Number one!
We are five weeks into this NFL season, and the AFC currently runs through Indianapolis.
The Colts currently hold the number one seed after a casual dismantling of the Las Vegas Raiders this Sunday. The final score was 40-6.
As the online meme states… stop the count!
Dominant performance
The Colts were imperious on Sunday, removing the threat of the Raiders by scoring a total of 40 points in the second and third quarter. This allowed them to bring in most of their reserve players for the fourth quarter and rest some of their starters.
I have to say that my favourite play of the entire day was when Anthony Richardson Sr. came in for the fourth quarter and made an incredible 9-yard pass completion… to himself.
Injuries mounting
Unfortunately, as we are now five weeks into the season, injuries are starting to take effect.
And no position group has been decimated by injuries more for the Indianapolis Colts than at cornerback.
Before the season even started, exciting third-round pick Justin Walley sadly went down with an ACL injury, ruling him out for his entire rookie year.
The Colts have signed a host of players to try and replace him. Out of those so far, we have had Xavien Howard come in and retire. The team then acted swiftly by adding a player familiar to defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Alas, former Bengal Mike Hilton has had to go to injured reserve.
It really has been bad luck as the Colts look for a player to play opposite the excellent Charvarius Ward, who has completely locked down the cornerback one position.
More concerning in terms of injuries is that the Colts will now be without their kicker, Spencer Shrader, for the rest of the season.
He got hit scoring an extra point on Sunday against the Raiders. He is now going to be out with an ACL and MCL injury. It is a real blow because he has been excellent so far for the team.
The Colts have acted swiftly by bringing back former kicker Michael Badgley, who played for the team in 2021.
Another reunion
There have been some other additions to the team. The position of linebacker has been a slight cause of concern for some Colts fans. They have been looking for somebody to play next to long term player and captain Zaire Franklin.
This week, they brought in Germaine Pratt, who was released from the Las Vegas Raiders.
He is another player who knows Lou Anarumo well, having spent time with him previously at the Cincinnati Bengals.
AFC South juggernaut
It seems if the Colts are to keep the number one seed, the main threat could come from within their own division.
Unfortunately, for them, the Jacksonville Jaguars seems to be matching them stride for stride, as both teams sit with a 4-1 record through five weeks.
It looks like the whole AFC is upside down at the moment. The South has now become the conference’s juggernaut.
This week, the team will play the Arizona Cardinals, who managed to implode in quite spectacular fashion to another AFC South side the Tennessee Titans last week.
They will no doubt be looking for some sort of reaction. I am hoping it is not this Sunday and the Colts can continue their excellent start to the season and their march towards the number one seed overall.
