It wasn't pretty for the Colts, but winning doesn't always have to be. In fact, it often isn't, and the only thing that matters for Colts fans at the end of the day is that the team got a much-needed notch in the victory column.
It could very easily be argued that the Miami Dolphins lost this game more than the Indianapolis Colts won it, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. The performance wasn't perfect, but it was definitely enough to accomplish the team's ultimate goal: victory.
Colts fans already know that this is a lost season, and it also seems inevitable that a period of rough rebuilding is on the way. There will be painful times ahead, but there are multiple young Colts players who have given fans reason to hope for the future. It will be a long road to relevancy, but some building blocks seem to already be in place.
4 Indianapolis Colts who gave the team hope for the future in Week 10 win
No. 1: LB CJ Allen
The Colts were left without a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft, but it seems that their second-round selection is well on his way to being a good player for many years to come. Allen made plays throughout the whole game against Miami and would have had a huge pick-six if not for an illegal contact penalty on the same play.
Not only that, he was the one to make the biggest play of the game, a sack of Kyle McCord on 3rd down with a minute to go to take the Dolphins out of field goal range.
Consistently making impact plays in big moments is a hallmark of a great player, and if Allen can continue stringing together performances like these, he will soon prove himself to be a building block of the future for whoever Indy's new GM ends up being.
If CJ Allen can start to play near the level of fellow rookie linebackers Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, Jacob Rodriguez, and Anthony Hill jr, we could be looking back at the 2026 rookie class as one of the best linebacker drafts ever.
No. 2: RB Seth McGowan
This marks two straight weeks in a row where it's very arguable that Indy's rookie sixth-rounder Seth McGowan has played like the best running back on the roster. Jonathan Taylor finished the day with 83 yards on 16 carries, including a long run of 17 yards.
McGowan, for his part, finished with 77 yards on 12 carries, with a long rush of 23 yards. He was explosive every time he touched the ball. The best part about this is that Jonathan Taylor didn't even have a bad game. The rushing attack was the only thing keeping the offense moving, and McGowan and Taylor were a hugely effective tandem.
The more puzzling aspect of this, however, is that it decides to not trade Jonathan Taylor at the deadline more mind-boggling. His value was at the highest it may ever be, with teams desperate to trade for him, and Indy already had a promising younger running back on the roster that better lined up with their timeline.
One would think that selling high on the older veteran would be the prudent move, but at the very worst, Indy now just has two very good running backs on their squad.
No. 3: CB Justin Walley
Justin Walley, through the first nine weeks of the season, has been largely uninspiring. However, against Miami, he played great. The defense made rookie Kyle McCord uncomfortable, and it was the unit that won Indy the game. Walley was a huge part of that and made arguably the single biggest play of the game.
Coming out of the half, the Colts were up 14-7, but the Dolphins received the ball first and were looking to tie the game. Enter Justin Walley on the first play from scrimmage, where he blew up McCord for a strip-sack that was recovered for a touchdown.
In a game that was only decided by two points (thank you, Zane Gonzalez), that play could very well have been the singular moment that won the contest for the Colts.
No. 4: DT Grover Stewart
If any Colts fan were to make the argument that Grover Stewart was the singular best Colts player to take the field against the Miami Dolphins, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who wouldn't at least entertain the idea.
Stewart made impact plays after impact plays in big moments. He tipped a pass from McCord on a fourth down in the red zone to save a touchdown. He also batted another pass on 2nd down at the end of the game to stop the Dolphins from entering field goal range, and got consistent pressure throughout the game.
At 33 years old, it remains to be seen whether Stewart will be any part of the Colts' long-term plans, but for the present, he'll be a great mentor for any young players Indianapolis is able to bring in.
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