There’s still hope for the Colts this season
(Andrew Luck and Frank Reich have the Colts trending upward. Photo credit: Pennlive)
By JUSTIN BYERS
ISL Contributor
INDIANAPOLIS –Indianapolis Colts fans, not all hope is lost. After an up and down first-half of the season, the week eight bye week couldn’t have come at a better time. Why? Because the Colts are trending upward. The past two weeks, the Colts have displayed mental and physical fortitude. This strength can pay dividends with so much football left to be played during an arduous sixteen-week NFL season. With back-to-back wins against the Buffalo Bills and the Oakland Raiders, the Colts have proven they no longer belong at the bottom of the AFC Conference.
The second-half of the season presents tremendous opportunities for the Colts. There is still a lot to be gained and plenty to play for following the much-needed bye week. Due to the rugged nature of the AFC South, believe it or not, the Colts still have an opportunity to earn a playoff berth. With a healthy Andrew Luck, who has exceeded the expectations of many, the Colts could find themselves in contention for a division title. The Colts have shown promise in all three aspects of the game: offense, defense and special teams. A surprisingly stoic offensive line has withstood criticism and a lack of expectation, which has placed Luck and the offense in positions to be successful. This was evident in a 42-point performance against the Raiders. With rookie Darius Leonard and defensive end Margus Hunt leading the defense, coupled with the now all-time leading points scorer in NFL history, Adam Vinatieri at the head of special teams, this team has the pieces to finish the 2018 season strong.
In order to sustain success, the Colts will simply have to stay healthy. That has been a theme this season, and until proven otherwise will continue to be an obstacle in their path to restoring their prestige in the AFC South. With thin talent at wide receiver and defensive back due to the injury bug, the Colts will need to utilize the bye week to their full advantage. The reason health is so important is because the next three games present an opportunity for the Colts to climb the ladder.
In the last few weeks, the #Colts have put up offensive production this franchise hasn’t seen in years:https://t.co/FSFQiNiT6U pic.twitter.com/kOAPPbWKbB
— Kevin Bowen (@KBowen1070) October 31, 2018
For the 3-5 Colts, the next three games are against conference opponents but more importantly they are at home. This is a rare opportunity in the NFL and one the Colts need to seize. The three-game stretch is imperative to solidifying optimism for the second-half of the season. Starting with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Colts will have the opportunity to thoroughly gauge their standing within the AFC South. Despite an overtime loss to the Texans in week four, the Colts don’t know much about where they stand in terms of their division. The Jaguars present a test for the Colts that could determine their legitimacy. The Jaguars traveled to London last week and have been marred by the arrest of several players during the trip. The Jaguars are trending downward after this incident and several losses, therefore the Colts will need to capitalize.
Following the Jaguars are the Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins. The Titans, who are division opponents like the Jaguars, are struggling. However, they will be looking to change the course of their season. If the Colts are able to garner wins against both the Jaguars and Titans, the outlook for the rest of the season is positive and fans should be excited. There is certainly more left in the tank for the 2018 Colts.
After the Titans are the Miami Dolphins. With Frank Gore returning to Indianapolis as a member of the Dolphins, that match-up will produce plenty of fanfare. However, like the Jaguars and Titans, the Dolphins have yet to find their footing. After losing their starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill to a shoulder injury for an undisclosed time period, you don’t know what to expect from Dolphins HC Adam Gase and quarterback Brock Osweiler. Colts need to take advantage of this situation.
After not making any transactions by the end of the trade deadline, Colts GM Chris Ballard and HC Frank Reich have given fans and analysts the notion that the Colts have everything they need. The process must be trusted. With the unique opportunity to have three straight home games, the Colts can place themselves in a position to change the outlook of their season and compete for a division title.
If you don't win the championship, was it really a failure? Exposing one of the worst hot-takes in sports: https://t.co/sISIiIHpbX
— Tyler Smith (@TylerSmith_ISL) April 24, 2018
