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[Indianapolis Colts]

Bye Week Rooting Guide

Buckle in Colts fans.

We have our first Colts Football-Free Weekend since August. After an 8-2 start to the season, many-a-Colts fan has grown addicted to watching the 2025 squad every Sunday. To sate your cravings for NFL Football during the Bye Week blues, we here at Stampede Blue offer you this handy Guide to your first Weekend in months without the Colts on your screen.

football is fun. pic.twitter.com/BiPpkew5KC

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 30, 2025

Who should you root for to help the Colts quest for the 1 seed?

Should you hope AFC South Divisional rivals continue to fall behind, or win a game to worsen their 2026 Draft slot?

Is there a team Colts fans should hope loses to help increase the odds one of their best players leaves in Free Agency?

Find out who you should (probably) root for this week!

New York Jets vs New England Patriots​

The first game on the docket should be an easy one for Colts fans to instinctually have a rooting interest in: Anyone against the New England Patriots.

On Thursday Night Football the 8-2 Patriots host their 2-7 AFC East Divisional Rival Jets in a game most to be a rout for the home team in Foxborough. Jets doubters beware however, as they are on a two game winning streak! Albeit it was against the lowly Ohio teams: the Bengals and Browns…

Drake Maye on the #Patriots being in Super Bowl talks:

“We gotta worry about the Jets on Thursday night. It’s any given week in this league… They just played well on Sunday… We know it’s one week at a time in this league and things can change quickly.”

(@WEEIAfternoons) pic.twitter.com/KJMlWP58BI

— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) November 11, 2025

Despite the odds, Colts fans want the Jets to endure. A loss drops the Patriots out of the tiebreakers with the Colts for the 1 seed in the AFC, as well as hurts the Most Valuable Player campaign of starting QB Drake Maye. A historic rival losing playoff seeding and potentially missing out on the biggest individual player award? Sounds like Colts fans have reason to break out the Adonai Mitchell jerseys if the Jets win.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals​

This one could have some conflicting views on who to root for. On the one hand, the 5-4 Steelers losing would increase the Colts odds of a good playoff seeding with Pittsburgh owning the head to head tiebreaker over the Colts. On the other hand, the Bengals losing could increase the likelihood star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson opts to leave Cincinnati in the 2026 offseason, potentially trying to reunite with former Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo in Indianapolis.

The Ravens overtake 1st place in the AFC North next week if:

– Ravens beat Browns.

– Bengals beat Steelers. pic.twitter.com/YqOt402ORP

— Ravens Realest (@Ravens_Realest) November 10, 2025

This game also has a sneaky impact on the Ravens, who could jump all the way from 10th in the AFC to the 4 seed with the Bengals upsetting the Steelers and if the Ravens take care of the Browns. While the Colts did fall to the Steelers this regular season, I doubt any Colts fan likes the idea of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry re-entering the playoff field.

It is up to each fan, but I lean rooting for the Steelers to lose in this case. Trey Hendrickson to the Colts is an idea that can only come to fruition in 2026 at the earliest and the Steelers losing has tangible benefits for the Colts in 2025. Live for the here and now!

Houston Texans vs Tennessee Titans​

An AFC South grudge match between the two teams at the bottom of the division. The Texans are at 4-5 after a dramatic upset win over the Jaguars, clawing to keep their playoff hopes alive despite a tough schedule and with starting QB CJ Stroud out with his 2nd concussion of his career. Over in Tennessee, the Titans are coming off their bye suddenly in the driver’s seat for the 1st overall pick. They would be the 6th team in the Super Bowl era to pick 1st overall in back to back years.

If you are looking for good scoring entertainment value, likely look elsewhere. As the first matchup against these two AFC South rivals showed earlier in the season, offense likely isn’t on the menu in this matchup.

Texans vs Titans:

Passing Yds: 89 – 83
Yards/Play: 4.1 – 4.6
3rd Down Conversions: 3/10 – 1/6
Punts: 2-3
Kicking: 2/3 – 0/2
Score: 6-0

And the 3rd quarter just started…

This is an abomination deserving of relegation for the teams & institutionalization for their fans watching pic.twitter.com/5WhUroYy7d

— Jay Robins (@TheJayRobins) September 28, 2025

Colts fans can have a rare rooting interest in the Tennessee Titans, as a win would simultaneously worsen their division rival’s draft slot and decrease the odds of them getting an impact player, and inch the Texans towards out of the playoff race entirely. While the Titans certainly aren’t favored, every team can have their day in the NFL. Might as well root for the underdog! Just try not to look directly at this game. Put it in Picture-in-Picture or check it out on RedZone (if it shows up at all).

Los Angeles Chargers vs Jacksonville Jaguars​

Despite falling to the aforementioned Texans with backup QB Davis Mills in the lineup last week, the Jaguars are still the Colts primary challengers for the AFC South at 5-4. The Chargers meanwhile are the 4th best team in the AFC record wise (5th Seed with Broncos ahead of them in the AFC West). Jim Harbaugh’s squad doesn’t have the head to head tiebreaker over the Colts, but could still pose a challenge for the Colts playoff seeding toward the end of the season if they win, being only 1 game back from the Colts in the playoff race.

Incredible angle of final play from epic comeback by #Texans to beat Jaguars, courtesy of @KHOUSergioSoto. pic.twitter.com/XkyC4fRl2K

— Jason Bristol (@JBristolKHOU) November 10, 2025

This one could be a tough one for Colts fans to decide on who to root for. Is it better for the Colts to have more of a guarantee at making the playoffs? Or should the Colts set their sights higher for some help to a potential 1 seed? Either way, Chargers vs Jaguars is one showdown that could have a big impact on the AFC playoff race.

Kansas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos​

The only 4:25 game on this list, deciding to tune into this game should be an easy choice.

The perennial AFC Champion Chiefs are trying to fight their way back into the playoffs, while the Denver Broncos are trying to keep pace with the Colts and Patriots for the 1 seed in the AFC. Throw in that this is the last opponent the Chiefs take on before they face the Colts coming off of their Bye week, and this is a slam dunk MUST watch for Colts fans this Sunday.

Nov. 16, 1997: The AFC West leading Denver Broncos visit the Kansas City Chiefs for a pivotal divisional matchup.

The game culminates in one of the most dramatic endings in the history of the series.

Nov. 16, 2025 arrives Sunday. pic.twitter.com/SYFkcFO3FH

— Red Tribe Cinema (@ClayWendler) November 11, 2025

As for who to root for, this game between AFC West powerhouses naturally will have a big impact in the AFC playoff race. According to the New York Times’ Playoff Simulator, each result would have a big swing in either team’s playoff chances.

If the Chiefs Lose VS If the Chiefs Win:

• Make the Playoffs Odds: 61% VS 85%
• Win AFC West Odds: 6% VS 31%
• 1 Seed Odds: <1%—> 7%

If the Broncos Lose VS If the Broncos Win:

• Make the Playoffs Odds: 88% VS 98%
• Win AFC West Odds: 26% VS 42%
• 1 Seed Odds: 8% VS 26%

Colts fans have another choice in who to root for, either to help thin out the playoff field or increase their chances at the 1 seed. Personally, I’d love for the rare tie to occur.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/humor/117719/bye-week-rooting-guide

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Some may have gripes but the Colts have positioned themselves well heading into the bye

The Colts have a fatal flaw.

Daniel Jones is turning the ball over too much and is turning back into the pumpkin we knew he was in New York.

What happened to the offensive line? They are giving up way too much pressure and too many sacks.

This defense struggles to get off the field on third down and can’t generate enough pressure.

That has been the sentiment across message boards and group chats of Indianapolis Colts’ fans the last few weeks. Not all fans are expressing these frustrations, but to say they don’t exist would be a lie. To say those things are not real or areas of concerns would be blatantly ignorant as well. The Colts sit at 8-2 and are far from perfect. Who is though? Which team has it all together and has had it all together the entire season? No one, and that is why fans need to focus on the position the Colts find themselves in heading into their bye week.

Spoiler alert…it’s pretty good…

There is literally no one better from a record perspective. Literally no one. One could look at power rankings and on the field of play to say that a win-loss record doesn’t tell the whole story, and that would be fair. Other teams are playing very well. Pesky teams like the Broncos and Patriots won’t seem to go away, but the Colts are holding their own. The Pittsburgh game had troubling signs, but the best teams have dud games. Do you really believe the Dolphins are better than the Bills? Yes, the Bills are struggling, but come on. The Colts are undefeated as the home team and have split their road contests with one being up for grabs and the other in range if not for a billion turnovers.

The Colts have dropped a couple. That is true. It is also true that they have the best running back in the league. They found a legitimate top talent at the tight end position who completely turned that unit around single handedly. They found a deep threat who is emerging as an all around receiver and setting himself up for a contract that wasn’t on the table two months ago. The Colts just acquired one of the best cornerbacks, if not the best, in the game. Their much maligned secondary has been revamped and should be fully healthy after the break. They found a quarterback after ten years who can run the offense and seems like more than a one year rental.

These are all wild positives that have positioned the Colts on the inside track for the number one seed in the AFC. Will they get it? Not sure because the schedule gets tough and the Patriots’ turns soft. That won’t be the ultimate reflection on this season, however. Disappointing, yes, but not the ultimate reflection. The Colts are finally building something and moving in a direction after years of floating along. They are finally establishing some sense of identity, and that identity has brought them to the top of the standings. So, yes, they have flaws, but they are also one of the best teams in the NFL. Two things can be true at once, so let’s focus on the positive and be satisfied with where the Colts are after ten weeks.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/analys...sitioned-themselves-well-heading-into-the-bye

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts’ Week 10 QB Analysis: Better, not great

Thanks to the nflFastR project, Pro Football Focus and NFL NextGen Stats for the timely sources of data.

For those of you new to this, I will publish key QB stats each week judging how well the Colts’ QB performed. Yes, O-Line, receivers, and play-calling impact these numbers but they are primarily QB measures. I will probably modify the charts throughout the season. Commentary will be brief but feel free to let me know in the comments that stats aren’t everything. (click charts for larger view)

---

HOW WELL?​

I guess Week 10 can be considered a bounce-back for Daniel Jones, primarily because he didn’t turn the ball over five times. It wasn’t for lack of trying, though — he still turned it over twice, fumbled out of bounds once, and recovered his own fumble once.

His 17th-ranked EPA efficiency is much lower than his 5th-ranked success rate, mostly because of the strip-sack fumble — a highly negative play. Interestingly, the interception wasn’t all that costly, as it came on 3rd-and-11 with just eight seconds left in the half.

Basically, he had a lot of consistently good plays when he was able to get rid of the ball, but sacks limited his overall value.

His 1st-down conversion rate took a dive, and his yardage efficiency was below average, illustrating his struggles to sustain drives and move the chains.

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HOW FAR?​

His 73.1% completion rate shows he was consistently connecting on passes — they just weren’t turning into first downs as often as in previous weeks.

Target and completion depth dropped but was still about league average.

He relies on passing depth more than most QBs — a stark contrast to his New York days, when he leaned heavily on YAC-driven plays.

---

TO WHO?​

Tyler Warren edged out Pierce in total yards, but as you would expect, the vertical targets primarily went to Pierce.

It’s nice to have three different receivers all vying for the team lead in receiving yards, but so far, Warren holds the edge.

The majority of targets generated positive value relative to league average — even the shorter routes.

Similar view at the season level.

---

HOW ACCURATE?​

Jones rebounded from his Week 9 accuracy issues, posting an above-average CPOE.

---

HOW FAST?​

He was again forced to throw quickly, but even so, he took 7 sacks.

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TO WHERE?​

He had moderate success in most areas of the field.

The last two weeks have brought his efficiency back down to earth a bit — but it’s still solid overall.

---

DASHBOARD​

mouseover definitions: epa/d, median EPA gain in similar game situation (down, distance, etc.)”>arsr, 3 yards to gain in game-neutral situations”>edp, opd, pr%, tip, ttt, adot, ay/c, yac, yacoe, yd/c, ac%, cpoe, aypa, scr%, ta%, sck%, aa%, aay, ny/d, ny/p, 1st%, td%, to%, 0″>qbsr epa/p, adj/p

Here’s what happened in week 10:

• Jonathan Taylor was beyond phenomenal, and for the first time this year, the Colts leaned into the run game (2nd in ARSR, 18th in EDP). However, those early-down runs made it harder to create manageable 3rd downs, as the Colts averaged 8.2 yards to gain on 3rd down — the 5th-highest mark of the week.
• The pressure stats show about an average pressure rate for Jones, but as I’ve said many times, that can be misleading. Jones also had the 9th-quickest time to throw yet still faced roughly average pressure — which suggests that he had to get rid of the ball early to avoid pressure.
• Even with the quick throws, he was able to get decent depth on both his targets and completions (21st in ADOT, 16th in AY/C).
• Add to that the strong YAC from his receivers — even after adjusting for pass depth — and it resulted in solid yardage per completion (9th in YAC, 6th in YACOE, 7th in YD/C).
• Part of that extra YAC was due to good accuracy, which also boosted completion rate and translated into top-5 yardage efficiency on pass attempts (10th in CPOE, 6th AC%, 5th in AY/A).
• Unfortunately, he had to bail on a lot of plays, posting the highest scramble rate and the 2nd-highest sack rate in the league (1st in AA%). Those abandoned attempts acted as an anchor on his yardage efficiency, dropping him from 5th on pass attempts all the way to 16th on total dropbacks.
• That made it tough to move the ball. And with a mediocre conversion rate, low touchdown efficiency, and elevated turnover rate, finishing 17th in EPA per play is almost miraculous (15th 1st%, 24th TD%, 9t TO%).

Basically, when he had time, he was very effective — but he was pressured on a large share of plays, and the longer-developing ones often ended with drive-killing sacks.

mouseover definitions: ay<, dp%, ay/c, yac, yd/c, ac%, aypa, drp%, aypa, ta%, ypa, sck%, ny/a, scr%, ny/d, car%, ny/p, 1st%, any/p, td%, any/p, to%, any/p, epa/p, opd, adj/p

On the season, I have him ranked 10th in efficiency, but after adjusting for opponent strength, that improves to 6th overall.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/nfl-an...48/colts-week-10-qb-analysis-better-not-great

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor, Tyler Warren earn weekly PFF honors after BIG Berlin outings

According to PFF, both Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor and rookie tight end Tyler Warren were named to their ‘Week 10 Team of the Week’:

Offense​

• QB: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
• RB: Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
• WR: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
• WR: Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
• TE: Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
• Flex: TE Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
• LT: Andrew Thomas, New York Giants
• LG: Steve Avila, Los Angeles Rams
• C: Coleman Shelton, Los Angeles Rams
• RG: Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta Falcons
• RT: Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions

In particular, Taylor was named ‘PFF Offensive Player of the Week,’ which seems incredibly hard to disagree with given his insane outing overseas:

Offensive Player of the Week: RB Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts​

Taylor earned a 90.1 PFF rushing grade after a dominant performance on the ground in Berlin. His 205 yards after contact were more than any other running back’s total rushing yards this week, as he forced seven missed tackles and scored three touchdowns.

It only seems fitting, as the Colts star workhorse, who’s a bonafide NFL MVP candidate at running back, had a monstrous day in Berlin, Germany, against the Atlanta Falcons.

Specifically, Taylor ran for 244 total rushing yards on 32 carries with 3 rushing touchdowns—including an improbable career long touchdown run of 83-yards.

Entering Week 10, Jonathan Taylor led the NFL in rushing yards after contact with 663. He proceeded to gain 228 yards after contact against the Falcons, the most in any game since 2017.

He is now nearly 300 yards clear of any other player in the league.@JayT23 | #ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/wm4AWh2FOo

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) November 10, 2025

Jonathan Taylor rushed for 228 yards after contact in Berlin, the only game since at least 2017 with more than 200.

Taylor forced 11 missed tackles and gained 165 extra yards, the most by any player this season.

Powered by @awscloud pic.twitter.com/si8lNU2PKV

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) November 9, 2025

Meanwhile, Warren led the Colts with a team-high 8 receptions for 99 total receiving yards.

While the Colts have a number of good weapons offensively, Taylor is the undisputed best player at his position this year, while Warren has arguably already become one at his, being well beyond his years—even as a rookie.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...rn-weekly-pff-honors-after-big-berlin-outings

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Vote: are the Colts on the rise?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Colts fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Heading into Week 11, we want to know how you’re feeling after watching the team so far this year. Every week of the season we will ask fans if they are confident the team is headed in the right direction and more of the most pressing questions facing the coming game. Let us know what you think!

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/general/117783/vote-are-the-colts-on-the-rise

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

What’s not to love about Colts’ Tyler Warren?

Shh…Don’t tell anyone, but Tyler Warren might be my favorite Colts player.

Yes, Jonathan Taylor is stealing the headlines right now. Stealing…? Ok, not stealing, but you get the idea. All the talk is about Taylor and well deserved. He is ripping off huge runs, breaking franchise records, and carrying this team at times. The present is all about Taylor. The future, well, that has Taylor in it too, but if things continue like they are, a large chunk of it will be all about Warren. What fans of the Indianapolis Colts have seen on the field to start his career has been more than anyone could have hoped.

The stats show the big man has 50 receptions for 617-yards and three touchdowns. Those are incredibly impactful numbers for any rookie but especially strong considering how bad this tight end unit was last year. He has beaten the tar out of last year’s numbers all on his own. Those are the stats, but just like with most players, the stats don’t tell the whole tale.

Stampede Blue’s own, Jay Robins, has gone as far as throwing Warren’s name into the ring as an All-Pro fullback. It may be a bit tongue in cheek, but then again, not really.

But then he can line up at H Tight End and embrace the Fullback side. From this spot Warren combines the devastating power of the 3 yards and a cloud of dust mentality that the pre NFL and AFL-merger era of football was known for…

Did you expect this from Warren? Maybe you did. Maybe you consumed his game at a high level and witnessed how Penn State utilized him all over the field. I imagine the casual and even more involved fans of the Colts didn’t, however. Even if you tout yourself as one who did, did you think he would have so much success at the next level so quickly? Come on now, don’t lie…The Chicago Bears didn’t. Neither did the other teams that picked before the Colts. Everyone knew he had talent. Not everyone knew he could come in so pro-ready and able to elevate this offense to such extremes.

Regardless, Warren can do it all. Whether he is blowing people up from the fullback position or running over people and dragging defenders down the field, Warren appears to be in his tenth year. Look no further for an example of his poise than last week in Berlin. With time ticking down and the Colts needing a first down to stay alive, Warren plucked a contested ball out of the air and rumbled for big yardage. Daniel Jones and the Colts’ coaching staff are demonstrating they have the ultimate confidence in him. That is big time.

Tyler Warren was the best pick the Colts could have possibly made. Some have referred to him as “Gronk-like”. There is a ways to go towards that front, but the big frame makes for an easy target and a hard one to take down. Hopefully, we won’t see Warren wearing the same type of robo-arm out there, but the comparison is welcomed. This is but a taste of things to come. Could there be a sophomore slump? Sure. Could this be the launching pad for an unbelievable career that only takes off from here? Yeah…that is where my money is for Warren.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/analysis/117869/whats-not-to-love-about-colts-tyler-warren

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

AFC Playoff Picture: Colts lose top spot on their bye week

The Indianapolis Colts are on the bye in Week 11, and while they entered it in first place in the AFC, they have already lost their position after one game. The New England Patriots became the first nine-win team in the NFL on Thursday night, defeating the New York Jets, and taking sole possession of first place in the AFC as a result.

The Denver Broncos currently share an 8-2 record with Indianapolis. They play the Chiefs this weekend in a game with huge AFC playoff implications.

The Patriots’ bye isn’t until Week 14 and between now and then they play two of the worst teams in the NFL in the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants. Meanwhile the Colts play the Kansas City Chiefs next week coming off the bye.

AFC standings during Week 11​

1. New England Patriots (9-2)
2. Indianapolis Colts (8-2, win over DEN)
3. Denver Broncos (8-2, loss to IND)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)
6. Buffalo Bills (6-3)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4, win over KC)
8. Kansas City Chiefs (5-4, loss to JAX)
9. Houston Texans (4-5, win over BAL)
10. Baltimore Ravens (4-5, loss to HOU)
11. Cincinnati Bengals (3-6)
12. Miami Dolphins (3-7)
13. New York Jets (2-7)
14. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)
15. Cleveland Browns (2-7)
16. Tennessee Titans (1-8)

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AFC South standings after Week 10​

The Jaguars face the Chargers this week in another big AFC contest while the Texans and Titans play each other Sunday.

1. Indianapolis Colts (8-2)
2. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4)
3. Houston Texans (4-5)
4. Tennessee Titans (1-8)

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...picture-colts-lose-top-spot-on-their-bye-week

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Tyler Warren: All Pro Fullback?

When the Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the Colts drafting Tyler Warren 15th overall in the 2025 draft, he did so with the usual customary addition of “insert position, insert university” that he does with all picks. The words “Tyler Warren, Tight End, Penn State” caused a thunderous roar of approval from both Colts fans watching the draft, and from inside the Colts War Room itself.

However the 2nd part, “Tight End” is just a gross oversimplification of what Tyler Warren can do. Tyler Warren is like Cassian Andor’s friends in Andor or Roy Kent from Ted Lasso, he’s everywhere.

Major Partagaz with that Roy Kent chant in Andor

“He’s here. He’s there. He’s everywhere.” pic.twitter.com/G2esaLT1lE

— Star Wars Holocron (@sw_holocron) April 27, 2025

Versatility is lifeblood of the NFL. The more jobs, assignments, and roles you can do at a wider variety of spots, the more likely you are to get on the field. You can create more uncertainty in opposing coordinators and players, cause hesitation, and make a wider range of impact in a game.

Tyler Warren is the embodiment of this ideal in the NFL.

The era of Fullback dominance has long since passed, becoming a relic from a pair of bygone eras of black and white TV and the NES. Sure there are still a handful of designated full time fullbacks left in the NFL who rotate into their offense at times, most notably All Pros Patrick Ricard of the Baltimore Ravens and Kyle Juszczyk of the San Francisco 49ers. But beyond them the position is a role reserved for other players from other positions to wander into occasionally. It ain’t much, but it’s honest living.

This is the best fullback clip of all-time. pic.twitter.com/ujoO7KMo2f

— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) August 15, 2025

Sure you can line Warren up as a traditional in-line Tight End next to a Tackle. From there he can perform strong blocks from the line on Edge defenders and linebackers, even come across as a puller to wham some poor defender into the turf. He can still work the middle of the field as well as a receiver from there with ease.

You can absolutely put him out wide/in the slot in the new age Flex role that modern Tight Ends have popularized. From there he can bully a nickel corner, a safety, or a linebacker playing away from the front, beat press or exploit off coverage, and execute devastating outside blocks in space.

Interesting pic.twitter.com/Xpygs2O0Qm

— Chris Ballard is my daddy (@VeveJones007) November 13, 2025

But then he can line up at H Tight End and embrace the Fullback side. From this spot Warren combines the devastating power of the 3 yards and a cloud of dust mentality that the pre NFL and AFL-merger era of football was known for, as well as the 1980’s Bill Walsh led 49ers West Coast style that emphasized a Fullback who can be a route running weapon in the pass game.

Tyler Warren as a FB blocker has helped spring some great runs, but that’s not all

As a FB Runner:
– 4 Carries
– 2 1st Downs
– 1 TD

As a FB Receiver (ranks among players w/ 7+ Routes in backfield):
– 0.222 Separation Score (1st)
– 5 Yards Per Route Run (1st)
– 11.1% Win% (1st) https://t.co/g9Bxt1CoPo pic.twitter.com/QrCgdw7kMA

— Jay Robins (@TheJayRobins) November 13, 2025

As Zach Hicks and Jake Arthur of Locked On Colts note, Tyler Warren has been able to put the Colts already potent rushing attack into overdrive when he lines up in the backfield.

START THE TRAIN: Indianapolis Colts' Tyler Warren for All-Pro Fullback AND Tight End! pic.twitter.com/jXk8yGfAoC

— Locked On Colts Podcast (@LockedOnColts) November 12, 2025

When you are generating nearly 7 yards per carry by blocking, picking up key short yardage yourself for conversions/TDs on nearly every one of your attempts, and winning as a receiver better than anyone else at that spot? Sounds like you are All Pro caliber.

“But wait! You can’t be an All Pro at two positions at the same time! Shouldn’t we be advocating for Tyler Warren to be an All Pro at his primary position Tight End instead?!” A reader might counter. Well Debbie-Downer, don’t ruin the fun, because it IS possible for Tyler Warren to be an All Pro at BOTH Tight End and Fullback. It just has only happened 3 times in the last decade and hasn’t happened in the 2020s… yet.

And being All Pro at two positions at the same time isn’t unprecedented.

Christian McCaffrey: RB & Flex in 2019
Khalil Mack: DE & OLB in 2015
JJ Watt: DE & DT in 2014

— Jay Robins (@TheJayRobins) November 12, 2025

So to the Associated Press members who will be voting for the All Pro teams at the end of the season… you don’t have to vote for Tyler Warren as an All Pro Fullback as well.

But it would be cooler if you did.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/analysis/117827/tyler-warren-all-pro-fullback

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Week 10 Colts Film Breakdown: Big Time Win in Berlin

International games can be the best or the worst—depending on the outcome of the game. If you win, there’s nothing like that flight back home. If you lose? It is MISERABLE. Luckily, the Colts under Shane Steichen have not had to experience that.

I’ve said it before, but the NFL is a week to week league. It doesn’t matter what the media thinks, Vegas thinks, or your co-worker at the watercooler. Records do not matter. Unless you have a crystal ball, nobody has any clue what will happen in a game. You may be more talented than the player across from you, but if you do not show up every Sunday, you will get beat.

The Colts learned this last week vs. Pittsburgh, and clearly came in motivated to head into the bye with a win.

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This Center Fold RPO is great because it creates so much horizontal stress on the key read player.

The pull moves the gap 55 is fitting, so he either gives Tyler Warren tons of space to work with, or is incredibly late to fit his gap (which he is here). pic.twitter.com/U5SfelNZxK

— Colts Film Room (@ColtsFilmRoom) November 12, 2025

Shane Steichen isn’t as RPO heavy as he’s been in the past, but man I love this RPO. First let’s break down what’s happening here. An RPO is Run-Pass Option where we’re reading a certain defender that will dictate whether we hand the ball off or we throw it.

RPO’s are challenging on a defense because it puts players in conflict. It’s impossible for one player to properly fit a gap and execute their pass responsibility at the same time. Offenses take advantage of this. Certain coverages are better vs. the RPOs than others, but this particular RPO the Colts are running is very tough to stop.

The Colts are pulling the center on a “Fold” block. What is a Fold block? A fold is an another way to execute a combination block, but with better angles in the run game.

On this play Bortolini and Goncalves are “comboing” up to that linebacker on a Wide Zone play. Well, from the shotgun, the angles are very tough on the OL. The center has to fully reach block that DT in a hurry and it can be very tough. So the Colts “fold” it by pinning down that DT and “pulling the Center” like it’s a gap scheme run. These are much better angles.

pic.twitter.com/kvybNRHtmz

— Colts Film Room (@ColtsFilmRoom) November 12, 2025

What the fold does here is also move the gap that the Mike LB has to cover. He is in a complete bind here, because he either has to move with the Center pull to play the run, or he has to give Tyler Warren tons of space in between the hashes. I love this RPO vs. teams that play Wide 9’s because they’re asking linebackers to fit interior gaps fast that you can manipulate.

You don't draft Tyler Warren just to draw up gimmicky plays. You draft him because when things aren't perfect for the QB, he'll make you right anyway.

This is dropped and/or short of the line to gain for a lot of TEs. pic.twitter.com/xSZO84R0mZ

— Colts Film Room (@ColtsFilmRoom) November 10, 2025

---

If you have followed my account for a long time, you would know I love Tyler Warren.

The Colts could pick anywhere in the first round next year but I'll be all over the Tyler Warren to IND train.

It probably won't happen with Chris Ballard, but the in-line Y is all the way back and this offense could skyrocket with a guy like Warren.

— Colts Film Room (@ColtsFilmRoom) October 13, 2024

He came up clutch in some big time moments in this game and deserves his flowers. He’s already gotten plenty of love because of his box scores, but this is the type of winning football that some doubted he had in him.

This is a funky 3×1 check from the defense designed to take away #3 to the flat. Billy Bowman is all over this route from Tyler Warren, but it doesn’t matter. He is not big or strong enough to make this type of tackle. He just slides right off of 84.

Shane calls a 7 step drop from UC vs. weak rotated C3 with the game on the line. Pretty Aggressive.

This is great pass pro, a great throw, and a great job tracking this ball + securing the catch knowing you're going to take a hit. pic.twitter.com/YwFEG0Myuo

— Colts Film Room (@ColtsFilmRoom) November 10, 2025

This play was even better. This is as gutsy as it gets in overtime. A seven step dropback pass is very aggressive. That’s a lot of time for the OL to protect without much help schematically to keep the DL from teeing off on the QB. Daniel Jones could just take the flare from Jonathan Taylor, but he makes a beautiful throw on this sail concept. Watch Tyler Warren track this ball knowing he’s going to take a hit on the boundary.

Just two special plays with the game on the line.

---

These are the plays that Steichen has done a pretty good job coaching out of Daniel Jones and I expect to get cleaned up after the bye.

I know it's 3rd & long down 4, but if the screen isn't there, don't make a bad play worse. pic.twitter.com/A7K95KIA11

— Colts Film Room (@ColtsFilmRoom) November 10, 2025

There’s been a LOT made of Daniel Jones turnovers the past two weeks. In my opinion, we are likely to see some positive regression in this area, especially with the bye week coming up.

Ball security needs to be a bigger priority for Daniel Jones—it’s been his kryptonite for years. There’s too many times where he doesn’t have two hands on the ball in the pocket. That’s why we’ve seen too many strip sacks and fumbles.

Some of the INT’s have been out of his control, in my opinion. Some have been unlucky, some have been poor play design and execution from the overall offense, and some are just pressing it. But the fumbles and strip sacks have to get cleaned up, because those are almost always preventable.

This is a screen pass and the Falcons are all over it. That happens. But what we can’t do is make a bad play worse. Offenses I’ve learned tell the QB to throw the ball at the feet of the RB. If it’s 4th down and you kick the FG, then it’s 4th down and you kick the FG. I think there’s better things to call than a 3rd&long screen, but nonetheless, you can’t turn it over on a screen like this.

It’s a bad mistake, but easily correctable.

---

Overall, I think the Colts are getting the bye week a the perfect time. They just made a trade for Sauce Gardner and they hopefully should get Mooney Ward back to finalize their elite secondary. Over the past two weeks, it felt like Pittsburgh and Atlanta both had some answers for some of the tendencies Indy has, so using this week to self-scout will be important.

The final stretch of the season will be very important for this team, obviously. Four division games, two NFC south playoff teams, and the Chiefs. It won’t be easy by any means, but the Colts should feel very confident.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/colts-...0-colts-film-breakdown-big-time-win-in-berlin

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

What could Colts QB Daniel Jones next contract look like?

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (subscription), Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones is projected to be in line for a lucrative multi-year contract extension—to the tune of $100 million:

Daniel Jones, QB​

Current team: Indianapolis Colts
2025 salary: $14 million
Age entering 2026 season: 29

What he brings: Jones has elevated his level of play and poise under coach Shane Steichen in Indianapolis. Through 10 games, Jones’ 66.8 QBR ranks ninth in the league, and he is throwing with a much stronger sense of timing. He fits in an offense that features a good run game, which allows him to operate as a facilitator. — Bowen

What we’re hearing: Jones has a chance to become the biggest earner in the free agency class. The Colts appear all-in on keeping Jones long term, and they have comps for former top-10 picks who thrived when quarterbacking a new team: Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold, who each earned three-year deals worth around $100 million. Jones would totally be justified asking for that … with interest. — Fowler

To his credit, Jones left the Minnesota Vikings this offseason in free agency to pursue a potential better opportunity to win an NFL QB1 job and bet on himself, signing a a 1-year deal for ‘greener’ pastures ahead.

He’s so far backed it up in Indianapolis, completing 223 of 319 pass attempts (69.9%) for a league-leading 2,659 total passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, and 7 interceptions during all 10 starts for the NFL’s best offense.

Having traded their next two first round picks recently for former 2x NFL All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner, the Colts appears to be convinced that Jones is their answer at starting quarterback for the foreseeable future. If the money is there, it’s hard to envision why the 28-year-old quarterback would want to be separated anytime soon from head coach Shane Steichen—given the prolific success the pairing has had so far this season.

For what it’s worth, Spotrac projects Jones to earn 4-years, $183.7 million on his next contract, whether it’s with the Colts or elsewhere. However, all current signs point to the Colts committing to Jones for the long-term future.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...colts-qb-daniel-jones-next-contract-look-like

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

AFC Playoff Picture: Colts fall from first to third on Week 11 bye

The Indianapolis Colts are on the bye in Week 11, and while they entered it in first place in the AFC, they have dropped not one but two slots in the playoff picture. The New England Patriots became the first nine-win team in the NFL on Thursday night, defeating the New York Jets, and taking sole possession of first place in the AFC as a result. Then the Denver Broncos took first place from New England with their Week 11 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Pittsburgh Steelers won to stick in fourth place.

In the wild card race, the Buffalo Bills won and the Los Angeles Chargers lost to move the Bills into fifth place and the Chargers to sixth place. The Jacksonville Jaguars stayed in seventh after defeating the Chargers.

At 5-5 there is a logjam outside the playoff spots with the Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens all out right now.

AFC standings during Week 11​

The Las Vegas Raiders play on Monday night but it won’t impact the standings.

1. Denver Broncos (9-2, 6-2 AFC)
2. New England Patriots (9-2, 5-2 AFC)
3. Indianapolis Colts (8-2)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4)
5. Buffalo Bills (7-3)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4)
8. Houston Texans (5-5, 4-2 AFC)
9. Kansas City Chiefs (5-5, 2-4 AFC, win over BAL)
10. Baltimore Ravens (5-5, 3-3 AFC, loss to KC)
11. Miami Dolphins (4-7)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (3-7)
13. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)
14. New York Jets (2-8)
15. Cleveland Browns (2-8)
16. Tennessee Titans (1-9)

AFC South standings after Week 11​

The Jaguars won and so did the Houston Texans. It’s staying crowded in the AFC South. The Titans were eliminated from the AFC South race.

1. Indianapolis Colts (8-2)
2. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4)
3. Houston Texans (5-5)
4. Tennessee Titans (1-9)

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...colts-fall-from-first-to-third-on-week-11-bye

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts-Chiefs opening odds: Colts have another shot a statement win

The Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs have been running in different NFL social circles over the last seven or so years. The Chiefs have made many deep playoff runs and hoisted three Lombardi trophies over that time. Meanwhile, the Colts have been treading water and searching for an identity. Just like all pendulums, this one appears to be swinging back in the other direction as these teams are nearing each other again. The Chiefs are extremely formidable still, and FanDuel Sportsbook sees it that way as well. The Colts are solid underdogs in this one with a +3.5-point spread.

The money line comes in at +168 while the over/under is 49.5.

The Colts are coming off a huge win in Berlin. Having lost to Pittsburgh the week before, staring down the barrel of a loss to the less than stellar Falcons would have been devastating. Luckily, the Colts rode the horse they came in on with Jonathan Taylor putting up a career highlight performance. Nearly 300-yards, three touchdowns, and a franchise leading rushing title were enough to put the Colts over the top in overtime. The bye week came at a great time. The hope is that it allows Charvarius Ward to get healthy, provides more time for Sauce Gardner to get acclimated, and gets fresh bodies on that defensive front.

The Chiefs faced a tough outing against the Broncos on the road. It was a slugfest as neither team could pull away and both struggled to find the endzone early on. Tied 6-6 at the half, both offenses picked things up and the score was knotted once again late in the fourth. Bo Nix got his team into field goal position and the 35-yard make from Wil Lutz moved the Broncos to 9-2. The Chiefs now find themselves in uncharted territory at 5-5. The AFC West is slipping from their grasp as this gives the Broncos a stranglehold on the division. To maintain any pace in the West and AFC overall, the Chiefs have to find a way to win on Sunday against the Colts.

If the playoffs started today, the Chiefs would be on the outside looking in as they sit in ninth. A win could vault them to or near the seventh seed, but it would still be a long road. With a loss on Sunday their playoff chances could be done. For the Colts, they are trying to maintain their control over the top spot in the conference. With wins from the Patriots and Broncos, they have now technically fallen behind and need the win to retake first place. It would also send a strong signal to the league that the Colts can beat good teams on the road. A lot is at stake for both teams. Expect it to be a good one.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...-odds-colts-have-another-shot-a-statement-win

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts injury update: Status quo still remains same for key players—for now

According to Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen, he didn’t have a specific injury update for a pair of veterans, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (neck) and cornerback Charvarius Ward (concussion), as well as for quarterback Anthony Richardson (orbital fracture) on Monday (via The Athletic’s James Boyd):

#Colts HC Shane Steichen didn't have updates on DT DeForest Buckner (neck/IR), CB Charvarius Ward (concussion/IR) or QB Anthony Richardson (orbital fracture/IR).

Steichen added that he should have more on Mooney come Wednesday (perhaps a good sign).

— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) November 17, 2025

All three players are currently on injured reserve, but both Richardson and Ward are eligible to return this weekend in a critical game against the AFC’s reigning champions, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs—where Ward’s ongoing status is of immense importance for potentially slowing down their passing game.

Ward has recently been doing some work with trainers on the side during team practices, so his return to the football field on Sundays could be potentially imminent. His eventual return would be a big boost to a Colts cornerback trio of Ward, recently added former All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner, and Kenny Moore II that is arguably the best in all of football when fully healthy and truly going right.

The Colts designating him to return from injured reserve and begin his 21-day window to be activated could be close though—even against his former team.

Meanwhile, Buckner shared via social media that he traveled to Panama to receive regenerative stem cell treatment for presumably his ailing neck—for what seemingly wasn’t the first time to help recover from a potential football injury.

The earliest that the Colts Pro Bowl veteran defensive tackle can return is during Week 15 on the road against the Seattle Seahawks. Indianapolis will assuredly miss him this weekend at Arrowhead. However, even getting Buckner back healthy for the late season’s stretch run would be a major addition to the Colts defense collectively.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...uo-still-remains-same-for-key-players-for-now

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

The Broncos beating the Chiefs might turn out to be good news for the Colts

If an Indianapolis Colts’ fan watched the Denver Broncos host the Kansas City Chiefs, they may have found themselves rooting for the Chiefs. That makes total sense. A loss by the Broncos would have helped the Colts maintain pace in the AFC and stay in second behind the Patriots. Although the Colts didn’t get a say in the matter being on a bye, a Broncos’ win pushed them into third. That doesn’t look as good as second, but that is a short term view. What about looking further out?

The Colts’ goal is to beat the Chiefs this week. That is obvious. Win this week on the road, and return home to face the Texans. Beat them as well and the Colts will be 10-2. If the Broncos beat a depleted Commanders team, they too would head into their bye 10-2. That would recreate the tie and give the Colts the advantage because of the head-to-head win from week two. That “1/2” game lead would create a sprint to the finish over the last five weeks. Regardless, advantage Colts.

The Chiefs are 5-5, but don’t be fooled by the record. They could very well beat the Colts and are actually favored to do so. If the Chiefs had beaten the Broncos and then beat the Colts, they would be one game back with the tie breaker over the Colts. Two wins against top AFC teams would make them one of the hotter teams in football. Add in a softer schedule than the Broncos and a rematch at home and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them take the division. That tie breaker over the Colts could be the ultimate difference in seeding.

Without the completion of the season it is impossible to see who the Colts should have preferred in Sunday’s matchup. The point is that just because the Broncos won, it doesn’t mean the Colts lost. That could have been the best case scenario but we might not know until week 18. In the meantime, the Colts only have to do one thing. Win.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/analys...-might-turn-out-to-be-good-news-for-the-colts

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts announce slew of roster moves, including reunion with veteran safety

The Indianapolis Colts announced the signing of defensive end Viliami Fehoko Jr., safety George Odum, wide receiver Eli Pancol, and defensive tackle Chris Wormley to the practice squad, while also releasing defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon, tight end Maximilian Mang, and cornerback Troy Pride Jr. in corresponding roster moves.

we have signed DE Viliami Fehoko Jr., S George Odum, WR Eli Pancol and DT Chris Wormley to the practice squad.

we have also released DE Tanoh Kpassagnon, TE Maximilian Mang and CB Troy Pride Jr. from the practice squad. pic.twitter.com/txU51WUxgr

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 18, 2025

It was reported yesterday by CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz that Wormley was expected to be signed to the Colts practice squad as veteran interior depth.

However, veteran safety George Odum is a name who may not need any introduction for Colts fans, having signed with Indianapolis originally as an undrafted free agent and played for the franchise from 2018-21, becoming a 2020 NFL First-Team All-Pro on special teams in the process.

He would sign a 3-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers during 2022’s free agency period and became an NFL 2nd-Team All-Pro for them on special teams during that same campaign. He signed a 2-year contract extension during the 2024 offseason, but suffered an elbow injury late that season before being placed on injured reserve and later underwent subsequent elbow surgery this past offseason. He was then released by the 49ers.

Now 32-years-old, it’s possible that Odum could provide his special teams prowess and veteran safety depth to the tail-end of the Colts roster.

Otherwise, Fehoko Jr. was initially a 2023 4th round pick of the Dallas Cowboys out of San Jose State. The 6’4”, 267 pound defensive end would last one season in Dallas before spending time on the Washington Commanders practice squad over the past two years. He has yet to appear in an NFL game. He was formerly Mountain West Player of the Year in 2022 and 3x First-Team All-Mountain West during his prior impressive collegiate career.

Lastly, Pancol is a 6,3”, 205 pound undrafted rookie wideout out of Duke, who has spent time on the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad so far this season. He was Third-Team All-ACC last season.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...r-moves-including-reunion-with-veteran-safety

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Starting today, comments and Feed posts on Stampede Blue will have activity notifications

When you post on SB Nation, we don’t want you to miss all the conversations and responses that follow.

So starting today, whenever a user replies to your comment or to your post on the Feed, you’ll see a notification at the top right corner of the page.

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Our goal is to create more and better conversations on Stampede Blue and elsewhere across the SB Nation network. Anytime someone engages with your comments or Feed posts on another SB Nation community, you’ll see it in your notifications.

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Jump into the comment section below or post on The Feed to see notifications in action.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/genera...tampede-blue-will-have-activity-notifications

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Indianapolis Colts Injury Report: CB Ward and LB Carlies Return To Practice

The Indianapolis Colts today released their Wednesday injury report for Week 12 of the NFL season against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

wednesday's practice report for #INDvsKC. pic.twitter.com/Sl0NyEaGY8

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 19, 2025

Linebacker Jaylon Carlies was a full participant today at practice. Carlies has been on injured reserve all year with an ankle injury. The team announced they were opening the 21 practice window for him today and seeing him already practicing fully is a great sight. Carlies will hopefully join a defense already playing at a high level.

Defensive end Samson Ebukam was a limited participant at practice today with a knee injury. Ebukam has missed several weeks with a knee injury, but it is positive news to see him returning to practice even if it is limited. The Colts are very thin along the defensive line and would welcome back Ebukam at defensive end.

Cornerback Charvarius Ward was a full participant today. Ward was placed on injured reserve several weeks ago due to a second concussion he picked up during a collision with a teammate pre-game. The team announced they had opened his 21 day practice window to return from injured reserve today. Ward returning to practice and being a full participant gives him a great chance to return this Sunday on the road against the Chiefs.

Defensive end Tyquan Lewis missed practice today with a groin injury. Lewis has been dealing with the groin injury for some time now and missed several games before the bye week because of it. The Colts are thin at defensive end and could use a return from Lewis sooner rather than later rotationally.

Wide receiver (special teams returnman) Anthony Gould was a full participant as he works back from a knee injury that sidelined him multiple weeks and veteran slot cornerback Kenny Moore II was rested today.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...ort-cb-ward-and-lb-carlies-return-to-practice

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts-Chiefs will go a long way towards shaping the AFC playoff picture

Week twelve in the NFL means a lot of things. By this point, there is a strong sense of who is good, who is not, who is a contender, and who is picking out locations for the 2026 draft party. We already know so much because every team has played at least ten games. Week twelve also means there is plenty of football left. Take a screenshot of the AFC playoff picture because between now and the end of the regular season, a lot will change. Sunday’s monumental contest between the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs will go a long way towards shaping the standings.

The game is slated in the early set but don’t let that fool you to its importance. The AFC is essentially a ten team contest for seven spots. Three teams sit at 5-5 and are on the outside looking in, but that doesn’t mean they are out. The Texans are playing better, and the Ravens are quickly becoming one of the hottest teams in the conference after an abysmal start. The Jaguars and Chargers are literal wildcards because you never know which team will show up in a given week, and teams like the Bills are playing catch up, while the Steelers are trying to hang on. It is possible for all of the current division leaders to be out of the top spot by the end of the season.

The game on Sunday will have a major say in how things turn out. The Chiefs are down from previous years but anyone who willingly wants to take them on at Arrowhead would be a fool. The Colts have no choice in the matter and will do their best to not only maintain their lead in the AFC South but also in the conference overall. They fell behind because of the bye but wins this week and next will move them back to the top. A loss, while not devastating would be a major hit to any dream of capturing the number one overall seed. It would also be another reason for doubt as they would have fallen to three good teams on the road. Tough wins to walk away with, but losing three would be disheartening.

Meanwhile, this game is even more important for the Chiefs. If they lose, their season is in great jeopardy. Falling to 5-6 with six more games to play would make a comeback to make the playoffs difficult and winning the division, thin. It could certainly be done, and just like with Tom Brady and the Patriots, this isn’t a team you can count out until everything is said and done. If they beat the Colts, 6-5 looks a lot better and puts them in prime position to make a late run. While the number one overall seed might prove tough, they could very well win the division and make a deep postseason run.

The Colts are in the catbird seat in this one. It is a huge game, but it won’t be season ending if they fall at Arrowhead. The Chiefs, however, can’t afford to drop this one. It could very well be their season on the line. The Colts need to understand this and come out swinging. The bye week gave them time to prepare and rest. Hopefully, that will be enough to take the win on Sunday. It would be one of the biggest wins in recent years and effectively drive the nail in the Chiefs’ coffin in 2025. Who wouldn’t want to do that?

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...g-way-towards-shaping-the-afc-playoff-picture

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

PFF says Colts Sauce Gardner ‘remains gold standard at starting cornerback’ before Week 12

According to PFF’s John Kosko (subscription), recently acquired Indianapolis Colts All-Pro Sauce Gardner remains ‘the gold standard at starting cornerback’—after his Week 10 debut in Germany for the Horseshoe:

Sauce Gardner remains the gold standard: Gardner’s 28% forced incompletion rate and 44% completion rate allowed both rank third in the NFL. His 13.8% open-target rate is the second best in the league, while his 73.74% lockdown rate leads all cornerbacks.

Further, per PFF, Gardner leads the league in their advanced coverage grade (5.545). For comparison’s sake, the Philadelphia Eagles Cooper DeJean (5.507) ranks 2nd best, while the Colts very own Charvarius Ward (3.379) ranks 16th respectively:

“We grade every coverage defender’s ability to prevent separation, whether they are targeted on the play or not. These rankings utilize play-level normalization and expectation adjustments. After all, matching up with a receiver is more difficult than covering a running back, and playing man coverage is typically more difficult than matching in a zone.”

Obviously, the Colts demonstrated their clear conviction for Gardner’s coverage game already, trading two future first round picks and young wideout AD Mitchell just ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline a few weeks ago.

It’s clear that Indianapolis believes Gardner can not only significantly improve their once depleted cornerback position, but still only 25-years-old, also provide them a lockdown CB1 for the foreseeable future (and over the next two years, at a very cost efficient salary at that).

The Colts are hoping that Gardner can be the ‘Championship move’ this year that can help catapult this upstart AFC squad at 8-2 into surprising Super Bowl contention.

Something that we all would’ve reasonably laughed at to begin the year.

Not to mention, that a change of scenery to a potential deep playoff contender could help him regain his prior NFL First-Team All-Pro form with the New York Jets—although if you ask PFF, maybe he never really lost it at all.

It’s interesting though because while Gardner currently ranks as PFF’s 15th best cornerback with a +72.4 overall grade, he also has their highest advanced coverage grade—so the two don’t exactly coincide in their positional rankings.

For perspective, even despite his second concussion and missing extended time, Ward still ranks as their 2nd highest graded cornerback with a +83.4 overall grade respectively.

At any rate, Gardner appears poised to be a lockdown cornerback in Indianapolis for many years to come.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...tandard-at-starting-cornerback-before-week-12

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

What is the backup plan if Daniel Jones can’t go for the Colts?

Let’s make this a quick article. There is no backup plan if Daniel Jones gets injured. Zero.

The backup plan, as flawed as it may be, is currently healing a broken orbital bone after being smacked in the face during pregame warmups. That was it. That was the whole plan if Jones went down at any point in the season. The Indianapolis Colts put all their eggs in Jones’ basket and slated an incredibly unlucky and oft-injured backup to take over if he went down. With Jones on the injury report as limited with a calf injury, fans are starting to squirm a little in their seats.

Let’s make two things clear to start. Obviously there is a backup. Riley Leonard would take over and make his first NFL start against the 2025 Super Bowl runner-ups and three time champion Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on the road in one of the tougher places to play in the league. No biggie. The second thing is that Jones is not Peyton Manning, but the Colts are following a similar path they took when he was under center. There isn’t much need for a backup plan because if he goes down, the whole operation is upside down. Before you eat me alive, once again, Jones is not Manning, but Jones is playing well enough to consider that things don’t go the same way with another available quarterback simply stepping in to assume the role. As good as Jonathan Taylor has been, we saw what he was with Anthony Richardson back there. Injured or not, he couldn’t find as many holes or break free as often because teams didn’t respect the quarterback’s ability to pass and would load the box.

Good news is that this could all be for nothing. Players pop up on the injury report and out of an abundance of caution are limited in practice. The areas of concern are that it is a calf and the history of this organization and injuries. Something that is supposed to be minor all of a sudden lands someone on IR for half the season. We saw it with Andrew Luck, Shaquille Leonard, Jelani Woods, and the aforementioned Taylor . “Minor” injuries or ones that are close to healed seemingly drag out. Here’s hoping this is just a tweak and no big deal. Maybe the Colts are playing mind games with the Chiefs. Maybe they are playing mind games with fans.

Regardless of the severity of the injury, there is no plan B. For this season, Daniel Jones is plan A-Z if the Colts are ultimately going to have success. This seems like an odd statement given the take many had back in August, myself included, but here we are. Jones is the present and looking like the future. He has a history of injuries, so the Colts need to do a better job this offseason putting someone behind him who can come in and cover if needed. Maybe Riley Leonard is that guy. No clue. At this point, however, most fans don’t want to find out.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/indian...up-plan-if-daniel-jones-cant-go-for-the-colts