The Indianapolis Colts have historically been a pass-first team until recently.
When Chris Ballard took over as the General Manager after the 2016 NFL season, the offensive line was one of the worst in the league. Watching the defense play was painful, even as a die-hard Colts fan. Recently, though, with head coach Frank Reich and Chris Ballard working together to build a team worthy of the postseason, the offensive line has become a strength instead of a liability.
The NFL is a league that can have trends. One trend is whoever controls the clock controls the outcome of the game. Last week against the Chiefs, the Colts proved they could pound the other team by running it and ice the game. The Chiefs were the number one offense last year, and with the Colts’ defensive injuries, not many people gave them a chance to win.
The Colts came out and ran the ball down the throats of the Chiefs defense shocking them for a 19-13 win on the road. The Chiefs are a Super Bowl favorite this year, and beating them in their own house was impressive, but it’s something they need to keep up for the entire season.
Through the first four games of the season, the Colts have only committed 27 penalties, the fewest in the league so far, while having the fewest penalty yards too with only 199. If the Colts can keep this up, they will be the best rushing team this year.
Indianapolis can make a serious run in January if they keep playing like they did Sunday night against the Chiefs. The offensive line is key to winning games for this team, and I wouldn’t like to have it any other way. The smash-mouth football has been a long time coming for the Colts, and it feels good to beat teams in that way.
Indianapolis has been the defensive laughing stock of the NFL and running game for a long time. This year, they may have something to prove and it’s showing on the field.