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MMQB Peter King Places Colts in ‘Not Top 10’

By Luke Schultheis

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While the Monday Morning Quarterback’s Peter King is one of the most well respected NFL writers in the industry, he somehow inexplicably placed the Indianapolis Colts outside his Top 10 in his latest NFL power rankings:

"“11. Indianapolis (11-5). Best team in the AFC South, which isn’t saying much. Still have no clue how the Colts will stop the best offenses in football. I bet Chuck Pagano doesn’t know either.”"

Don’t get me wrong, I’m generally not that big of a believer in NFL power rankings, as team rankings don’t actually matter much outside of the world of collegiate sports (outside of pride), but how you can place the Colts at #11 is beyond me.

There are certain teams that one can make a strong argument for, but to have the Kansas City Chiefs sitting at #4 and the Minnesota Vikings at #6 ahead of the Colts seems preposterous.

Jan 18, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots fans hold up a sign referencing Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (not pictured) before the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Not when at #12 for Cincinnati, King says, “But I don’t think a team can be great unless its quarterback is close to great.” Is this then the bizarro world where the Chiefs Alex Smith and Vikings Teddy Bridgewater are elite quarterbacks respectively? The former hasn’t shown it during his 11-year career, and the latter is still at least a few years away.

Having made it to the AFC Championship Game last season, the Colts were in the “Final Four” of NFL teams last season, and this was before the team signed highly regarded veterans like Frank Gore, Andre Johnson, and Trent Cole, while shoring up their defense and getting rid of poor performers like LaRon Landry.

It’s hard for me to believe that this year’s team is worse than last year’s, which suffered countless injuries along the offensive line and was relying on its 3rd-string running back in Dan Herron by season’s end. Not to mention, the offense was featuring a broken down Reggie Wayne and an ineffective Hakeem Nicks largely in its offensive attack.

Dec 14, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) salutes the fans as runs off the field after the game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis defeats Houston 17-10. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Even if the Colts defense is widely inconsistent yet again, the offense figures to be much, much better which is a scary thought for what was one of the league’s leading offenses last season. Gore figures to help solidify the ground game, while the addition of Johnson, as well as 1st round pick Phillip Dorsett, figure to give Luck even more dangerous options in the receiving game.

This Colts team has gotten better every season under head coach Chuck Pagano and their star quarterback Andrew Luck, from making to the Wild Card round in 2012 to the AFC Championship Game in 2014. It’s hard for me to believe that this year’s team falls out of the Top 6, let alone the Top 10, short of a catastrophic injury.

Luck’s presence alone likely makes this year’s team a Top 5 team, something that King doesn’t seem to give enough credit to. As good as Luck was last season when he threw for a league-leading 40 touchdown passes and was one of the NFL’s leading passers, he figures to only get better next season. In today’s passing league, elite quarterbacks win, and Luck is seemingly on the cusp of greatness.

With all due respect to Mr. King, he’s mistaken on this one, as the Colts figure to rank right among the NFL’s elite teams come next season and belong in the Top 5, let alone Top 10. 

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