The Colts continued their 2024 season on the road on Sunday against a NFC foe in the New York Giants. The Giants were 2-13 on the year, coming off a huge week 16 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The Colts went into week 16 without Quarterback Anthony Richardson but saw the return of Linebacker EJ Speed and Wide receiver Alec Pierce.
The Colts now sit at 7-9, currently second in the AFC South and 2 wins back from the leaders the Houston Texans. The Colts have now been eliminated from the playoffs. The national media have moved the Colts down in the power rankings board after their loss to the Giants. Here is how the Colts stack up in the week 18 power rankings.
ESPN has the Colts ranked at 22.
“Odeyingbo’s sharp decline in sack numbers from 8.0 last season to 3.0 this season suggests he has been less impactful. But he still leads Indianapolis with 32 pressures. He is scheduled to reach free agency in March, and keeping him could be expensive depending on market conditions at his position. One of the variables in deciding what to do here will be the Colts’ existing investments in their defensive line. They signed DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart and Tyquan Lewis to extensions last offseason, drafted Laiatu Latu and exercised the fifth-year option on Kwity Paye.”
NFL.com has the Colts ranked at 22.
“This was a sad, ugly effort by the Colts, who entered Week 17 with their playoff pulse still readable. There’s no other way to say it. There were enough offensive miscues, but the defensive breakdowns were downright inexcusable. The Giants were 0-8 at home before the game and have had trouble scoring 45 points in some months this season, but they were rolling up and down the field all day. Shane Steichen seemed to have no answers after the loss for what happened, either, which is concerning. Is the team still buying in? That’s what Jim Irsay is going to have to look at when asking himself what needs to change and how deep those changes must cut. Indy brass has backed Anthony Richardson as QB1 for next season, so the next question is whether Irsay believes Steichen is the best person to get the most out of the young quarterback.”
CBS Sports has the Colts ranked at 19.
“What the heck happened against the Giants? The playoffs are done and so begin the questions about this regime. Is anybody getting fired?”
Bleacher Report has the Colts ranked at 22.
“The Indianapolis Colts were admittedly short-handed in Week 17, with starting quarterback Anthony Richardson sidelined. But all the team had to do to keep their faint postseason hopes alive and get back to .500 was down the NFL’s worst team. That did not happen. The Colts defense imploded against the Giants, surrendering 389 yards of offense and 45 points to one of the league’s worst offenses.
Former Colts punter and current ESPN personality Pat McAfee gave the team both barrels after Indy was eliminated from the postseason in humiliating fashion.
“A blind person could see the red flags on this team,” he said. “Work ethic questions, NEVER happens on good teams.. Preparation commitment questions, NEVER happens on good teams.. Late to meetings, NEVER happens on good teams.. Late to/skipping treatment, NEVER happens on good teams.. The franchise QB tapped out of a game.. on 3rd down.. in the red zone.. because he was tired… NEVER HAPPENED in the history of the NFL. Geez Pat. Tell us how you really feel.
Indianapolis got the bad version of Joe Flacco in Week 17, and his mistakes played a big role in the Colts being eliminated from playoff contention. I’m not so sure that Indy would have won the game with a healthy Anthony Richardson behind center, though. The Colts defense, which has been frustratingly inconsistent all season, played like a unit that had no interest in making the playoffs. Richardson’s future remains a bit of a question mark entering the offseason, but his continued development won’t be Indy’s only priority in 2025.”
Pro Football Network has the Colts ranked at 22.
“With their season on the line, the Colts shockingly lost to the two-win Giants 45-33, eliminating themselves from the postseason. Anthony Richardson missed the game due to back and foot injuries, and Joe Flacco turned the ball over three times (two interceptions and a lost fumble). Indianapolis’ defense was terrible, allowing Drew Lock to complete 17 of 23 passes for 309 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions (including 171 yards and two touchdowns to rookie Malik Nabers).