The 2022 NFL season is just two weeks old and the Indianapolis Colts find themselves in a hole. Can they find a way to win before it is too late or is the bad luck just getting started?
There is good news and bad news. The good news is the season is still young and the Colts can reverse their fortunes and win the division. The bad news is they are winless going into week three and this could be the start of a bad season.
The Colts are currently 0-1-1, 13th in the AFC. They are 0-1 in the conference and 0-1 in the division. The Colts have allowed 44 points in two games, which is not horrible. With that said they have only scored 20 points in two games. The Colts rank 17th in team defense and are 10th in rushing defense.
The Colts need to fix things in a hurry or their season could be over sooner than later. With the offense non-existent Matt Ryan, Jonathan Taylor, and others need to step up. Ryan will not be benched and Taylor is the best running back in the league so his job is safe as well. Taylor is currently third in league rushing, totaling 215 rushing yards. He is also the top player in the fantasy football rankings.
Offensive coordinator Marcus Brady needs a game plan on how to get the offense going. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley needs to come up with a game plan on how to get the opposition to a three and out more often. The defense, while adequate, can use some polishing to fine-tune a good defensive squad.
While the Colts figure out what to do sunday, the 25th against the Kansas City Chiefs, two players will not be there. Linebacker Shaquille Leonard is out with a back injury, and wide receiver Alec Pierce is out with a concussion.
The Colts do have a good team and it is and it is early in the season. The problems can be fixed in time for a successful season. Matt Ryan can return to form, Jonathan Taylor is too good to be held down, the wide receiving core is better than average, and the defense can hold its own. There is not a good reason why this team can not turn this around.
The tasks at hand do not get easier over the next five games. The Chiefs are next, followed by the Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Titans again. This could be a make-or-break set of games. If the Colts win a majority of them then they are right back in the race. If they go .500 or worse then the season could very well be over just like that.
The Colts have some work to do. Matt Ryan is a veteran and can lead this team, leading by example. This is a younger group that is now facing adversity, which could be a good thing. The Colts could be hungry enough to upset the Chiefs Sunday and go on a roll.
