Last year, the Indianapolis Colts fell short of the playoffs in a heartbreaking 23-19 loss to the Houston Texans. In the last offensive play of the season, former quarterback Gardner Minshew threw a pass to running back Tyler Goodson in a desperate fourth-down attempt to keep playoff hopes alive. That pass, unfortunately, was short, and Goodson couldn't hold on to the ball.
The play left Goodson emotional, and he teared up talking about it afterwards. "I work too hard to drop the ball like that. I've got to accept that on the chin, and that's OK," he said in the locker room afterwards, and still took responsibility even as someone pointed out the pass was not on target. It still touched my hands. It's all good. It's all good. It touched my hands. But next year, I won't be in that position ever again."
Tyler Goodson with the drop.
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) January 7, 2024
Season over for the Indianapolis Colts.
How are Jonathan Taylor AND Zack Moss on the sideline here? pic.twitter.com/KULL9Kirdr
Despite that loss, Colts fans still had a lot to be happy about. They rebounded from a 4-12-1 season in 2022, ending 2023 with a winning 9-8 season. This was despite the fact that Anthony Richardson spent most of the season injured, and it was Shane Steichen's first season as head coach.
2024 will see the Colts continue to develop their roster of young talent, with Laiatu Latu already predicted to be one of the best defenders in the NFL, and rumors already starting of Richardson winning 2024 NFL Comeback Player of the Year. But where do the Colts fall on the first NFL Power Rankings of the season? Do expert analysts think they'll improve, stay the same, or get worse? Read on to find out.