Copyright Yardbarker
Who knew the Indianapolis Colts would have the best record in the NFL through the first eight weeks of the season? After four straight seasons without a playoff appearance, the Colts (7-1) didn't seem poised to break through in 2025. But as of Wednesday, ESPN's Football Power Index gives Indianapolis the second-best chance (22.3 percent) to reach Super Bowl LX, behind the Kansas City Chiefs (26.2 percent). With that in mind, here's why the Colts should remain in the thick of the championship hunt for the rest of the season. 1. RB Jonathan Taylor is playing at MVP level The two-time Pro Bowler leads the NFL in carries (143), rushing yards (850), and rushing touchdowns (12). He ran for two TDs in a 38-14 Week 8 win over the Tennessee Titans, which marked his fourth game this season with two or more rushing TDs. "We're witnessing greatness right in front of us," Colts defensive end DeForest Buckner said of Taylor following the win over the Titans (h/t ESPN's Stephen Holder). "It's rare for guys to be playing at that high a level on a consistent basis." Figure on a quarterback, perhaps Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes, winning MVP instead of Taylor. No RB has won MVP since former Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson in 2012, when he rushed for the second-most yards (2,097 in 16 games) in a season in league history. Taylor — who is averaging 106.3 rushing yards per game — is on pace to finish with 1,807 rushing yards if he plays all 17 regular-season games. But Taylor still has the Colts' sixth-ranked rushing attack (134.4 YPG) cruising, which should help them keep winning. 2. QB Daniel Jones is having a redemption arc The Minnesota Vikings (3-4) may be wishing they re-signed Jones, who spent last season on their practice squad after being released by the New York Giants in November 2024. Through eight starts, the former Giants flop ranks fourth in the league in passing yards (2,062), second in QBR (79.3) and is tied for 11th in TD passes (13). Perhaps New York was the problem all along. Taylor attributes Jones' improvement to quickly learning the team's offense. "When he first got here, it seemed like he had the playbook for six months already," the RB told Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer in a story published Monday. His comfort level in the offense may be giving the QB newfound confidence, which should keep the 2019 first-round pick in the Comeback Player of the Year conversation. As of Wednesday, FanDuel Sportsbook gives him +500 odds to win the award, tied with Detroit Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson for the third-best. 3. TE Tyler Warren is a star in the making Colts head coach Shane Steichen said Warren is a "freaking baller" following a Week 1 win over the Miami Dolphins. Since then, he has continued to play like one. Through eight games, the 14th pick of the 2025 draft leads the team in receiving yards (492) and is second in TD catches (three). In a Tuesday interview with ESPN's Pat McAfee, Jones said Warren's ability to "create separation" stands out. The QB also said, unlike most rookies, the Penn State product knows how to do the little things well, such as picking up extra yards on plays. Warren continuing to establish himself as the No. 1 option for Indianapolis' sixth-ranked passing offense (250.9 YPG), will benefit the team. Elite TEs, like Kansas City's Travis Kelce, create mismatches in the passing game. 4. The Colts defense is improving under new DC Lou Anarumo This offseason, the Cincinnati Bengals fired Anarumo and replaced him with Al Golden. That now looks foolish for Cincinnati, which has allowed the most points (31.6) in the league. At the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, Steichen said he hired Anarumo because of his ability to take teams' "best players away." The DC has been consistently doing that in Indianapolis. The Colts rank sixth in the league in points allowed (19.3) and are tied for fifth in sacks (23). Last season, they finished 24th in points allowed (25.1) and tied for 25th in sacks (36). 5. The Colts are in a winnable division The Colts are in the AFC South, one of the NFL's easier divisions. The Houston Texans (3-4) and Tennessee Titans (1-7) both have losing records. With the Titans already having fired head coach Brian Callahan, expect them to keep tanking. The 4-3 Jacksonville Jaguars may have the best shot at challenging the Colts for a division title, but their offense has room for improvement. Jacksonville ranks 25th in the league in points scored (20.9).
