The Colts continued their 2024 season on the road on Sunday against an AFC South Rival in the Tennessee Titans. The Titans were 3-11 on the year, coming off a week 15 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Colts went into week 16 without Linebacker EJ Speed and Wide receiver Alec Pierce but the return of Center Ryan Kelly and Linebacker Jaylon Carlies.
The Colts now sit at 7-8, currently second in the AFC South and 3 wins back from the leaders the Houston Texans. The Colts have a very slim chance that they still can make the postseason but is relies heavily on other teams losing out. The national media have moved the Colts up in the power rankings board after their win against the Titans. Here is how the Colts stack up in the week 17 power rankings.
ESPN has the Colts ranked at 21.
“Latu has been quieter in recent weeks after creating significant disruption earlier in the season. He still ranks second on his team with 41 quarterback pressures despite being fourth in snap counts among the Colts’ defensive linemen. Latu is also third among all rookies in pressures. He has only four sacks, but he has had several near misses, and the Colts think he’ll eventually convert those into takedowns. And when Latu has managed to get sacks, he has made them count with two strip sacks”
NFL.com has the Colts ranked at 22.
“Jonathan Taylor rebounded from his awful Week 15 gaffe with a monster day, recording the second-highest single-game rushing performance (218 yards) of his NFL career while leading his Colts to a 335-yard ground effort against the Titans. The offense staked Indy to a 38-7 lead late in the third quarter, with the defense doing its part to that point, intercepting Mason Rudolph twice. It was an impressive turnaround after a pretty uninspiring first-quarter performance in which the team was, frankly, hurt by Anthony Richardson’s slow start. Then the Colts decided to make it a game, allowing the Titans to drive for three touchdowns (and two two-point conversions) in the span of just over a quarter. Amazingly, it was a one-score contest with nearly three minutes left. On his 11th pass attempt of the game, Richardson hit Michael Pittman Jr. for a key conversion late to essentially ice it, with Rudolph getting picked one more time on a last-second desperation throw. Let’s not get too excited about a victory that was far more difficult than it needed to be.”
CBS Sports has the Colts ranked at 16.
“Jonathan Taylor bounced back from his terrible fumble in the loss to Denver to rush for over 200 yards against the Titans. They are still alive, but need help.”
Yahoo Sports has the Colts ranked at 22.
“The Colts ran it 50 times and passed it 11 on Sunday vs. the Titans. The game script after taking an early lead helped Indianapolis keep it on the ground. It was a decidedly old-school approach. And, with Anthony Richardson’s passing limitations, that’s how the Colts have to play to stay in the playoff hunt.”
Bleacher Report has the Colts ranked at 20.
Last week, Colts running back Jonathan Taylor made one of the gaffes of the year, dropping the ball before crossing the goal line against the Denver Broncos. There would be no such mistake Sunday in a game that was much more lopsided than the final score—Taylor rushed for 218 yards in a contest where the Colts set a new franchise record with 335 rushing yards.
While talking to reporters after the win, Taylor said it was fun to play in a game where the team dominated the line of scrimmage—and that he was determined to atone for last week’s mistake. “That’s kind of the exciting part,” Taylor said “It’s kind of when you start imposing your will, establishing that line of scrimmage. Those are the types of football games as a running back … you love. I had already predetermined in my mind that next time, I’m going all the way in the tunnel.”
Jonathan Taylor learned from his mistake after dropping the ball before crossing the goal line and costing the Colts a potential game-defining touchdown last weekend against the Denver Broncos. He responded against the Tennessee Titans, while showing exactly how Indianapolis’ offense should operate as Anthony Richardson develops. Taylor ran for 218 yards—which won’t happen every weekend. Still, the running game needs to be the focal point, especially when head coach/offensive play-caller Shane Steichen has Richardson and Taylor in the backfield to give opponents fits. Bring Richardson along slowly, while staying competitive along the way.”
Pro Football News has the Colts ranked at 21.
“Anthony Richardson attempted just 11 passes in Sunday’s win over the Titans, yet the Colts scored 38 points on offense. It’s only the third time since 2000 that an offense had fewer than 15 pass attempts and still scored 38 or more points. The other two were Minnesota’s Tavaris Jackson in 2007 vs. the Giants and Jacksonville’s David Garrard vs. the Colts in 2006.
PFN’s model hasn’t been high on Indianapolis this season, as the metrics don’t support the Colts making the playoffs. However, Indy’s postseason hopes are still alive and the Colts have the NFL’s easiest remaining schedule, with games against the Giants and Jaguars in the final two weeks. PFN’s Playoff Predictor gives the Colts an 8.6% chance of making the playoffs as a Wild Card team.”