaguars, Texans, and Titans. The way things stand at the moment, the Texans are the heavy favorites to win the AFC South again, but after that, there is a lot of uncertainty. The Colts will have a good chance of defeating the Tennessee and Jacksonville more than once which will be a boost.
Secondly, the AFC South plays the AFC East in 2024, which means they have potentially tough games against the Jets and the Dolphins. However, Bills seem to have taken a step back this year, and the Patriots are still struggling, which means both games are very winnable.
While all of their NFC North matchups could pose problems, the Vikings and the Bears are the games to target for Indianapolis.
And finally, as the Colts finished third in the AFC South last year, they play the Steelers and Broncos from the AFC and the Giants in the NFC. Pittsburgh may give Indianapolis a run for their money, but Denver and New York are definitely winnable games.
With all things considered, if the Colts can find a way to win nine or 10 games, they should have fair shot at the postseason.
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