The Indianapolis Colts (7-5) are riding a four-game winning streak as we enter the final month or so of the 2023 season.
After taking a comeback overtime win against the Tennessee Titans in Week 13, the Colts are firmly in the AFC playoff race. With some big matchups highlighting the final five games, it should make for a thrilling final month of the season.
The majority of outlets have the Colts sitting in the mid-to-low teens. The best ranking entering this new week is at No. 11 with the worst ranking coming at No. 16.
Next to their ranking, the number in parentheses indicates the change from the previous week. A positive number means they’re moving up the power rankings.
Here’s where the Colts stand in the Week 14 power rankings:
USA TODAY
Author: Nate Davis
Rank: 15 (–)
Link to article
Author’s Take: “How to best explain QB Gardner Minshew II’s first four-game winning streak in the NFL? Probably Indy’s nine takeaways during that run, extending its league-best streak of games generating at least one turnover to 17.”
Touchdown Wire
Author: Jarrett Bailey
Rank: 11 (+1)
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Author’s Take: “Gardner Minshew is taking this team on one hell of a mullet ride. At 7-5, the Colts still hold the No. 7 seed in the AFC after an overtime win over the Titans.”
Bleacher Report
Author: NFL Staff
Rank: 13 (+2)
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Author’s Take: “Minshew Mania has made its way to Indianapolis.
After passing for 326 yards and leading the Colts to comeback win over the Titans in overtime, Minshew has the Colts 7-5 and in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt. Per James Boyd of The Athletic, Minshew is an easy player for the team to rally behind.
“He’s trying his hardest,” linebacker Grant Stuard said. “He takes accountability for the bad and the good. It’s really cool to just see him succeed because a guy like myself, being a backup, and seeing somebody else thrust into that role and continue to excel and succeed, that’s a guy I love to rally behind because that’s a guy I can believe in. That’s a guy we can be inspired by.”
“Shane Steichen’s squad isn’t getting enough credit for finding ways to win. At 7-5 with Anthony Richardson out for the season and Jonathan Tayor injured again, the team is exceeding every expectation,” Sobleski said. “Most see any offense led by Gardner Minshew and understand there are limitations, and the quarterback will inevitably make a mistake or two every game. But wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is playing at a Pro Bowl level. Zack Moss picked up the slack in the running game. And the Colts defense has been fantastic during their four-game winning streak. Add in a couple of punt blocks against the Tennessee Titans, and Indianapolis is playing a complete brand of football.”
ESPN NFL Nation
Author: Stephen Holder
Rank: 16 (+2)
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Author’s Take: “Pleasant surprise: RG Will Fries
It was surprising when the Colts did little to upgrade their offensive line starters after a rough season in 2022. But the ascent of Fries, a 2021 seventh-round selection, has helped validate that decision. According to ESPN data, only one Colts lineman — Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly — has given up fewer than the three sacks Fries has allowed. Fries has also been durable. He and guard Quenton Nelson are the only members of the unit to start every game.”
Sporting News
Author: Vinnie Iyer
Rank: 12 (+3)
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Author’s Take: “The Colts have found their sweet spot passing downfield with Gardner Minshew and also are getting it done in key moments with defense and special teams. Shane Steichen is in the running for coach of the year now with the Texans’ DeMeco Ryans and the Rams’ Sean McVay.”
Pro Football Network
Author: Dalton Miller
Rank: 16 (-1)
Link to article
Author’s Take: “Michael Pittman Jr. had a fantastic game for Gardner Minshew and Shane Steichen. Alec Pierce scored his first touchdown of the season and posted a 100-yard game on only three catches. But Indianapolis couldn’t get anything going on the ground. Their longest run of the day went for only five yards.
Minshew had a big day through the air, but he also fumbled twice. Turnovers have been an issue for the veteran backup, but Indianapolis somehow keeps winning and keeping pace in the AFC South.
NFL.com
Author: Eric Edholm
Rank: 13 (–)
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Author’s Take: “With Jonathan Taylor potentially set to miss multiple games, Indianapolis has to figure out its run game quickly. Zack Moss has done a pretty remarkable job replacing Taylor this season, but Sunday was a step back for the Colts’ ground attack. They had a long run of 5 yards and averaged 2.4 yards per carry against the Titans. As a result, the Colts were 1-for-5 in the red zone, converting their first TD in that part of the field on the final play of the game. Gardner Minshew had a strong outing rallying Indianapolis, and Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce came up with some huge grabs in crunch time. The Colts deserve some credit for beating a division foe that was previously undefeated at Nissan Stadium, with the special teams as a huge catalyst, to extend their win streak to four games. But this was a little too close for comfort for an Indy team that lacks some tiebreakers and still needs to stack more wins to be safely in the playoffs.”
Yahoo Sports
Author: Frank Schwab
Rank: 12 (+4)
Link to article
Author’s Take: “It’s rarely pretty when it comes to the Colts this season, but they are winning. After an overtime win against the Titans in which they made just enough plays to escape with a victory, DVOA has the Colts’ odds to make the playoffs up to 64.9% before Monday’s game. We’ve been trying to tell you to not let the Colts’ playoff push sneak up on you.”
CBS Sports
Author: Pete Prisco
Rank: 11 (+2)
Link to article
Author’s Take: “They are 7-5 and would be in the playoffs if they started right now. Shane Steichen has done a nice job with this team.”
The Athletic
Author: Josh Kendall
Rank: 11 (+4)
Link to article
Author’s Take: “The Colts could make the playoffs this season. They would be the sixth seed if the season ended today, and their five remaining games are winnable (Houston, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Cincinnati). But what this year was really supposed to be about was developing Anthony Richardson. If Gardner Minshew leads the Colts to the playoffs this year, then the pressure is really on Richardson next season.”
