NFL Network Analytics projects Colts to fall ‘short of sticks’ for potential 2025 playoff bid

According to NFL Network Analytics Cynthia Frelund, the Indianapolis Colts are projected to realistically fall short in their quest for a playoff win in 2025, finishing with a rounded up 8 total wins (we’re all glass half full here!):

Wins

7.6

Indianapolis Colts

Win Total: over 7.5 (-110)

Make Playoffs: +160

Win Division: +310

Win Conference: +5500

Win Super Bowl: +10000

Colts’ complete 2025 NFL schedule

Given the questions the Colts are facing at quarterback, where veteran addition Daniel Jones will be vying to unseat former first-round pick Anthony Richardson , they could be in for a rocky start, having to host the Broncos’ defense in Week 2, then traveling to face the Rams’ defense in Week 4. Indianapolis’ hardest back-to-backs come later in the year: Weeks 12 (at Kansas City) and 13 (vs. Houston), then Weeks 15 (at Seattle) and 16 (vs. San Francisco on Monday Night Football).

It seems like the Colts would be very hard-pressed to make the AFC playoffs with a losing record, if best case scenario is 8-9—falling short of their potential bid for a wild card spot.

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It’s worth reminding everyone that the Colts haven’t made the playoffs since 2020, let alone won the AFC South, which the franchise hasn’t accomplished since way back in 2014.

Glory Days, anyone?

With the additions of defensive backs Camryn Bynum and Charvarius Ward, the Colts revamped secondary should be much improved under new veteran defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who can hopefully get away from some of the soft, vanilla zone defense that we’ve seen too much of as of late.

Likewise, selecting Penn State prized tight end Tyler Warren with the 14th overall pick was a godsend for the Colts offense, no matter who’s playing at starting quarterback. He should provide a receiving tight end playmaker that the offense has simply lacked recently.

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However, Frelund is right though that whether this is a middle-of-the-pack team, or a playoff squad, rests with what they consistently get from the starting QB position—whether that ultimately ends up being 3rd-year pro Anthony Richardson or veteran Daniel Jones.

The late great John Madden once said, “If you’ve got two starting quarterbacks, you’ve got none,” so here’s hoping that one of these two challengers wins the offseason QB competition convincingly—and is poised for a breakout season in Indy, coupled with a playoff berth.