The Indianapolis Colts (6-3) proved on the national stage that they will be competing for a playoff spot down the road during the 2020 season with a 34-17 win over the Tennessee Titans (6-3).
Following the win that gave them the tiebreaker for the lead in the AFC South, the Colts jumped up three spots in Touchdown Wire’s power rankings following the Week 10 games.
They went from No. 10 to No. 7 after their first divisional win of the season.
Defense and special teams have been the backbone for a few different championship runs in NFL history. Obviously the 1985 Chicago Bears come to mind. More recently we have seen teams like the early Brady/Belichick Patriots and even the Seattle Seahawks – and the Legion of Boom – ride the defensive side of the football to the promised land.
Could the Indianapolis Colts be next?
Coming into Week 10 the Colts sported one of the best defenses in the league, ranking third in Football Outsiders’ Defensive Efficiency with a DVOA of -20.1%. Those numbers might improve a bit more after Thursday night. The Colts topped the Tennessee Titans 34-17 in a critical AFC South battle, and were effective at slowing down the Titans offense. They held Ryan Tannehill to just 147 passing yards, and kept running back Derrick Henry out of the end zone.
Then there are the contributions from special teams that we saw on Thursday. Sure, a poor punt gifted the Colts excellent field position late in the third quarter, but the Colts also notched a touchdown on a blocked punt later in the game, giving them a ten-point lead they would not relinquish.
But if the Colts are going to remain atop the AFC South, they’ll need to navigate a difficult schedule down the stretch. Sure they get the Houston Texans twice and the Jacksonville Jaguars to close out the season, but they also have to face the Steelers, the Raiders, the Packers and the Titans, all teams in playoff position.
With this defense, they might be able to carve out wins in those games as well.
Also, the victory did accomplish another goal: Silencing the “bench Philip Rivers” discussion for another week…
The Colts are in a prime position to make a run for a playoff spot. They currently hold the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoff race but share the same record (6-3) as five other teams in the race.
Indy will get another stiff challenge in the form of the Green Bay Packers in Week 11 and even though they are favored, it will be a strong test as the winter months arrive.
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