The Indianapolis Colts __came into the 2025 NFL season__ as a heavy favorite to make a Super Bowl run. Receiver Alec Pierce and quarterback Daniel Jones, though, grew very close at the same time. Due in no small part to their standout contributions on the field, the Colts are just one step away from glory. Injuries and a competitive, upper-division schedule crippled them. Their strong beginnings were soon overshadowed by a shocking implosion that voters won’t soon forgive.
As much as I’d like to say that it was Jones’ sudden and unprecedented level of play at quarterback, that wasn’t the case – at first. His chemistry with Pierce off the field translated beautifully on field. Colts’ offense was elite, bringing fans back to the days of Peyton Manning’s domination. That newfound synergy powered an offensive explosion for the ages. More importantly, it resulted in a stunning overtime comeback win against the Atlanta Falcons at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium. In that game, Jonathan Taylor rushed for a jaw-dropping 244 yards. All the while, that same team racked up a mind-boggling 519 yards of offense.
In August, Jones gained public acclaim as the team’s starter. This historic win lit up nationwide hopes as it renewed optimism and raised spirits, laying the groundwork for a thrilling postseason chase. The addition of two-time All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets further bolstered their defense, adding another layer of potential success. As their new general manager Chris Ballard put it, the acquisitions were designed to create a Super Bowl push at those acquired.
The turning point came when Charvarius Ward, arguably the most important signing of the offseason, went down with a nasty concussion. This injury sent him to injured reserve. This injury was only the start of a demoralizing gauntlet of disasters for the Colts. After starting the season 5-1, they dropped six straight games, knocking their playoff hopes to the ground.
Even with their encouraging 8-2 record, one could tell the Colts were collectively losing steam down the stretch. The loss of Daniel Jones turned out to be especially crippling. His injury to his aggressive stance in a key third quarter was significant. It was later announced that the damage was a ruptured Achilles tendon, which would end his season.
“I feel like we were a team that’s ready to win, and when the right person in the most important position was there, that was ignited.” – Zaire Franklin
Franklin above on the effect of losing their first-string quarterback.
Franklin expressed his thoughts on the impact of losing their starting quarterback.
“When you’ve got a guy that’s in there that’s inspiring and leading, that makes a huge difference. So, at that point, you’re top five on offense, top five on defense. You lose your quarterback and everything went to s
Leave a Reply