ClutchPoints
The Indianapolis Colts were supposed to struggle in 2025. Predicted to finish with somewhere between four and eight wins by most pundits, this was supposed to be another lost season in Indianapolis. Instead, they’ve turned Lucas Oil Stadium into a proving ground for championship football, sitting at 6-1 and atop the AFC playoff picture heading into Week 8. The narrative around this team has shifted from skepticism to shock, and now it’s time for the rest of the NFL world to catch up to what’s happening in the Hoosier State: the Colts are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Their recent 38-24 dismantling of the Los Angeles Chargers wasn’t just another win—it was a statement. Against a defense considered one of the league’s best, Indianapolis scored at will, with Jonathan Taylor rushing for three touchdowns and Daniel Jones throwing for 288 yards and two scores. This wasn’t a fluke performance. This was the blueprint of a championship-caliber team executing at the highest level.
The numbers tell a story that even the most ardent skeptics can’t ignore. The Colts currently rank second in the NFL in total offense at 380.3 yards per game and lead the entire league in points per game with 33.1. Their offensive efficiency metrics are off the charts—Indianapolis ranks first in Expected Points Added (EPA) per play at 0.18 and leads the league with a staggering 50% scoring rate on possessions. To put that in perspective, they’re scoring points on half of their drives, a mark that surpasses even the historic 2013 Broncos team under Peyton Manning.
The Colts made NFL history in the season’s opening weeks by becoming the first team ever to score on their first 10 possessions of a season. While that streak eventually ended, the message was clear: this offense is relentless, balanced, and nearly impossible to stop when firing on all cylinders.
What makes this unit so dangerous is its versatility. The Colts rank first in rush EPA at 0.11, thanks to Jonathan Taylor’s MVP-caliber season, while also sitting sixth in passing EPA. Taylor leads the entire NFL with 697 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns through seven games, averaging an impressive 5.3 yards per carry. He’s racked up three touchdowns in three different games this season, consistently delivering when the stakes are highest.
Perhaps no storyline embodies this season more than Daniel Jones’ remarkable resurrection. The former New York Giants first-round pick was released midseason in 2024 after five tumultuous years marked by inconsistency and struggles. Most analysts wrote him off as a cautionary tale. Shane Steichen saw something different.
Jones has been nothing short of sensational in Indianapolis, completing 71% of his passes for 1,790 yards, 10 touchdowns, and just three interceptions through seven games. His passer rating of 105.9 ranks among the league’s elite, and his QBR of 80.5 sits second in the entire NFL. More importantly, Jones has shown poise in critical moments,...
