Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin is wrong. Yet, he is also right. Indy's defensive leader has been with the team for eight seasons and has been a full-time starter for the last four. He's seen a lot with his team, but he hasn't seen one thing that fans haven't seen since 2014.
That is the Colts going on the road to Jacksonville and beating the Jaguars. For 10 straight attempts, Indy has left with a loss. Coaches have changed, the players are completely different, but the results remain the same. Maybe 2025 will be different.
When asked about Indianapolis's struggles in Duvall country for the last decade recently, Franklin spoke the absolute truth, but that doesn't mean anything will change. If the Colts want to stop their recent struggles and get back to first place in the AFC South, this must be the season when the long streak ceases.
Zaire Franklin tries to make sense of the Indianapolis Colts losing to the Jaguars in Jacksonville
According to James Boyd of The Athletic, Franklin said of Indy's road losing streak to the Jaguars, "I think (reporters) talk about the streak more than enough for all of us. I don’t really know how relevant it is, to be honest with you, just because it’s a new year. It’s a new team...It’s a whole bunch of new people in here. Every year is a new opportunity."
Again, the linebacker isn't wrong. There is no logic in believing a team that is completely different every five years or so should keep streaks alive that previous regimes had. The Colts are simply going to go to Jacksonville and lose because that is what happens every season, but the fact is that it has happened every year since 2015.
2025 should be different, however. Indianapolis is getting its best quarterback play in years. As long as quarterback Daniel Jones doesn't revert to his form of Weeks 9 and 10 and commit a bunch of turnovers, Indy should have a chance to get a victory.
As long as Jonathan Taylor gets the ball more, he should be able to elevate the offense to the elite levels of the first eight games. The Jaguars' defense is good, especially against the run, but if the Colts' offense is playing its best, it is better than the Jags' defense.
Nothing the Jaguars do offensively should terrify Lou Anarumo and his Indianapolis defense. While Indy has been a bit of bend but don't break in 2025, it is not breaking that matters. Indianapolis will be without cornerback Sauce Gardner, but he had only played three games for the Colts since being traded to Indianapolis.
Zaire Franklin is correct. Simply because the Colts are the Colts doesn't mean they will lose to the Jaguars in Jacksonville. But if Indy does, the questions about the losing streak from reporters and fans will keep coming.