Stampede Blue
The Colts Week 1 soared to victory in a dominant fashion, beating the Dolphins 33-8. Now they will face their fellow equestrian team in the Denver Broncos, who themselves are coming off of a win against the Titans that was more convincing than the 20-12 score would indicate. Colts fans have not forgotten the infamous 13-31 Loss to the Broncos that all but ended the 2024 Colts playoff aspirations late last season, nor do the Colts themselves. Vengeance, Redemption, and a chance to prove that the 2025 Colts are better equipped to enter the playoff race are all on the line in this early season matchup.
Bo Nix had one of the more porous starts to the NFL season among QBs Week 1, throwing for 2 INTs and losing a fumble while struggling to complete passes beyond 10 yards (3 for 9 with 1 TD to Cortland Sutton but both his INTs), and under pressure (2 for 7). Nix’s 4.4 Yards per Attempt were 2nd worst in the NFL Week 1 ahead of only his opposing QB Cam Ward. Nix performing so poorly against a Titans Defense that was far from a powerhouse in 2024 was shocking, and if the Colts Defense can do the same it would go a long way to a victory.
Enter Cam Bynum, a high IQ playmaker at Safety who is the lynchpin of new Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo’s defense. With Bynum at Safety (primarily Free Safety), Anarumo was successfully able to disguise his coverages in Week 1 and force hesitation and poor decision making in Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa. Bynum himself was able to secure a deep interception in his Colts debut, albeit on an overthrow, but you know the saying with right place right time to make a play, and Bynum has a knack for making his own luck.
Bynum will be crucial in defending the few intermediate to deep shots Nix will attempt a game, and could not only disrupt those plays but take the ball away from the young passer. This will be crucial, as Nix loved throwing Go-route TDs to Sutton in his rookie year (most TDs off of that route in the NFL), and got his only score Week 1 off of that.
Expect Bynum to be a fair bit of shading over to the Sutton side of the field to protect against the big play, though Bynum also could shade over to the non-Xavien Howard side, as one of the Colts depth corners Mekhi Blackmon, Jonathan Edwards, or Chris Lammons activated off the practice squad will be starting Week 2 due to injuries to CB1 Charvarius Ward and top backup CB Jaylon Jones. Bynum’s job will be even more important in communicating the the depth corners their coverages and making sure that they know their duties, while also potentially aiding them over the top.
The Broncos have perhaps the best...
