5 reasons Colts can win the Super Bowl this year
Frank Reich’s club is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2019.
Head coach Frank Reich and the Indianapolis Colts overcame a 1-5 start during his debut here on the job in 2018. The club won nine of its final 10 regular-season contests to grab a wild card berth and then went into Houston and defeated the AFC South champions, 21-7, in the wild card round. The season would end a week later at Kansas City.
The team looked like it had picked up where it left off a year ago and this time it was Jacoby Brissett behind center and not Andrew luck. Reich’s squad got off to a 5-2 start but things came apart when the young quarterback was injured in what proved to be a Week 99 loss at Pittsburgh. Brian Hoyer stepped in a week later and the team fell at home to the Dolphins. Brissett would return but all told, the Colts dropped seven of their final nine games and wound up 7-9.
Once again, general manager Chris Ballard was a busy man this offseason and made some significant moves on both sides of the football. They’re in a division that has sent two teams to the playoffs each of the past three seasons. The competitive AFC South should be fascinating to watch. But these Colts have loftier plans and here is how the franchise can make it to another Super Bowl in the Sunshine State.
5. Secondary improves from a year ago
This past season, defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus’ unit proved to be a disappointment and in some ways took a step backward when it was all said done. The club really wilted down the stretch, allowing 31 or more points in four of their final five games. And after allowing only 16 touchdown passes in the first 11 outings, the Colts were torched for 13 scores through the air during the club’s 1-4 finish.
Cornerback Pierre Desir was released and picked up by the Jets. He’ll rejoin safety Quincy Wilson, who was dealt to the Green and White. Enter veteran cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes and T.J. Carrie, late of the Vikings and Browns, as well as safety Tavon Wilson. And the Colts’ cupboard is far from bare with underrated Kenny Moore II and promising second-year cornerback Rock Ya-Sin. And perhaps a more potent pass rush may help as well. And that brings us to…