ClutchPoints
For years, Daniel Jones has been one of the NFL’s most polarizing quarterbacks. He has been labeled a turnover-prone project by some and a misunderstood talent by others. Before the 2025 season, his career had been a rollercoaster defined by flashes of brilliance and stretches of mediocrity. In his first game with the Indianapolis Colts, though, Jones delivered the kind of performance that forces even his harshest critics to reconsider. The question, of course, is whether this was a one-week mirage or the beginning of something real. A closer look suggests it’s far more than a fluke.
The Colts became one of the biggest storylines of NFL Week 1 after dismantling the Miami Dolphins, 33-8. The win snapped an 11-year drought in season openers. It was Indy’s first Week 1 victory since 2013 after going 0-10-1 from 2014 to 2024. In his debut with the Colts, Jones was the catalyst. He completed 22 of 29 passes for 272 yards and a touchdown, while adding 26 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. More impressively, Jones guided the offense to points on every single possession. That made Indianapolis the first team since at least 2000 to score on every drive in a game.
The dominance was comprehensive. Indianapolis piled up 418 yards of offense against Miami’s 211. The Colts won the turnover battle 3-0 and converted 27 first downs compared to the Dolphins’ 12. By halftime, the Colts had built a 20-point lead, while Miami was shut out in the first half of a season opener for the first time since 2009. From start to finish, it was less a game and more a statement. The Colts, with Jones at the helm, might be far more dangerous than anyone anticipated.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the reasons why Daniel Jones’ Week 1 explosion wasn’t a fluke with the Indianapolis Colts.
The first reason Jones’ Week 1 explosion can’t be written off as a fluke is the sheer efficiency with which the Colts offense operated under his direction. Scoring on seven consecutive drives isn’t just rare. It’s practically unheard of in the modern NFL. That level of consistency requires precise execution, unshakable poise, and unwavering command of the game plan.
Jones didn’t just put up gaudy numbers. He averaged 9.4 yards per attempt, which is the third-best mark of his career. He also finished with a passer rating of 115.9. Perhaps most tellingly, Jones was sacked only once. That was a testament to both his ability to adjust protections pre-snap and his decisiveness with the football. He didn’t let Miami dictate the flow; instead, he dictated it to them.
This wasn’t about one or two broken plays or a couple of deep shots connecting. It was a methodical dismantling of a defense, built on sharp reads, smart throws, and opportunistic runs. Sustaining drives at that clip takes more than luck.
**Commanding the offense with...
