With three games remaining in the regular season, the Indianapolis Colts (8-6) have a chance to continue their push for the playoffs in the AFC race.
Coming off their worse loss of the season, the Colts managed to bounce back with an impressive 30-13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7) in Week 15 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Now, it’s time to take a look at how that conference win impacted the power rankings.
In most outlets, the Colts improved their spot in the rankings by moving up a few pegs. They consistently rank in the low-to-mid teens.
Next to their ranking, the number in parentheses indicates the change from the previous week. A positive number means they’re moving up the power rankings.
Here’s where the Colts stand in the Week 16 power rankings:
USA TODAY
Author: Nate Davis
Rank: 14 (+2)
Link to article
Author’s Take: “Who needs RB Jonathan Taylor, or Zack Moss for that matter? Indy rushed for 170 yards Saturday with Taylor (thumb) still out and Moss missing most of the game.”
Touchdown Wire
Author: Jarrett Bailey
Rank: 16 (+1)
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Author’s Take: “The Colts overcame a 13-point deficit and scored 30 unanswered against the Steelers, and they pounded the ball down Pittsburgh’s throats in the process.”
Bleacher Report
Author: NFL Staff
Rank: 11 (+3)
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Author’s Take: “To say the Colts were short-handed offensively in Week 15 is an understatement. The team went into the game without quarterback Anthony Richardson and running back Jonathan Taylor. During the game, running back Zack Moss and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. were also sidelined. But thanks largely to 215 passing yards and three scores from backup quarterback Gardner Minshew, the Colts won in emphatic fashion to remain in the thick of the playoff race in the AFC.
While addressing the media after the game. Minshew credited his teammates for rallying to win a game the Colts had to have.
“We’ve needed to win these games and we’ve done a great job down the stretch,” Minshew said. “I think everybody was locked in, the urgency was there, the attention to details. At this point it’s all about winning games.”
Minshew wasn’t the only one impressed by Indy’s performance in Week 15.
“Somehow, the Colts continue to find a way,” Sobleski wrote. “Despite all the injuries to key personnel throughout the season, they own a winning record. They’re within striking distance of a division title. Plus, Shane Steichen’s squad currently holds a wild-card playoff spot in the logjam that is the AFC postseason picture. More importantly, the Colts’ back-to-basics approach in Saturday’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers provided a blueprint to become more than serve as a good story. Indianapolis’ offensive line dominated. With Jonathan Taylor still out of the lineup and Zack Moss dinged during the contest, the duo of Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson combined for 157 rushing yards. Let Quenton Nelson and Co. go to work and good things happen.”
ESPN NFL Nation
Author: Stephen Holder
Rank: 13 (+3)
Link to article
Author’s Take: “We’re No. 1 … in defensive snaps.
With the Indianapolis defense spending 943 snaps (tied with Seattle for the league’s most), you’d expect more negative results. But the Colts have bent without breaking. They rank 13th in defensive efficiency and defensive expected points added (EPA), and they are 18th in opponent red zone efficiency (56.8%). Another big variable in the defense making it work is that it is tied for third in takeaways with 24.”
Sporting News
Author: Vinnie Iyer
Rank: 13 (+2)
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Author’s Take: “The Colts keep getting it done around Gardner Minshew, running with and passing to whoever it takes to keep the ball moving and scoring in Shane Steichen’s offense. He is making a sneaky strong coach of the year case.”
Pro Football Network
Author: Dalton Miller
Rank: 14 (+2)
Link to article
Author’s Take: “Indy might have knocked the Steelers out of realistic playoff contention with its 17-point victory on Saturday, and Shane Steichen’s club simultaneously kept itself alive in the postseason race.
While the Colts didn’t get the results they needed over the rest of Week 15 as other AFC Wild Card contenders won, they should be able to win at least two more games while playing the Falcons, Raiders, and Texans to close the season. Ten wins will likely be enough to get Indianapolis into the playoffs and might even give it a chance at the AFC South crown.”
NFL.com
Author: Eric Edholm
Rank: 13 (+2)
Link to article
Author’s Take: “With the playoffs potentially hanging in the balance, the Colts received notable contributions from D.J. Montgomery , Tyler Goodson and Trey Sermon — none of whom were on the roster a few months ago. Most of it happened after the Steelers built a 13-0 lead, too, but the Colts weren’t at all spooked. It was a terrific answer after the second-half performance in the loss to the Bengals. Now we wait to hear about the Michael Pittman Jr. (concussion) and Zack Moss (arm) injuries suffered in the win, plus any updates on Jonathan Taylor ’s status. But this was low key a massive game for Gardner Minshew . He has battled all season and kept the team competitive, with Indianapolis going 6-4 in his starts and 2-0 when replacing Anthony Richardson midgame. Yet Minshew had been a bit erratic and mistake-prone before Saturday, which is why his three-TD performance was a confidence builder. His passing stats (18-of-28, 215 yards) weren’t eye-popping, but it felt like his best game of the season.”
Yahoo Sports
Author: Frank Schwab
Rank: 13 (+3)
Link to article
Author’s Take: “In the second half on Saturday, the Colts were without their preferred quarterback (Anthony Richardson), top two running backs (Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss), No. 1 receiver (Michael Pittman Jr.) and longtime right tackle (Braden Smith). And they still put up 30 points on the Steelers. Colts coach Shane Steichen has a great case for NFL Coach of the Year, especially if Indianapolis wins the division.”
CBS Sports
Author: Pete Prisco
Rank: 13 (+1)
Link to article
Author’s Take: “Shane Steichen has done an amazing job getting this team into playoff contention with a backup quarterback. The schedule is favorable the rest of the way, too.”
The Athletic
Author: Josh Kendall
Rank: 14 (+1)
Link to article
Author’s Take: “The Colts were 4-12 last season. They lost quarterback Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 pick in the draft, in the fourth game of the year. Jonathan Taylor has played in only seven games. And yet, Indianapolis is eighth in the league in scoring (24.6 ppg) and has the No. 7 spot in the playoff race right now. Shane Steichen is making a strong case for coach of the year.”
