The Indianapolis Colts are off to an impressive start in the 2025 NFL season, signaling a potential end to several years of frustration and underperformance. After finishing the 2024 season with an 8-9 record and missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year, the Colts have emerged as one of the league’s surprise teams. Historically, the franchise has struggled in recent seasons, failing to reach double-digit wins, capturing the AFC South title, or securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC conference. However, with a strong 6-1 record through the first seven weeks of 2025, the Colts currently hold the best record in the NFL, raising hopes among fans and analysts alike that a turnaround is underway.
Last season, the Colts’ 8-9 finish was emblematic of their struggles. Over the past four campaigns, the team never crossed the double-digit win threshold, peaking at nine victories twice. Their last AFC South championship came in 2014, and the franchise has not earned the coveted No. 1 seed in the AFC since 2009. These droughts have been a source of frustration for Indianapolis, a city and fanbase accustomed to competitive football and playoff appearances. Now, the 2025 season is shaping up to be different, as the team has surged to the top of the standings early on.
A key factor in the Colts’ resurgence has been the play of quarterback Daniel Jones. After winning the starting quarterback job in training camp over the promising Anthony Richardson, Jones has revitalized his career and helped establish the Colts as a formidable team. The 28-year-old Duke product was originally drafted sixth overall by the New York Giants in 2019. However, after more than five underwhelming seasons, he requested and was granted a release from the Giants last November. Jones briefly joined the Minnesota Vikings before entering free agency and ultimately signing a one-year deal with Indianapolis in March 2025.
This move has proven to be a masterstroke for head coach Shane Steichen and the Colts organization. Jones has significantly elevated his performance, ranking second in the entire NFL in adjusted QBR with a mark of 80.2. He is also fifth in passing yards with 1,790 and maintains an impressive completion percentage of 71.0%. This resurgence has been vital to the Colts' early success, as Jones’ efficient and effective play has provided stability and leadership at the quarterback position.
Complementing Jones’ efforts is running back Jonathan Taylor, who has been a dominant force on the ground. The 26-year-old Wisconsin alum, who led the league in rushing yards and touchdown runs in 2021, is currently on pace to repeat that achievement in 2025. Taylor leads the NFL with 697 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns through seven weeks. His consistency is remarkable, having recorded three 100-yard rushing games and three separate instances of scoring multiple rushing touchdowns. Taylor’s ability to break through defenses and score frequently has been a critical component in the Colts’ offensive success and balanced attack.
The Colts’ strong start is also reflected in their dominance at home. They have gone undefeated at Lucas Oil Stadium, boasting a perfect 4-0 record so far this season. Looking ahead to Week 8, Indianapolis is set to host the struggling Tennessee Titans, who currently hold a 1-6 record. The Colts are favored heavily in this matchup and are expected to extend their winning streak on home turf. Following the Titans game, their schedule includes challenging road games against the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers and a unique international contest in Germany against the Atlanta Falcons. The team will then enjoy a bye week in Week 11 to regroup before facing a difficult stretch in the second half of the season.
Despite their strong start, the Colts face a tough road ahead. They hold a two-game lead over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South but must contend with stiff competition for playoff positioning and the top seed in the AFC. At the start of Week 8, Indianapolis leads the conference by a single game over both the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos, and by 1.5 games over the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills. The latter half of the Colts’ schedule includes challenging matchups against Jacksonville twice, as well as visits to Kansas City and Seattle and a home game against San Francisco. They also face the Houston Texans twice—despite the Texans’ disappointing 2-4 record, they remain a dangerous opponent as two