Indianapolis, IN

5 reasons why the Colts will make the 2022 playoffs

Published

2 years ago

July 24, 2022

5 reasons why the Colts will make the 2022 playoffs

This can be a big 12 months for the Chris Ballard and Frank Reich period. The pair have stored the Indianapolis Colts afloat following the sudden Andrew Luck retirement however with that being farther up to now, they’ll’t use that as an excuse anymore.

The Colts have solely made it to the playoffs as soon as since Luck’s retirement earlier than the 2019 season. Final 12 months’s season-ending loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars left a poor style in lots of people’s mouths and a postseason look would be the solely solution to repair it.

The Colts haven’t been to the AFC Championship recreation since 2014, which was additionally the final time they received the AFC South. Followers are itching for a deep playoff run this season and they’re prepared for the group to lastly reap the benefits of the expertise on the roster.

Indianapolis has gained some constructive momentum from the offseason and so they have a possibility to hold that into stepping into the playoffs this season.

If the Colts wind up making the playoffs, it’s possible going to be due to a mix of those causes:

Matt Ryan’s arrival sparks the offense

AP Picture/Darron Cummings

When the Colts made the commerce for Matt Ryan, it confirmed that Chris Ballard understood that this roster is able to win now and so they want the best man at quarterback to get the job performed.

The 37-year-old isn’t getting any youthful and is wanting so as to add a Tremendous Bowl win to his resume earlier than he hangs up the cleats. It’s honest to say that Carson Wentz not solely performed his half within the loss to the Jaguars that knocked the Colts out of the playoff image, however he additionally price the staff different video games all through the 2021 season.

Ryan’s totally different type of play will assist hold the ball with the offense and never put the protection in a nasty place. Gamers on the roster have been speaking up Ryan’s management and presence within the locker room all through the summer season. The idea of their new quarterback will provoke the staff through the preseason to assist keep away from the everyday gradual begins to the season of the previous.

The addition of Matt Ryan ought to lead to two-to-three additional wins.

The protection steps up with new additions

Syndication: The Indianapolis Star

The NFL continues to be extra of an offensive-friendly league however the groups which have a protection that may disrupt the circulate of a terrific offense have a tendency to seek out themselves within the postseason.

This 12 months’s unit will likely be coached for the primary time by Gus Bradley. The longtime defensive coordinator has proof of success throughout his time with the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Chargers,and Las Vegas Raiders.

The Colts’ defensive teaching workers additionally added the quiet addition of John Fox, who would be the senior defensive assistant. The quantity of expertise that Bradley and Fox have within the NFL ought to assist after they put collectively their recreation plan.

It ought to assist that Bradley has playmakers on all three ranges of the ball. The addition of Yannick Ngakoue offers the Indianapolis protection a confirmed move rusher. If Kwity Paye can escape in Yr 2, which is anticipated by a number of pundts, then they may type a lethal move rush tandem. DeForest Buckner will make it straightforward for them by giving them one-on-one alternatives.

The Colts’ protection will likely be trying to proceed creating turnovers below Bradley as they did final season. It helps when you may have Darius Leonard and Kenny Moore II on the unit. Stephon Gilmore offers Bradley a lockdown cornerback that he can belief. The largest key to success for the unit will likely be Julian Blackmon staying wholesome and if Isaiah Rodgers has taken the following step in his improvement.

The protection has a whole lot of potential in Indianapolis, and it will possibly assist the staff win some video games in the event that they keep wholesome and there are not any bumps when they’re studying the brand new system early within the season.

A softer division

Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports activities

Successful the division is any staff’s best path to the postseason. Exterior of successful the Tremendous Bowl, successful the AFC South has been essentially the most elusive objective for the Colts since 2014.

That drought wants to come back to an finish to ensure that Indianapolis to crack into the playoffs. It does assist that the division is taken into account one of many worst within the NFL. The Tennessee Titans have run the AFC South for the previous couple of years so that they stand proper in entrance of the Colts’ probabilities of making the playoffs.

The departure of A.J. Brown will have an effect on their offense. Groups can gear as much as decelerate Derrick Henry with out the concern of Brown successful his matchups. Most analysts assume that Tennesse is ready to take a step again in 2022 so that is the opening that Indianapolis has to reap the benefits of. However Mike Vrabel does get the perfect out of his roster so the Titans received’t surrender their crown that simply.

Exterior of Tennessee, the trail appears rather a lot simpler for Indianapolis. The Jacksonville Jaguars have been a thorn within the aspect for the Colts however hardly ever they’re able to win the division on the finish of the season. They need to be a lot better below Doug Pederson and with Trevor Lawrence coming into his second season. Their nonetheless a younger staff so there will likely be rising pains and the expertise that Indianapolis has ought to give them the sting.

The Houston Texans nonetheless have a whole lot of work to do with their roster and if final season was any indication, the Colts have management in that rivalry in the meanwhile.

This season would be the first one in fairly a while that Indianapolis is favored to win the AFC South.

The difference-making Jonathan Taylor

Syndication: The Indianapolis Star

The Colts virtually bought into the playoffs final season on the again of their bonafide stud that they’ve within the backfield. Jonathan Taylor is taken into account the most effective working backs within the NFL and he’s solely coming into his third season.

His means to put on down a protection and hit a house run at any level of the sport will make life simpler on Matt Ryan. The quarterback-running again tandem will likely be an important key to Indianapolis making the playoffs this season. Taylor confirmed that he can shut out video games for his staff final 12 months and he will likely be a cause why the Colts will win matchups all through the 2022 season as nicely.

A enjoyable truth about Taylor heading into the season is that he’s presently on the longest lively streak of 24 video games in a row with at the least 50 dashing yards. Priest Holmes owns the file with 38 video games so Taylor can break it this season.

Frank Reich enters the following tier

Syndication: The Indianapolis Star

Frank Reich is coming into his fifth season because the Colts’ head coach and he’s in a back-against-the-wall kind of scenario. Jim Irsay is prepared for outcomes with the present roster and Reich understands he has to ship for the proprietor.

He’s proven that there shouldn’t be a cause to imagine he’ll fail on this scenario. Reich’s confidence in going for it in fourth-down conditions and being profitable in doing so. Not wavering following Andrew Luck’s retirement and conserving his staff aggressive that season. He’s been to the playoffs in two of his first 4 seasons with the staff and the final time he did that was with Philip Rivers.

Matt Ryan finds himself in the identical scenario as Rivers. Becoming a member of a brand new group after spending over a decade with the identical staff. Reich was in a position to retool his offense to go well with Rivers and it helped get the staff into the playoffs. Reich’s means to attach together with his quarterback and to suit the system round him is excellent.

Though it didn’t lead to a playoff look, he did assist Carson Wentz seem like a reliable quarterback within the 2021 season and it reduce down the interceptions for him. It additionally must be famous how he was in a position to modify the offense to Jacoby Brissett in a short while after discovering out Luck was strolling away.

Frank Reich hasn’t backed down from a problem and with the significance of happening a postseason run, I count on that he’ll get the job performed. He’s set to take his staff to the following degree as a head coach.

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Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis’ most-read news stories of 2024: From the court and courtroom to the cosmos

Published

6 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Press Room

Indianapolis’ most-read news stories of 2024: From the court and courtroom to the cosmos

As many as 7 million people a month visited the IndyStar online this year and it’s my job to help reporters and editors understand what they’re reading.

These journalists give me plenty of data to work with, too, because no one covers Indianapolis like IndyStar. Through mid-December, IndyStar published more than 10,000 articles, 1,000 photo galleries and nearly 2,000 videos. That’s nearly 30 articles, three photo galleries and five videos each day (you get a lot with a subscription) and that’s not even counting the statewide and national news produced by other USA TODAY Network newsrooms across Indiana.

As we prepare to put a very newsy 2024 behind us, let’s take a look back at some of the most widely followed storylines and coverage topics of the year, in no particular order:

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever

By the time Clark made her Fever debut, she was already a household name for many college basketball fans. But her WNBA Rookie of the Year performance took her star power to another level with fans around the country.

Clark’s skills on the court drew a lot of attention (and fouls) from her opponents, too, and her work helped the Fever reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

IndyStar’s Chloe Peterson put on a rookie of the year campaign of her own in 2024, covering Clark at Iowa as student and landing in Indianapolis before the WNBA Draft, just in time to cover arguably the biggest story in women’s sports this year.

Clark put on an incredible show and Peterson and IndyStar were there for it all, publishing nearly 300 articles since April and making the Fever beat IndyStar’s most-read of the year.

While Clark isn’t playing overseas or in 3-on-3 leagues this summer, Fever fans will likely have good reason to read every word again during the 2025 season. And IndyStar makes it easy, too: subscribe to the Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.

Richard Goodall on “America’s Got Talent”

Richard Goodall says community support was ‘immeasurable’ in AGT win

“I left it all on the stage,” Goodall told reporters Friday. “And not only did I try to pull through for you guys, you guys pulled through for me.”

If seeing someone live out a dream brings a smile to your face, you’ll remember Richard Goodall’s going from middle school janitor to Journey frontman for a day.

The Vigo County, Indiana, native won over judges and IndyStar readers while winning Season 19 of “America’s Got Talent” by performing Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger,” Michael Bolton’s “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You” and Journey’s “Faithfully,” among others.

The most memorable moment was seeing Goodall bring back his audition song, Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” this time with the legendary rock band on the season finale where he won the $1 million prize.

The Indianapolis 500

It would be hard to make this list any year and say the Indy 500 didn’t belong on it, even if the results looked familiar with Josef Newgarden repeating as champion and Team Penske earning its record-extending 20^th Indy 500 victory.

The didn’t mean the race was completely predictable, though. Pato O’Ward gave a challenge that Newgarden held off by a mere 0.3417 seconds and an hours-long rain delay emptied out the grandstands and pushed the race back to nearly 5 p.m.

The race was also notable for anyone following the money. Newgarden’s repeat victory earned him more than $4 million in prize money as he became the first back-to-back winner since Helio Castroneves did so in 2001-02.

The Delphi murders trial

One of America’s most haunting cases finally saw some closure in November when Richard Allen was found guilty of all four counts against him in the deaths of Abigail “Abby” Williams and Liberty “Libby” German.

The coverage of this case also highlighted the importance of local journalists. IndyStar’s staff spent months preparing to cover this high-profile case fraught with misinformation and got assists from around the USA TODAY Network, including the expertise of Lafayette Journal & Courier reporter Ron Wilkins, who has been reporting on the case since it began.

The team of reporters and visual journalists worked through plenty of logistical hurdles to bring close-to-live updates to readers each day, detailing everything from the heartwrenching witness testimony to details about Allen’s prison confessions.

And while Allen was found guilty, he’s likely to appeal and you can count on IndyStar to follow any updates to the case.

The solar eclipse

IndyStar published plenty of words about this once-in-a-lifetime celestial event for many Hoosiers but the photo staff’s images told the story best. Bonus: This video of fans viewing totality at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Honorable mention

A few pieces of standalone coverage that resounded with readers in 2024:

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Indianapolis, IN

Colts’ Taylor repents for gaffe with 218-yard day

Published

14 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Colts’ Taylor repents for gaffe with 218-yard day

Stephen Holder, ESPNDec 22, 2024, 06:41 PM ET
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INDIANAPOLIS — Jonathan Taylor made a lightning-quick jump cut through the hole and saw nothing but daylight ahead.

Once the Indianapolis Colts running back reached the goal line, some 65 yards later, his run was still not complete. Taylor kept going, running into the tunnel that leads to the Colts’ locker room in the southwest corner of Lucas Oil Stadium. It was Taylor’s way of sending a message: This time, he would hold on to the football after arriving at the end zone — something he did not do a week ago.

Taylor reached the end zone two more times Sunday, including a 70-yard scoring run, during his 218-yard performance in the Colts’ historic 38-30 win over the Tennessee Titans. Indianapolis’ offense dominated the line of scrimmage, rushing for a franchise-record 335 yards in a victory that kept the team’s faint playoff hopes alive. The Colts surpassed the previous high established in 1956, nearly three decades before the franchise left Baltimore for the Midwest in 1984.

It was Taylor’s second career 200-yard performance behind only his career-high 253-yard game in the final week of the 2020 season. His most recent performance came on the heels of last Sunday’s game in which Taylor committed a costly miscue, dropping the ball prematurely as he crossed the goal line on a would-be 41-yard run that could’ve given Indianapolis a two-touchdown lead.

The Colts went on to lose the critical matchup, dealing a severe blow to their playoff hopes. Taylor didn’t make the mistake again this week.

“I had already predetermined in my mind that next time, I’m going all the way in the tunnel,” Taylor said Sunday.

In fact, Taylor approached the whole situation with levity. He and backup running back Tyler Goodson planned a bit ahead of the game. After Taylor emerged from the tunnel, Goodson ran up to him and playfully tried to strip the ball, with Taylor keeping a tight grip.

“Just trolling, making the crowd laugh a little bit,” Goodson said.

In reality, there was nothing funny about the way the Colts pushed around the Titans. Tennessee allowed the most rushing yards of any team this season and the second most in Titans/Oilers franchise history. The Colts made no pretense about their intentions, either, at one point running on 12 consecutive plays during three possessions in the second quarter.

“That’s kind of the exciting part,” Taylor said “It’s kind of when you start imposing your will, establishing that line of scrimmage. Those are the types of football games as a running back … you love.”

Tight end Mo Alie-Cox added: “By the end of the game … we were still getting 5 yards a pop. They still couldn’t really stop it. They were calling it, but they couldn’t do nothing about it.”

Then, Alie-Cox relayed a story that unfolded before a particular play.

“It’s hilarious,” he said. “One time, they were like, ‘It’s a screen. Boom.’ And then one of their [defensive] ends was like, ‘Man, they’re about to give it to Jonathan Taylor. He’s about to run for 300 [yards] on us.’ Once he said that, I was like, ‘Yeah, we got him.’”

In light of the rushing success, Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson wasn’t asked to do much from the pocket. He completed just 7 of 11 passes for 131 yards. But Richardson was a part of the rushing bonanza, running for a career-high 70 yards.

Now, the Colts hope to finish with wins over the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars in their remaining two games, along with hoping numerous other dominoes fall their way in their bid to make the postseason.

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Indianapolis, IN

How the Colts can make the NFL playoffs

Published

22 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts’ playoff odds are at 10% according to the New York Times, and that seems high. Here is what to know:

The Colts are out of the playoffs if they lose to the Titans

This is pretty straightforward. If the Colts lose, the most games they can win this season is 8. Seven teams — Kansas City, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Houston, Los Angeles and Denver — already have nine wins.

The Colts can make the playoffs if they win out, Chargers lose out

If the Colts win out against the Titans, Giants and Jaguars, they’ll be 9-8. If the Chargers lose to the Raiders and Patriots. The Colts would win the conference record tiebreaker if they are the only two teams with nine wins.

There are multiple-team scenarios involving Los Angeles but the Colts will make the playoffs if these two scenarios happen.

How the Colts can make the playoffs if they win out and the Broncos lose out

If the Broncos lose to Cincinnati and Kansas City and the Colts win out, the Colts make the playoffs if Cincinnati or Miami win out or the Chargers lose out.

The Colts lose the head-to-head tiebreaker to Denver if its just those two teams.

If Los Angeles is also 9-8, it wins the division tiebreaker over the Broncos due to head-to-head and advances to the wild card tiebreaker.

In this scenario, the Colts and Dolphins would have the best conference record at 7-5, eliminating the other possible teams. Indianapolis beat Miami, putting them in the playoffs.

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