The Indianapolis Colts are close to getting into the playoffs this season. Here are five players that can ensure a playoff appearance for Indy.
by Jaleel Grandberry
The Indianapolis Colts have had a surprising season up to now, they sit at 7-5 after a win over Tennessee and are in prime playoff position. For a team down to their backup quarterback and running back, this is beyond expectations as to what this team was going to do this season.
Their remaining schedule shows that this postseason push is possible, with the Bengals, Steelers, Falcons, Raiders, and Texans rounding out the rest of this schedule for the Colts. Most of those teams have questionable quarterback situations besides Houston so it may come down to that rivalry game at the end of the year. However, the path to the postseason is clear, the Colts need to take care of business.
Coach Shane Steichen has led this team to new heights and could be considered for Coach of the Year if this winning continues. He has this team with one of the best defenses in the NFL and has maximized a lot of this team’s offensive talent. What he has been able to do is get the most out of these players, and many on this team have hit another gear the rest of the NFL did not know they had.
These are the players that can make a difference in making or missing the playoffs, and so far, there have been many X-factor players that have exceeded those expectations. You do not have to be a star, have a huge contract, or be a household name to propel your team into the postseason, any player can step up and make a play at any moment.
1) Gardner Minshew
The quarterback is always going to be the main player which is the difference between winning and losing a football game. The Colts had originally planned on their top draft pick Anthony Richardson being the signal caller, but injuries prevented that reality. Gardner Minshew was thrust into the starting role, and he has done what was expected out of him and then some.
He has over 2000 yards now with a 10:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio in what has become a solid campaign for the former Washington State product. He has made plays with his legs as well and is having one of the best seasons of his career as a whole.
When it comes to propelling this team into the playoffs, he needs to continue to do what he’s been doing this season. In the Titans game, this offense was efficient and Minshew spreaded the ball to all of those great receivers. Now that this team has developed some real chemistry from Minshew, it is up to him to continue to lead this team to a winning record, and a postseason berth.
Minshew has become more than just a backup, he now gives the Colts a quarterback advantage over most of their upcoming opponents. Now this team does not play a ton of great quarterbacks coming up, but Minshew being one of the best backups in the league puts this team in a position to win despite Richardson going down.
2) Zack Moss
When your top running back goes down, you usually expect a drop-off in the effectiveness of your running attack, for the Colts that has not been the case. When Jonathan Taylor was confirmed out to start the year, it was up to Zack Moss to take the load in the backfield.
Moss has put together 100+ yard efforts against Tennessee and Baltimore and has provided a great option as a starter when Taylor is out. And now with Taylor out for a few weeks, Moss has been trusted yet again.
He has propelled the team to the point they are at right now, and if his great campaign continues this team will just keep on winning. While this team is better when the one-two punch of Taylor and Moss is healthy, Moss is still a great player as the lead back.
The running game has been a big part of why this offense and Gardner Minshew have been so effective, and the Colts’ playoff chances are riding on the success here. While fans missed the speed and likability of Nyheim Hines, the trade for Moss may prove to be exactly what gets them a playoff berth in what was supposed to be a down year for this team.
Expect the Colts to run the ball and then some even despite being thin at running back, Moss will have to prove why he may be getting paid well come his next contract.
3) Alec Pierce
Alec Pierce is a receiver in this core that has looked to find his stride this season, and he may be there now after the Titans game. Yes, Michael Pittman Jr. had a phenomenal outing, but the players like Josh Downs and Pierce here will be the key to the postseason.
Downs has also proved well, but this team has waited on that third receiver to really get going. The Cincinnati product Pierce has only one touchdown and under 400 yards this season, but there is plenty of time for those numbers to rise.
He has a solid 6-foot-3 frame that can be useful in the red zone or short-yardage situations, it is just a matter of him using it effectively and providing an option for Minshew. His touchdown against Tennessee brought back the thoughts of his potential, but now it is about consistency.
A player like Pierce starting to finally break out can carry a team right to the postseason, a receiver like him can win or lose a team’s games especially when Pittman has to face a shutdown corner. Having that third wide receiver playing well opens up the playbook a ton, and Steichen with a wide-open playbook can bring about plenty of offense.
This is a young receiving core with a ton of potential, and Pierce has quite a bit of that. Will he continue to play well with this new momentum? Time will tell, but it can change the entire dynamic of this offense.
4) Kwity Paye
The Colts have found themselves as one of the best pass rush teams in the entire NFL, and Kwity Paye has been a big part of that. The young edge rusher out of Michigan has made a great impact on the Colts’ defensive line, and this has been the season where he has really put it together.
Indianapolis has won a few of their games on the back of its pass rush, most notably the ugly win over the Patriots in Germany. This team being able to put on a good pass rush is a part of what great teams do to make the playoffs, and Paye can be a part of that.
Paye is putting together a solid season with 7.5 sacks, which is a half-sack behind Samson Ebukam for the team lead. You can really pick any of these pass rushers to be an impact player to get this team over the hump, but Paye has such an interesting skillset with his speed and physicality. Also, look for a player like Dayo Odeyingbo to continue to make strides, the duo of him and Paye has been quite exciting to watch over this season.
If this team is going to continue to win games, their pass rush will be the main way they go about getting stops. Great teams like San Francisco and Philadelphia allow their secondaries to look great due to the quality of their defensive line play. Indianapolis can be that team, it just comes down to the play of a big-time player off the edge like Paye.
5) JuJu Brents
The Indianapolis Colts get a major boost back in their secondary with the rookie out of Kansas State, JuJu Brents returning to practice for the Colts. He has only played in five games so far this season, with an interception and 20 solo tackles at the corner spot. Brents is an all-around corner that this team is looking to develop and make a key piece of their secondary, so getting him back is huge.
He had been dealing with a quad injury that had him on the sidelines for six weeks, but his return is a great sign for this defense. During his time playing, Brents had emerged as potentially the top corner on the team with Kenny Moore II and fellow rookie Jaylon Jones. The Colts have been trying to put together a nice young secondary, and with Brents back that can continue to come to fruition.
Getting a player like this back and healthy can also provide a great boost of morale for this team. Brents working his way back from injury shows he is ready and willing to get back out there, and the Colts will need him as this playoff push continues. This just bolsters the Colts and their defensive unit that has already stepped up as one of the best in the NFL, now they just have to put it together.
Brents is still a rookie, yes, but his great agility and solid tackling ability at the position are going to be utilized in this great defense. A player that teams also will not have a ton of NFL film on can make things a bit more complicated when scouting this team, so look for Brents to shine early in his return.
Originally posted on horseshoeheroes.com