Critics are weak for saying Colts ‘haven’t faced anyone yet’
By Jerry Trotta
Media critics are ridiculous for saying the Colts haven’t faced any good teams through the first month of the 2020 season.
The Indianapolis Colts have proved through the first quarter of their schedule that they are one of the most complete teams in the NFL. While their offense has left a lot to be desired, the defense has lived up to the hype it garnered from the coaching staff during training camp, ranking tops in the league in both points and yards allowed per game thus far.
However, because of the Colts’ glaring flaws — which include a shocking struggle to run the football at an efficient rate and a lack of vertical dimension in the passing game — critics have gone to great lengths to belittle their blazing hot start to the year.
The most common slander we’ve stumbled upon across social media has been Indianapolis’ admittedly favorable schedule. With that being said, folks are desperately grasping at straws in asserting the team hasn’t “played anyone yet.”
Colts got the Jags, Vikings, Jets and Bears in the first month. That’s a preseason schedule.
— Master (@MasterTes) October 4, 2020
A preseason schedule? That’s laugh-out-loud funny. We suppose this guy needs a reminder that the Jaguars, who were the preseason favorite to land the No. 1 overall pick, have been competitive in all but one game so far in 2020. They were a field goal short of upsetting the Titans, who were one win away from the Super Bowl last season, and starting the year 2-0.
What about Minnesota, which has scored 30 or more points in every game but their showdown with the Colts in Week 2? Sorry, but we aren’t holding it against Indianapolis that their defense stymied a really good offense. All teams have scored at will against the Vikings, and head coach Frank Reich’s side has been the only team to hold them under 31 points (they scored 11).
In terms of Week 3, we aren’t even going to attempt to defend the Jets, who are the undisputed laughingstock of the NFL right now. In our eyes, that was the only cakewalk matchup for the Colts through the first month.
Prove it type game for the #Colts (2-1) and Bears (3-0) today?
— Kevin Bowen (@KBowen1070) October 4, 2020
-Colts have played the 32nd ranked schedule so far
-Bears have played the 27th ranked schedule so far
The math might work against our argument, but the talent on the teams Indy has faced (excluding the Jets) is undeniable. Chicago was 3-0 heading into Week 4 and fresh off a miraculous fourth quarter comeback in their previous game, and we didn’t once think the Colts wouldn’t come out of that game with a win.
Instead of downplaying the Colts’ dominant start by lambasting their schedule, how about praising them for handily taking care of business while being forced to overcome a rash of injuries to key players? That’d be the better take, in our opinion.
