The Indianapolis Colts (4-3) secured their second consecutive victory with a 16-10 win against the Miami Dolphins (2-4).
The game at Lucas Oil Stadium was marked by poor execution, with both offenses struggling to find their rhythm. However, the Colts clinched the win by forcing two key turnovers and effectively running the ball. This victory puts Indy above .500 for the first time this season. Despite not delivering their best performance, it’s hard to justify the Colts dropping in the power rankings, especially considering four teams above them have worse records. Among those is the Cincinnati Bengals, who only managed their third win of the season last week against the struggling Cleveland Browns. This indicates that NFL Nation reporters may not have a strong regard for Indy.
As part of the power rankings, reporters also needed to highlight a “young riser” from each team—defined as a player under 25 who hasn’t yet established themselves as a top player but is making an impact this season. Stephen Holder of ESPN chose cornerback Jaylon Jones for the Colts, who is enjoying a breakout second season.
“Jones was drafted to serve as depth, but he has stepped up as the Colts’ top outside corner out of necessity,” Holder noted. “The 22-year-old, a seventh-round pick in 2023, ranks fifth in the league with eight passes defensed this season. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, he has created a “tight window” on 33% of passes thrown his way, a notable achievement for a player who was not expected to take on such a significant role so soon.”
Jones will face another challenge this weekend when the Colts play the Houston Texans. If Indy secures a win against the Texans, currently ranked seventh in the power rankings, ESPN may have to elevate their position.
Despite defeating the Dolphins and winning four of their last five games, the Colts slipped in the Week 8 ESPN NFL Power Rankings, dropping from 19th to 20th and sitting at the bottom of the 4-3 teams.