3 things the Colts need to fix if they want to make the playoffs

The Indianapolis Colts kept their playoff hopes alive with a win over the New England Patriots in Week 13, and they're about to head into one of the easiest remaining schedules in the league. They'll be facing the Denver Broncos (7-5), the Tennessee Titans (3-9), the New York Giants (2-10), and the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10), games that are all winnable - but victories shouldn't be taken for granted.

After all, the Colts barely emerged victorious over the Patriots, who are by no means a good team this year. The Patriots offense moved with ease up and down the field, only having to punt the ball away one time, thanks to the defense offering virtually no resistance. The Colts offense, meanwhile, struggled to be productive too, particularly with tight ends continuing to drop balls left and right, and several receivers out with injuries.

So if the Colts want to make the playoffs, let alone be competitive once there, they will need to improve. Fortunately, the bye week gives them time to do just that.

Improve the defense

This has been a season-long struggle for the Colts, particularly with stopping the run, but it's crucial that Gus Bradley gets his act together and makes his defense work. They allowed over 400 yards in Week 13, and -- again -- that was a a bad team being led by a rookie QB. That can't fly with any of the remaining teams on their schedule, and especially not the Broncos, who are their #1 obstacle to reaching the playoffs.

Furthermore, as SI pointed out, the Colts have a real problem with missed tackles. And given the talent the Colts have on their roster, this seems to be a problem with Gus Bradley, and not the players themselves. Laiatu Latu is a contender for Defensive Rookie of the Year; Zaire Franklin, DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, Grant Stuard... these are all players who have shown how good they are, even this season. So the problem with the defense goes deeper, and head coach Shane Steichen needs to start demanding significant changes from Bradley, and fast. Bradley's defensive strategy, if he even has one, isn't working, and that's a recipe for disaster if the Colts want to make the playoffs.

Utilize the run game

Steichen's play-calling this season has been frustrating, to say the least; while his aggressive mindset can pay off sometimes, as it did in New England, it is far more likely to be counter-productive at absolute best. Everyone in the league knows that Anthony Richardson has a cannon for an arm, and it's thrilling to see him throw a dime and connect with Josh Downs or Alec Pierce in the end zone. But Steichen opts for those plays far too often, and ignores the incredibly dynamic tools he has at his disposal: Richardson's legs, and his running back, Jonathan Taylor, who is arguably one of the best RBs in the league... or could be, anyway, if Steichen bothered to use him.

There have been numerous games where Steichen didn't have Taylor take a single snap in the second half, or had only a handful of plays designated for him. Yes, Taylor was injured this season, and yes, the offensive line has practically been decimated by injuries lately. But those excuses won't hold water anymore; on Sunday, the o-line gave their best performance in a long while, shocking most fans considering how many of their starters are out, and Taylor is healthy again. When Steichen does rely on Richardson and Taylor to run, the offense is much more successful. So why doesn't he do it more often?

There's a reason these two, and their dynamic chemistry, have been compared to Baltimore's Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. Steichen has real weapons here; he needs to use them if he wants to win. "Run the damn ball" has been the Colts' unofficial logo since at least 2019, so... you know. Do it.

Fix their receivers

Richardson has long been blamed for having an abysmal completion rate, but his defenders have pointed out that he gets little-to-no help from his teammates... and that has been more clear than ever in recent weeks, when Richardson has repeatedly thrown perfect passes, only to have them repeatedly dropped by his receivers and tight ends.

Kylen Granson, Drew Ogletree, Alec Pierce, Adonai Mitchell... we could keep going, too, but all of them have been dropping the ball, even when it's literally right in their hands. We all know Richardson is new and still learning. He has to learn how to read the field better and the best place and time to throw. But it wouldn't matter if Peyton Manning himself was out there throwing the ball if none of the receivers or tight ends can keep their hands on it. Richardson has shown immense improvement since his benching, and conversely, his receivers have gotten worse.

That needs to change, and fast, if the Colts want a prayer of being in the playoffs.