5 Things Learned: Colts End Season On Winning Note

1. Oh Yeah, The Game:

Oh Yeah, The Game: Yes, the Colts did play a football game on Sunday, so let’s recap it, briefly. It was an overtime victory for the Colts, marking all 8 of their wins by one score this season. Jonathan Taylor ran like Jonathan Taylor, with his 24^th career 100-yard game, and a career-high 34 carries. Alec Pierce wins my 2024 Colts MVP award (best player on the team this season). And I think Joe Flacco has proven he should have a spot on some QB depth chart around the NFL at the age of 40. The defense was a mixed bag, finishing it off though in overtime. Matt Gay once again proved to be shaky from long distance (3-of-9 on field goals from 50-plus yards this season). Honestly, Pierce’s stats won’t do it complete justice for the season he had. And on Sunday, Pierce delivered early, and late, moving the chains in overtime with a big 3^rd-and-10 comeback reception. As fans exited Lucas Oil Stadium in droves throughout, those that stayed saw the Colts win in overtime to cap a season that certainty fell short of expectations.

2. JuJu Suffers Another Injury

JuJu Suffers Another Injury: About the only somewhat meaningful storyline for Week 18 was seeing second-year cornerback JuJu Brents playing in his first game since the 2024 season opener. Unfortunately, Brents return to game action ended after two series on Sunday. A groin injury marked the end of Brents’ day and continued horrific injury luck for the 2023 second-round pick. Brents was the team’s third cornerback on Sunday, playing ahead of Samuel Womack. This was his first game action since injuring his MCL in the 2024 season opener. Brents has played just 11 of 34 games in his NFL career. While injury questions are there for fellow draft mate Anthony Richardson, shockingly, Brents has had even more of them and missed more time. Cornerback remains a massive off-season need for the Colts after yet another season where the secondary lacked any notable playmaking.

3. Black Monday Awaits:

Black Monday Awaits: In his worst playoff drought in 30-plus years as owner, and in a season in which he’s been unusually quiet, Jim Irsay has some decisions to make. Irsay, quietly, made his way to the locker room on Sunday afternoon following the 8-9 campaign. Black Monday arrives and we await if Irsay will have Chris Ballard build him a roster for a 9^th year, and/or if Shane Steichen will get a 3^rd year. Is Gus Bradley losing his job as defensive coordinator where the changes this offseason will start, and end, for the Colts? On the weekend that brought the 10-year anniversary of the Colts last home playoff game, Irsay fired off “roof open or closed” jokes on Saturday morning. With inclement weather playing a role, tickets were as cheap as $2 on Sunday morning, as around 40,000-ish people (?) took in a meaningless season finale. As Irsay thinks about changes starting at the top of his organization, here’s a reminder on the AFC finishes in the 8 years under Chris Ballard (out of 16 teams): 14^th, 6^th, 10^th, 7^th, 8^th, 15^th, 10^th, 10^th (heading into the 4:25 games of Sunday).

4. Anthony Richardson Questions Growing

Anthony Richardson Questions Growing: Well, this storyline is once again playing out, and has for half of Anthony Richardson’s 34 NFL games. Sunday brought the 17^th time in Richardson’s two-year career he has missed a game due to injury (1 due to concussion, 12 due to right shoulder, 2 due to oblique, 2 due to back). He’s missed 19 total games (17 due to injury, 2 due to benching) and played in 15 games in his career. Injuries have caused Richardson to miss half (17 of 34 games) of his games through 2 NFL seasons. Unfortunately, the “availability” storyline to Richardson’s NFL career can’t ignored. And that list of Richardson questions includes accuracy concerns and turnovers rising in Year 2. Richardson now officially begins his biggest NFL offseason. Assuming his back injury isn’t too severe, Richardson will need massive changes to his accuracy and however you define the standard of playing (preparing?) quarterback in the NFL. Will the Colts decide some staff changes are needed internally around Richardson? That’s probably a fair question to have given how much this 2025 season for Richardson will impact the entire organization. In summary, Richardson’s season saw some big-time 4^th quarter moments and an improvement in health, but plenty of questions are still on the board with the Colts first financial decision on Richardson coming after next season.

5. Colts End Season With Win

Colts End Season With Win: One thing we do know about the 2024 Colts: they (usually) beat bad teams. The Colts will end the season 8-9, having beat 6 teams drafting in the top-10 and then beating the Dolphins and Steelers, with both of those two teams starting their backup quarterbacks. Sunday’s win assured the Colts of finishing .500 in the AFC South this season, and with a 5-3 mark at home. As we await the rest of Week results, the Colts are expected to draft around 13-14 overall come April.

6. QUICK HITTERS

-Injury Report: The following Colts were INACTIVE on Sunday: QB-Anthony Richardson (back), TE-Will Mallory, G-Dalton Tucker, LB-Cam McGrone, DE-Isaiah Land. These Colts got hurt on Sunday and did not return: CB-JuJu Brents (groin), RT-Matt Goncalves (concussion).

–Key Stat: The Giants this Sunday averaging a league worse 14.3 points per game. They scored 45 against the Colts, eclipsing their previous season-high of 29 points.

–What’s Next: The Colts (7-9) will now hit the offseason early for a 4^th straight year, marking the longest playoff drought for the franchise in 30 years. How much change will we see as the offseason arrives on Monday?