This is a huge year for the Chris Ballard and Frank Reich era. The pair have kept the Indianapolis Colts afloat following the sudden Andrew Luck retirement but with that being farther in the past, they can’t use that as an excuse anymore.
The Colts have only made it to the playoffs once since Luck’s retirement before the 2019 season. Last year’s season-ending loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars left a poor taste in a lot of people’s mouths and a postseason appearance will be the only way to fix it.
The Colts haven’t been to the AFC Championship game since 2014, which was also the last time they won the AFC South. Fans are itching for a deep playoff run this season and they are ready for the organization to finally take advantage of the talent on the roster.
Indianapolis has gained some positive momentum from the offseason and they have an opportunity to carry that into getting into the playoffs this season.
If the Colts wind up making the playoffs, it’s likely going to be because of a combination of these reasons:
Matt Ryan’s arrival sparks the offense
AP Photo/Darron Cummings
When the Colts made the trade for Matt Ryan, it showed that Chris Ballard understood that this roster is ready to win now and they need the right guy at quarterback to get the job done.
The 37-year-old isn’t getting any younger and is looking to add a Super Bowl win to his resume before he hangs up the cleats. It’s fair to say that Carson Wentz not only played his part in the loss to the Jaguars that knocked the Colts out of the playoff picture, but he also cost the team other games throughout the 2021 season.
Ryan’s different style of play will help keep the ball with the offense and not put the defense in a bad position. Players on the roster have been talking up Ryan’s leadership and presence in the locker room throughout the summer. The belief in their new quarterback will galvanize the team during the preseason to help avoid the typical slow starts to the season of the past.
The addition of Matt Ryan should result in two-to-three extra wins.
The defense steps up with new additions
Syndication: The Indianapolis Star
The NFL continues to be more of an offensive-friendly league but the teams that have a defense that can disrupt the flow of a great offense tend to find themselves in the postseason.
This year’s unit will be coached for the first time by Gus Bradley. The longtime defensive…
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