the Colts must accomplish in the following three years in order to qualify for the Super Bowl
It may seem outlandish, but if the Colts do just a few things, they could make the Super Bowl in the next few years.
In 2023, the Indianapolis Colts shown that they are more or less good. That was undoubtedly uncertain following a disastrous 4-12-1 season. There are a few elements that might catapult them into the big game in the coming years, even though they won’t be the preseason favorite to win it all in 2024. Consider the Eagles, Rams, Bengals, and so on. A few seasons before their runs, these teams didn’t exactly seem like they were destined for greatness, but here we were, all watching them battle for the greatest prize in sports. To make that next big step forward, the Colts must do three things.
The key to everything in this situation is Anthony Richardson. You can disregard everything else you’ve read if he doesn’t work out or can’t remain healthy enough to play. Like most Super Bowl contenders, the quarterback is the man who makes or breaks everything.
We saw a quarterback who wasn’t quite as raw as everyone had assumed he would be after he graduated from college. That advancement should be aided by an additional year of watching and learning in the system. Fans should be drooling to see what Shane Steichen was able to accomplish with the offense considering his starter was only available for a few quarters. Richardson is a threat if he can demonstrate his explosive running style and increase his accuracy. It appeared that Jalen Hurts 2.0 in the upcoming one to two seasons. The man is incredibly fast and possesses a rocket arm. The Colts will emerge as a real danger if he can put it all together.
Josh Downs appears to be a potential star, and Michael Pittman Jr. had a fantastic season. Pittman was excellent, but he lacks the skill to really blow a game open, so his teammates must step up to support him if the offense is to develop into a force to be reckoned with. This offense has the potential to be extremely effective if Chris Ballard can temporarily put the trenches out of his mind and concentrate on outside playmakers.
There’s always a shortage of playmakers. It will be beneficial to force a defensive coordinator to spend late hours of the night preparing for not one, but two, excellent receivers. A strong receiving corps is a feature of most elite NFL teams. Pittman and a few other guys won’t be able to finish it.