The Indianapolis Colts got off to a disappointing start to the season, dropping the home opener to a Baltimore Ravens team that outclassed, outhustled, and outcoached them. Now, things won't get much easier.
Shane Steichen's team will hit the road to go against the Kansas City Chiefs, and they look closer to the Super Bowl contender of old than to the erratic and unfortunate team from 2025. They're two teams trending in opposite directions.
Considering that, the Colts will have to make some major adjustments to bounce back and end their eight-game losing streak. With that in mind, let's dive into the four pressing issues they must solve ahead of Sunday Night Football.
4 questions the Indianapolis Colts must answer ahead of Week 2
How much will they put on Daniel Jones' plate?
Daniel Jones looked as sharp as ever in the opening drive of Week 1, but his play slowly declined after that. It's hard to blame him, though, as it was his first real NFL action since tearing his Achilles, and he was facing a stout and well-coached defense.
The Broncos kept Bo Nix on a short leash in Week 1, and it backfired tremendously. The Chiefs have an inexperienced secondary, yet Sean Payton's team rarely tried to attack them. That's something to consider if you're Steichen.
The Colts may not have Alec Pierce for this one, but even without their deep play specialist, they should put the ball in Jones' hands on this one. The Chiefs gave up just 61 rushing yards in the opener.
Can they stop the run?
On the flip side, they'll face Kenneth Walker III, arguably the most electric running back in today's game. The defending Super Bowl champion is inspired and put up 173 rushing yards in his debut, including a 60-yard explosion.
The Colts' usually strong run defense couldn't get anything going against Derrick Henry. Granted, he's Derrick Henry, but the Chiefs' new addition is no slouch, and with Patrick Mahomes looking erratic in his return, they can't afford to get crushed on the ground again.
This team can't allow Walker to turn the corner. They must set a hard edge and stack up the middle with DeForest Buckner to prevent his explosive runs. That will be easier said than done, but it's supposed to be Lou Anarumo's strength.
Is it CJ Allen time?
CJ Allen was a healthy scratch in the season opener and, to be fair, it made sense. He looked far from ready in limited preseason action, and the team pumped the brakes on him after hyping him up as a potential green-dot carrier.
That said, the linebacker corps was pretty mediocre in the season opener. Fellow rookie Bryce Boettcher was probably the lone bright spot there, but it's clear that they need some sort of spark in the middle.
Allen is still a work in progress and might need more time, but he'll only get better by playing. Of course, he shouldn't start, but the Colts should at least consider spoon-feeding him and playing him in certain situations.
Will Tyler Warren bounce back?
Tyler Warren drew rave reviews in training camp and looked poised for a breakout season, yet he was mostly an unused decoy in Week 1. He did haul in a touchdown grab, but it came with the game pretty much out of reach.
The Broncos moved the chains with Evan Engram multiple times in Week 1. He hauled in four catches on five targets for 43 yards and a score, so Steichen's passing game should also be able to work the middle of the field with their star tight end.
The Chiefs' linebacker corps is probably its weakest link on defense, and they should have a tough time manhandling a physical mismatch like Warren. And if Pierce sits this one out or is limited, he should be the go-to guy on offense.
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