Category: Latest Colts News

Following a win over the New England Patriots, where do the 6-7 Indianapolis Colts now rank in several important statistical metrics as they head into their bye week?

As always, there will be ebbs and flows throughout the course of an NFL season when it comes to where a team ranks statistically, with recent performances perhaps altering the trajectory–whether positively or negatively–of where a team currently stands in regards to these key metrics.

So, as always, all metrics to varying degrees need to be taken with a grain of salt.

But having said that, now 13 weeks into the Colts’ 2024 season, that’s a large enough sample size for these metrics to help us paint the picture of who this team is this year.

With all of the information that is out there, this article could be endless given all of the stats and metrics that are out there to measure a team’s performance, in an effort to be concise while still highlighting pertinent information, I boiled down my stat selection to the basics of football: run game performance, passing game performance, pressures, turnovers, third down and red zone success, and points.

So coming out of Week 13 here is where the Colts stand in those key categories with the help of Team Rankings and Pro Football Reference.

	Stat	Ranking
Points per game	20.5	22nd
Points per game allowed	22.9	17th
Yards per rush	4.4	13th
Yards per rush allowed	4.6	20th
Yards per pass attempt	7.0	20th
Yards per pass attempt allowed	7.1	26th
Pressure rate on opposing QB	23.8%	11th
Pressure rate allowed by OL	22.6%	22nd
Turnover differential	-2	19th
Third down conversion rate	36.7%	22nd
Defensive third down conversion rate	45.3%	30th
Red zone success rate	55.0%	16th
Defensive red zone success rate	56.0%	16th

Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus recently put together a three-round 2025 NFL mock draft. So who did he have the Indianapolis Colts selecting, and what do you need to know about those prospects?

Of course, with the actual NFL draft still months away, a lot is going to change between now and then. Team needs could shift depending on how the remainder of the season plays out, along with what happens in free agency, not to mention that prospects will move up and down draft boards during the pre-draft process.

But what we know right now is that the Colts have three picks in the top 100 of the upcoming draft, and a few positions of need include tight end, linebacker, running back, and both secondary positions.

With that in mind, let’s do a quick breakdown of each of the Colts’ picks from Sikkema’s mock draft:

1.15: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

Height: 6’6″
Weight: 261

Breakdown: The Colts need more production in the passing game from the tight end position–it’s been mostly non-existent this season. Warren would provide that, along with a well-rounded skill set as a blocker that would make him an ideal fit for Shane Steichen’s offense with his versatility, adding an element of unpredictability to the Colts’ offense.

2.47: Kamari Ramsey, S, USC

Height: 6’0″
Weight: 204

Breakdown: The play of Nick Cross this season has been a promising development, but safety still remains a big need next offseason with Julian Blackmon set to hit free agency and Rodney Thomas the only other safety under contract along with Cross. Ramsey has played both deep and in the box/slot this season, but if paired with Cross, might be asked to fill the more traditional free safety role. Ramsey has five pass breakups and is holding opponents to just 7.4 yards per catch this season.

3.79: Mello Dotson, CB, Kansas

Height: 6’1″
Weight: 190

Breakdown: The development of Jaylon Jones in Year 2 coupled with Kenny Moore in the slot and the emergence of Samuel Womack has provided stability to the cornerback position. But at the minimum, bolstering the depth in 2025 is a necessity. Dotson is an experienced player with over 2,700 defensive snaps in his career. This season, he’s allowed a completion rate of 57% at 12.7 yards per catch with six pass breakups and five interceptions on the boundary.

(This article was updated to provide additional information.)

The Indianapolis Colts will go into their late bye week on a high note following a last-second victory this past Sunday over the Patriots.

So where does this most recent win land the now 6-7 Colts in ESPN’s Week 14 power rankings?

The Colts entered the 2024 season at No. 18 on this list and have been as low as No. 28 following an 0-2 start, along with just about everywhere in between in what has been an up-and-down year.

A loss to Detroit last week dropped the Colts from No. 19 to No. 21, but following a win, they jumped up to No. 18–the highest spot they’ve reached since Week 1.

Determining these rankings for ESPN are more than 80 writers, editors, and TV personalities evaluating each team’s performance and then ranking them from 1-32.

It was far from a perfect performance against New England, with the Indianapolis being run all over by the Patriots as they surrendered 200 yards on the ground. This then helped keep the Patriots ahead of the sticks and opened up opportunities in the passing game that Drake Maye was able to take advantage of.

Stringing together long drives, the Patriots visited the red zone six times, but what kept the Colts in this game was that New England left with a touchdown on only two occasions, with self-inflicted mistakes often leading to those stalled out drives near the goal line.

However, no one is really going to remember any of that, thanks to Anthony Richardson. For much of the four quarters, the Colts run game found some needed success as the passing game struggled to find a rhythm.

Then, with five minutes left, Richardson orchestrated a 19-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that culminated with a successful two-point conversion attempt in the final seconds to give the Colts lead.

On that drive, Richardson did a bit of everything for the offense, from running the ball to completing some critical passes, to overcoming drops, and converting three fourth-downs. With the game and the season on the line, Richardson was at his best.

Coming out of the bye week, the Colts will travel to Denver to take on the current seventh seed in the AFC the Broncos. As is just about every game when you’re 6-7, this is a must win. The Broncos come in at No. 12 in ESPN’s rankings.

A last-second win in Week 13 kept the Indianapolis Colts playoff hopes alive. So, heading into their bye week, where do the Colts’ playoff probabilities sit currently?

A loss by the Denver Broncos to the Cleveland Browns on Monday night football would have provided the Colts with some huge playoff help. But unfortunately, that did not happen.

The Colts are 6-7 on the season, a full two games back of the 8-5 Broncos, who currently hold the seventh and final playoff seed in the AFC. The Baltimore Ravens, who are also 8-5, are the sixth seed.

Behind the Colts are the 5-7 Miami Dolphins, followed by the 4-8 Cincinnati Bengals.

According to NFL.com, the Colts playoff probability is currently just 27 percent. Denver, meanwhile, is at 76 percent and Baltimore at 96 percent. Basically, if the Colts are going to snap their playoff drought, they’ll have to catch the Broncos.

The good news is that coming out of the bye week, the Colts face Denver on the road, giving them the opportunity to make up a full game and also hold the head-to-head tie-breaker against them as well.

Going into their Week 13 matchup with New England, the Colts had the easiest remaining strength of schedule, with only one of their final five games at that time coming against a team with a winning record.

However, while helpful, that doesn’t much matter if the Colts aren’t able to beat Denver in Week 15. A loss at that point will effectively end the Colts’ remaining playoff hopes.

The Broncos will also be on their bye week just like the Colts.

Thanks to a final 19-play, 80-yard drive by Anthony Richardson, along with a successful two-point conversion attempt, the Indianapolis Colts escaped New England with a needed win in Week 13.

Let’s take a look back at this matchup with the best photos from Sunday’s game:

Coming off of a Week 13 win over New England and now heading into the bye week, the Indianapolis Colts announced that they have signed linebacker Liam Anderson to the practice squad.

Anderson had spent the majority of this season on the Colts practice squad before being added to the 53-man roster in Week 11.

However, this past Saturday, prior to the team’s Week 13 matchup with the Patriots, Anderson was released from the active roster in order to make room for guard Atonio Mafi, who was signed from the practice squad to bolster the Colts’ interior offensive line depth as they navigated a few injuries.

The decision to release Anderson likely came down to numbers. As mentioned, the Colts found themselves thin along the interior offensive line, while Anderson was, at that time, one of six linebackers on the 53-man.

During Weeks 11 and 12, when active on game days, Anderson didn’t play any defensive snaps, but he did see 27 snaps on special teams, playing across three different phases.

After signing Mafi from the practice squad to the active roster, the Colts already had a practice squad opening–so a corresponding cut did not have to be made in order to make room for Anderson.

Anderson went undrafted in 2023 out of Holy Cross. He spent his rookie season with the Colts, mostly on the practice squad, but did appear in one game on special teams.

Pro Football Focus has now handed out their individual players’ grades following the Indianapolis Colts’ last-second win over the New England Patriots.

So, which players on offense and defense received the highest marks, and which players did not?

But before we fully dive into those numbers, I always want to point out that while PFF’s grades are helpful in quantifying a player’s performance, they are not the be-all-end-all when it comes to player evaluation. It is one of many metrics that are out there and should be treated as such.

Here is a look at PFF’s grading system to provide some context behind the numbers:

90.0+: Elite
80-89.9: High quality
70-79.9: Good
60-69.9: Above average
50-59.9: Average
40-49.9: Below average
39.9 or less: Poor

Below you will find which Colts’ players did not receiver high grades from PFF. However, if you would like a more optimistic outlook on the game, you can find a full breakdown of the Colts highest graded offensive players here, and their highest-graded defenders here.

WR AD Mitchell

PFF grade: 44.3

Over 36 offensive snaps, Mitchell had just two targets. Neither pass was caught and one of the incompletions was a crucial drop on the Colts’ final possession of the game.

DT Grover Stewart

PFF grade: 46.5

Overall, it was a rough showing for the Colts’ run defense as a whole, surrendering 200 yards on the ground to the Patriots. Of course, it’s a group effort when it comes to giving up that kind of yardage, but stat-wise, it was a quiet day in the middle for Stewart, who had one solo tackle.

TE Kylen Granson

PFF grade: 48.8

PFF did think that Granson held his own as a run-blocker in this game, with a positive grade of 70.1. But as a pass-catcher, he was targeted three times, had no receptions, and like Mitchell, had a crucial drop on the final possession.

Following the Indianapolis Colts last-second win in Week 13 over the New England Patriots, Pro Football Focus has had the opportunity to review the tape and hand out their individual player grades.

So, which members of the Colts’ defense received the highest marks?

But first, as always, we will begin with the caveat that, while PFF’s grades are helpful in how they can take a complicated thing like player evaluation and quantify it, they are not the be-all-end-all. These grades are one metric out of many that are out there.

However, having said that, typically if a player performs well, the PFF grade reflects that.

Here is a look at PFF’s grading system to provide some context behind the numbers:

90.0+: Elite
80-89.9: High quality
70-79.9: Good
60-69.9: Above average
50-59.9: Average
40-49.9: Below average
39.9 or less: Poor

To see who the Colts highest-graded players on offense were, click here.

DE Tyquan Lewis

PFF grade: 92.3

In his second game back since returning from IR, Lewis played 23 snaps as the the fourth member of the defensive end rotation in terms of playing time. Lewis didn’t record any pressures, but PFF through he was excellent against the run with a grade of 94.5, making four tackles, one of which was a stop. When it comes to playing defensive end, setting strong edges so the ball carrier can’t bounce outside is an important element when it comes to run defense that isn’t going to show up on the stat sheet.

DT DeForest Buckner

PFF grade: 82.2

As he does, this was another all-around solid performance from Buckner. He got after the quarterback with three pressures and a sack, while in the run game, he was in on five tackles, four of which were stops. Another game with high impact plays from Buckner.

CB Kenny Moore

PFF grade: 76.1

The stat sheet was pretty light for Moore, but at the cornerback position, that’s often a good thing. He made two tackles and was targeted only once in the passing game, giving up a catch but for only eight yards.

Honorable Mentions

S Julian Blackmon: 72.2
LB Grant Stuard: 70.6
S Nick Cross: 67.9