Indianapolis Colts: 5 reasons they’re Super Bowl contenders

Added Wide Receiver talent in Andre Johnson

As we mentioned earlier, you have to like an offense—especially an Andrew Luck led offense—with T.Y. Hilton in it. It’s going to be even better with newly-acquired wide receiver Andre Johnson.

Without a doubt, Johnson is not the player he once was. He’s definitely a little slower, older and less productive but he isn’t far removed from a 1,407 yard season (2013) and still has plenty of fuel left in the tank.

He’s actually the perfect complement for Hilton, a guy who isn’t going to expect every ball thrown his way but is enough of a threat to where teams will have to adjust for the possibility of him getting a pass and breaking off a long gain or touchdown.

Coupled with Hilton and the Colts tight ends, Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, Johnson is going to excel in the role Reggie Wayne filled not that long ago. Johnson is also about three years younger than Wayne and will struggle less than Wayne did late in the season.

Last year, Wayne had exactly one game where he caught over 50 yards from Week 12 to Week 17, with the single high-yardage game (91 yards) coming against the woeful Tennessee Titans in Week 17. The second highest amount in that span was four catches for 31 yards in Week 13 against Washington. Wayne only had 12 yards total over three playoff games as well.

Meanwhile Johnson had three games above 50 yards (53, 65, 134, though the last was against the Jacksonville Jaguars) and scored two touchdowns in that span.

And all that was with Case Keenum, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tom Savage and Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Now picture him with a better quarterback—the best quarterback Johnson has ever had in his career—and you can imagine Johnson being a much more effective player in a Colts jersey than he was in a Texans jersey.

That extra weapon for the passing offense is definitely a key in getting this team into the Super Bowl.

Next: Added Frank Gore in the backfield