Indianapolis Colts Continue to Impress

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 version of the Indianapolis Colts, at some times, is like a breath of fresh air.

These Colts, as opposed to the Peyton Manning/Tony Dungy era, look to be intent on presenting themselves as a complete team. When this team wins, they win on all fronts. When these Colts lose, they tend to look flat on all sides. On Sunday night, against Manning and the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis looked smooth all around.

When manning was with the Colts, his teams made nine-straight playoff appearances. During that time, Manning’s defenses were often ranked in the lower-half of the league. Indianapolis, in recent seasons, has made efforts to focus on running the ball, as well as stopping the running game. Running the ball hasn’t quite evolved as of yet, but the Indianapolis defense is making strides towards causing turnovers and creating havoc for opposing quarterbacks. Linebacker Robert Mathis now leads the NFL with 11.5 sacks, and took down Manning on Sunday night for a safety, which was arguably the play of that game.

When this team is clicking, they can stand toe-to-toe with the best in the NFL. It’s easy to notice Andrew Luck and the offense, because of the spotlight being focused on things like nine 4th quarter comebacks. From the top to the bottom of this organization, Indianapolis is making waves, and surprising the league. Even owner Jim Irsay continues to make headlines, taking a bit of that spotlight away from his young team.

The Colts aren’t where they want to be just yet, but they are truly showing what their team is capable of.