5 NFL contenders and pretenders: Bears, Browns up for debate
By John Buhler
Indianapolis Colts (4-2)
This is the hardest team we’re going to have to figure out. Are the Indianapolis Colts good or are they only a middle-of-the-pack team in the AFC? We know they are not the best team in the AFC South, as that distinction would belong to the 5-0 Tennessee Titans. However, they are the second best team in the division because the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars are awful.
Even though the Colts lost their Week 1 game vs. Jacksonville on the road, they still have to play the Texans twice and the Jaguars haven’t won a game since. Indianapolis has historically had the Titans’ number in AFC South play, but there is a clear separation between No. 1 and No. 2 in the division at this time. The question is if being second place in the AFC South gets a playoff spot.
Though it’s not a guarantee like it is in the AFC North because the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers are such strong teams, it may end up serving the Colts because they don’t play in the more competitive AFC West. Indianapolis is also better than every team in the AFC East not named the Buffalo Bills, so that is an advantage for AFC Wild Card positioning.
Even though Philip Rivers shouldn’t be trusted and the Colts only have one quality win this year, which was on the road over the Chicago Bears, Frank Reich is an excellent coach and Chris Ballard is a phenomenal general manager. Organizational continuity from top to bottom may end up serving the Colts to get them either the No. 6 or No. 7 seed this year at something around 10-6.