In an article earlier this week on October 20, 2025, Bill Barnwell—then a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com—explored the surprises in team fortunes so far this year. In his release, he called out the Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars. Barnwell highlighted how these teams defied early season expectations and raised questions about their strategies and players.
The Indianapolis Colts have flummoxed defenses all season long, particularly on offense in their most recent game. …they scored 38 points and gained WELL OVER 400 yards! Given the scrutiny on a team known for its offensive inconsistency, this performance represents teeth-digging-to-the-floor improvement. Few NFL teams have endured a more challenging slate of 12 consecutive contests since their bye in mid-November last football season. Just last week, they proved their scrappiness with an upset win over the Miami Dolphins.
While the legislation makes sweeping changes, the article focuses on individual performances. Most memorably, Rashee Rice made one of the more aesthetically pleasing plays on Kyu Blu Kelly, a back-shoulder TD in the second quarter. These instances highlight the increasing competitive atmosphere that has developed between these clubs while fighting for a potential postseason berth.
Colts’ Offensive Surge
The Indianapolis Colts have been one of the biggest surprises of this season. With 38 points in their first game, it was pretty apparent that they had an offense that could hit home runs. Instead, the team’s performance surpassed all expectations and left fans and pundits across the country eager to see what these upstarts could do in 2017.
Barnwell agreed that the Colts’ offensive gameplan seems to be coming into sync. Colts-record 453 yards. With the overland tally, the Colts were able to send their playmakers on the loose and capitalize on defensive miscues. This is a major development as they push for an unlikely playoff berth.
“They have a clear path to the top seed in the AFC.” – Bill Barnwell
This might be the best summation of all the optimism around the Colts as they look to keep moving forward after recent progress.
Bills’ Struggles and Resilience
The Buffalo Bills certainly know how tough it can be coming out of the bye given what they experienced last November. They put on an impressive show throughout 12 games. If there was a major theme for the Eagles this season, it was their inability to deliver in key situations. Their inspiring win last week over the Miami Dolphins has filled their fans with renewed belief.
Even with James Cook III’s gaudy statistics this year, there are still red flags about how he’ll be used at the next level. Beyond that, Barnwell highlighted how well Cook has played this season. As much as he’s been active, he hasn’t been getting the ball enough to really have his impact felt.
Furthermore, Barnwell asserts that “the Bills would have a clear path in the AFC” if they can address these inconsistencies and leverage their offensive talents effectively.
Jaguars and Chiefs: Questions Abound
As such, while the Jacksonville Jaguars have flashed elite potential at times, they’ve struggled to consistently convert their chances into points. In fact during their 4-1 start they were 24th in ppga on drives starting anywhere inside their own 40. Sadly, this trend has only gotten worse in the last few weeks, recently plummeting them to 27th place in the same stat.
Barnwell opined that “the Jaguars’ defense could support the offense,” indicating that improvements on that side of the ball could enhance overall team performance.
The Kansas City Chiefs have been bitten by left tackle play and explosive plays. Those issues were on full display for the squad last season. They still have issues to address and must work on these deficiencies as they try to establish their starting unit.
“The Daniel Jones-led offense is a flash in the pan.” – Bill Barnwell
Barnwell’s criticism of Dan Jones highlights the lack of faith in his ability to continue performing at an elite level under the duress of high leverage moments. He cautioned that “Jones will take too many sacks” and noted that “Jones isn’t going to keep making this many big plays,” raising concerns about the long-term viability of this offensive strategy.
Leave a Reply