Indianapolis Colts: 3 Reasons They Could Make the Playoffs This Year

Sunday’s loss for the Indianapolis Colts does not mean playoffs are out of the question. The 35-9 loss to the New York Jets was painful to watch, but the Colts still have a chance. 

It’s early enough in the season for the Colts to turn their luck around, no pun intended. But it is crucial that they make changes in order to gain more victories. Their next 11 matchups are essential, especially since they share the AFC South with the Houston Texans. 

If the Texans are able to clinch the title of AFC South Champions, the Colts will have to direct their attention on becoming a Wild Card team for the AFC. They can do that if they focus on these three ideas.

They Have the Ability to Easily Beat the Majority of Their Schedule

The Colts can really come back for the rest of this season if they have more victories, and that can be easy for them if they stay focused. 

The teams they can beat with ease are Cleveland, Tennessee, Jacksonville and Kansas City. Indy has more talent and capabilities to beat all four of these teams. Cleveland, Jacksonville and Kansas City have all only won one game so far this season. Yes, that is only one less than the Colts, and Tennessee has had the same number of wins, but, as the season continues, the Colts will only get more comfortable with each other.

They are getting more comfortable each week with Luck’s playing abilities, but if the team really focuses on the overall cohesiveness of the entire unit, the Colts will have no problem beating these teams.

The Defense Can Improve Their Strength

The Colts have to face the Texans, the Patriots and the Lions before the season is over. To some fans, it may seem impossible for the Colts to pull off wins in these games, but that is not that case. 

If NFL fans know anything, it’s that any team has the ability to win any game. This was clear in the Sunday night game when the Packers destroyed the Texans. The Colts could potentially beat all three of these teams, but that is only if the entire team steps up. 

There is no way the Colts will win against any of these teams if their defense does not improve. They are not executing properly, and they have allowed way too many points to be scored. In Sunday’s game, the Jets scored 35 points on the Colts defense. 

The Colts have the capability to strengthen their defense; it’s just a question of whether or not they will be able to do it in time to beat teams when it counts. 

Leadership Can Inspire the Team

Andrew Luck really needs to claim his leadership role on the Colts. He may be a rookie, but his stats do not reflect that. He has already had 1,488 yards this season, but he can lead the team in more ways than in yardage. 

He really needs to inspire his entire offense, including the offensive line. In doing so, he would be able to get the protection he needs to score. Luck has had a rough time this season with his protection, but by claiming the leadership spot and demanding the coverage, that could change.

A team has to be able to score in order to win, but their defense also has to be strong as well. The entire offense needs to get the defense fired up. This can all happen with a little bit more leadership. 

Luck can really take the Colts and mold them into the playoff team that they have the capability to be. It’s impossible to correctly predict who the teams will be in the playoffs, but the Colts definitely have the opportunity to be one of them.