The Indianapolis Colts dominated their Week 1 performance by thrashing the Miami Dolphins 33-8. The game was never close, and the final points for Miami were meaningless. Some expected the Colts to win the game, but not in this manner.
In fact, the Colts scored on every single drive they had. It was not only how they played in all three phases, but also how much hope it brings now for the remainder of the season.
As mentioned, all three phases of the game were fantastic, and yes, they beat a lesser team on paper. One that battled preseason injuries, especially in the secondary. The most encouraging aspect of the game was how they won.
The Indianapolis Colts have a franchise-altering decision to make
Plenty of times last season, they would pull out a close game or lose the game outright. This was a clear, no-debate Week 1 win and arguably the most impressive in the entire league.
One player stood out amongst the rest. You guessed it, it was quarterback Daniel Jones. The same Daniel Jones that we all wanted to be hung to dry after training camp and the preseason. The same Daniel Janes we wanted as the backup, but not to see a single snap. Well, that same Daniel Jones just won the opening week matchup in convincing fashion.
The organization said at the season-opening press conference that he was a bridge quarterback to allow Anthony Richardson to develop. After this week’s performance, the tune has potentially changed, and what could make them change course.
As mentioned above, plenty expected the Colts to win or at least be competitive in this game. On the other hand, plenty thought the opposite. I think nearly everyone can agree that we did not expect a dominating performance as we saw on Sunday.
Daniel Jones finished 22/29 for 272 yards and one touchdown pass and two rushing touchdowns. Arguably, the best performance of his veteran career. His stats only paint part of the portrait, as he was in total command of this offense.
He was able to change up calls and protections at the line of scrimmage and seemed to be completely in control of every aspect of the playbook. Shane Steichen and Daniel Jones were completely in sync this week.
I am fully aware that this is Week One, and it might be an overreaction, but we cannot dismiss what we just saw on Sunday. Indianapolis Colts General Manager Chris Ballard mentioned the similarities he saw in Daniel Jones as he did with former NFL quarterback Alex Smith.
That same Alex Smith was used as a bridge to Patrick Mahomes. There is one big difference between Smith and Jones: the age at which they were used as bridge quarterbacks.
Alex Smith was 33 and in the twilight of his career. Jones is 28 and in the prime of his career right now. We have also seen what Richardson has done, whereas Patrick Mahomes was still an unknown commodity. If these types of performances continue with Daniel Jones, then what happens?
Daniel Jones is on a one-year contract worth $14 million, and the opportunity to make more with incentives. I am not saying that Anthony Richardson is incapable of becoming a franchise quarterback, but if they thought he could, then he would be on the field.
The NFL is a win-now league, and after one week, the Jones-Steichen combination is bearing fruit. The possibility of keeping Daniel Jones for the long term must be put back on the table for discussion if the Colts continue to win games.
This is the toughest question of them all so early in the season. It is well known that the fanbase cannot stand Chris Ballard and his failures as he approaches a decade as general manager. His record as GM now stands at 63-69-1 with ZERO division titles.
He has hit on some draft picks, but he has had his share of misses. After typically sitting out of free agency, we did see him be more aggressive in player acquisition this offseason. So far, it has paid positive dividends.
As for Steichen, it’s way too early to tell what his future will hold. However, if this continues and they start winning and winning big, they will have no choice but to keep him regardless of what happens to Chris Ballard.
Recent rumblings since the passing of Jim Irsay seem to show that Irsay was behind the idea of drafting Richardson. Not saying that others are immune from the criticism, but if Daniel Jones works out, then it was the Ballard and Steichen tandem that made this decision.
Can you fire Ballard for his past failings and keep Steichen? You certainly can, but it makes things more difficult as most owners like both the GM and head coach to be aligned with each other. Not saying they cannot do that if Ballard is let go, but it could complicate things.
The next few weeks will be crucial to finding out what you have and what you could potentially do with the roster in front of you. Could this mean that Richardson and his representatives would apply more pressure on the Colts' front office for a trade?
Or will Richardson hold and learn the position from Jones and let him be the mentor that Richardson desperately needs? This season now hinges on the Steichen and Jones duo working out, and it will have ripple effects throughout the organization.