The Indianapolis Colts are 4-1 and have already racked up impressive wins against the San Fransico 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks. With their one loss coming in a close game to the Miami Dolphins. But how good is this team?
With a media that is obssessed with the Denver Broncos and the NFC West, the young team in Inidana is not getting much love. So unless you are an avid NFL fan you probably don't know too much about this Colts team. Many thought that season was a fluke, that was sparked off the ChuckStrong movement that consumed the city and most of the country. Many didn't believe that Andrew Luck would be able to continue his record breaking play.
This team after a rough start against the Oakland Raiders and a loss the Dolphins many were beginning to believe that last season was just a fluke and this was going to be an average team. Then this team traded to get Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson, which got some buzz around this team. Then the Colts went across the country and put it to the 49ers. Went to Jacksonville and destroyed the Jaguars. Now this week they played a very tough game against the undefeated Seattle Seahawk. Behind some bery stellar play from Andrew Luck and TY Hilton this team came out with the win.
But how has a team playing so well and defeating teams many analysts picked to win the Super Bowl going under the radar? Mainly, because this team just wins and their stars don't talk about it. If the players on this team won't talk about how they are managing to win these games I will.
A lot of it comes down to the improvements that general manager Ryan Grigson made to this team in the off season. Adding reciever Darius Heyward-Bay to an already talented recieving core to give another deep threat. Then revamping the defensive line with Ricky Jean-Francois and Erick Walden who have been doing a good job containing opponents running backs, with the exception of Marshawn Lynch this week. Then they added Greg Toler and Laron Landry to the secondary to fill in some of the holes that teams exploited last season.
This defensive unit which was alright but not great in any category now has an elite secondary and an improved defensive line. The offense has the weapons now that keep defenses honest in the run and the pass game.
The next question is how good can this team be and where can they go? I think this team is the best one lose team in the league and easily the 4th best team in the league behind the three unbeaten teams. Next week the Colts play the San Diego Chargers and is the match up everyone is waiting for the return of Peyton Manning to Indianapolis. This could be a huge measuring stick to how far this team could go. A win in this game would tell the rest of the league that this team is going to be competing for homefield advantage in the AFC.
After next weeks game I will put up a preview of the Colts vs Broncos game, which will be the highlight of every sports show all week all over the country.
