The Indianapolis Colts are actually good in 2025. After many presumed they were "tanking," like that's a real thing, after signing Daniel Jones and making him the starter at quarterback over Anthony Richardson (or anyone else), Indy is looking like a playoff team.
All facets of the team are working. The defense might not be great, but it's good enough. Special teams have been solid, though it took a hit - literally - against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5 as kicker Spencer Shrader was injured on an extra point attempt.
But no one on the team can take more credit for Indianapolis's hot start than Daniel Jones. He had two not-pretty interceptions in Week 4 against a good Los Angeles Rams team, but he made enough plays to keep his team in the game. Otherwise, Jones has been unexpectedly nearly perfect.
Indianapolis Colts' Daniel Jones should start getting some MVP talk
This continued in Week 5 against a rather putrid Raiders team. Jones started off with a couple of missed throws in the first half. The shock was that Jones missed passes much at all. He hasn't done that for almost all of this season.
But note this is only being nitpicky. Daniel Jones has turned out to be an absolute steal for the Indianapolis Colts through five games. His contract pays him $15 million for 2025, and he will be an expensive player to re-sign next offseason, but for now, Indy fans can ride the great train.
Jones and the play-calling of head coach Shane Steichen appear perfectly made. The quarterback studies a playbook that almost seems destined to be exactly for him. Jones doesn't take a lot of chances, but he doesn't have to. The running game is built well enough, and Jones is smart enough to get the ball to the receivers as he needs to.
Through five games, Jones, who was given most of the fourth quarter off against the Raiders since his team was up by 34 points, has thrown six touchdown passes against just two interceptions, but his quarterback rating was a fantastic 103.3 entering the Raiders game and was 113 against Vegas.
Beyond Daniel Jones having good raw statistics this season, and proving the New York Giants, his former team for most of his first six seasons, the quarterback is running Shane Steichen's offense to perfection. If he continues to play as well as he is, he will get MVP votes, if not have a real chance to actually win the award.