It’s Super Bowl or bust for the Indianapolis Colts after they went shopping this offseason. The Colts built a strong stable of weapons for franchise quarterback Andrew Luck to use en route to a deep run in the playoffs. But the Colts still have their faults after failing to address a couple of glaring needs. Read on as we take a close look at the upcoming 2015-16 season of Luck and his Colts.
Are you into potential franchise quarterbacks like Luck? Check out the previews for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans led by first round draft picks Blake Bortles (2014) and Marcus Mariotta (2015) respectively.
[sc:Football ]2015-16 Indianapolis Colts Preview
Overview
Powering Indianapolis with his cannon of an arm, quarterback Andrew Luck made his first ever appearance in the AFC Championship Game last season. Unfortunately, Luck and the Colts met their kryptonite in Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. The Colts lost the conference championship matchup against New England by a lopsided score of 45-7.
[sc:NFL240banner ]The Colts are poised for another playoff appearance. They play in a very manageable conference (AFC South) with their toughest competition being a 9-7 team in last year’s Houston Texans. Indianapolis is a big -475 favorite to win its fifth straight AFC South title for a postseason spot.
Making the playoffs is one thing, but reaching the Super Bowl is an entirely different ball game. The Colts made sure to take big strides in the offseason for a potential Super Bowl appearance. With all the moves they’ve made, the Colts are co-favorites to win Super Bowl 50 at +600.
Offseason Review
Speaking of those moves, the Colts loaded up on ammunition for Luck’s strong arm. The receiving corps looks deeper and more capable of exploiting Luck’s cannon throws, signing receiver Andre Johnson as well as drafting Phillip Dorsett out of the University of Miami. Out of the two, Johnson is a proven weapon after spending his first 12 seasons with the Texans, racking up seven 1,000 yard seasons.
The Colts also managed to bring in a strong running back in former Niners Pro Bowler Frank Gore through free agency. Gore may be getting old at 32 years old, but he still has it in him after rushing for 1,106 yards and four touchdowns last season. He averaged 4.3 yards per carry in NFC West and its very tough rushing defenses.
Will these new offensive pieces aid Luck in winning Super Bowl 50? Create a betting account now and lay some cash on these new-look Colts.
Indianapolis’ offense looks formidable and all, but the Colts managed to miss one glaring hole in their game — run defense. They signed veteran linebacker Trent Cole in free agency, but he’s a better pass-rusher than someone who’ll take away running lanes. The Colts also signed linebacker Nate Irving, who’s coming in after finishing the previous season on injured reserve. Having a questionable run defense is their biggest hurdle toward a Super Bowl title.
Key Player – Andrew Luck
Of course, there won’t be too much focus on the Colts’ vulnerability on defense if Luck just bombs their opponents away at each opportunity. The Colts quarterback passed for 4,761 yards (good for third last season) and a league-best 40 touchdowns. He’ll still get even better after putting up impressive numbers in just his third year as a pro. Luck also gets some brand new weapons to get his game going this season.
Key Game – vs Patriots (October 19)
If the Colts are to win the Super Bowl, they’ll need to prove that they can beat Tom Brady and the New England Patriots first. The Colts lost the AFC Championship Game last year as they allowed LeGarrette Blount to run roughshod over their defense for 148 yards. They also lost their regular season encounter against the Patriots by another lopsided score, 42-20, allowing the Pats’ rookie running back Jonas Gray to run for 201 yards and four touchdowns.
Indianapolis has lost its last six games against the Patriots, including three in the Andrew Luck era. Taking a big win in the regular season should give the Colts a big confidence boost, even more so if they manage to meet New England again in the playoffs.
Best/Worst Case Scenario for the Season
Best Case
Win Super Bowl 50. For a team that’s made so many moves to bolster its roster, anything short of a Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season will be very disappointing. Failing to even reach the Super Bowl will give head coach Chuck Pagano a bad rap considering he’s in a contract year. Winning it all could give Pagano a lucrative contract from the Colts or elsewhere, as well as justify all their spending. It’ll also give Luck validation as the Colts’ franchise quarterback.
Worst Case
Considering the Colts’ competition in AFC South, they’re almost a sure shot to make the playoffs barring a sneaky surprise from Houston’s run-heavy offense featuring Arian Foster. The worst case for this loaded Indianapolis offense is an early exit in the playoffs either in the Divisional or Wild Card rounds.
Complete Schedule
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, Sep 13 | @ Buffalo | 1:00 PM |
| 2 | Mon, Sep 21 | vs New York Jets | 8:30 PM |
| 3 | Sun, Sep 27 | @ Tennessee | 1:00 PM |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 4 | vs Jacksonville | 1:00 PM |
| 5 | Thu, Oct 8 | @ Houston | 8:25 PM |
| 6 | Sun, Oct 18 | vs New England | 8:30 PM |
| 7 | Sun, Oct 25 | vs New Orleans | 1:00 PM |
| 8 | Sun, Oct 29 | @ New England | 8:25 PM |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 8 | vs Denver | 4:25 PM |
| 10 | Bye Week | ||
| 11 | Sun, Nov 22 | @ Atlanta | 1:00 PM |
| 12 | Sun, Nov 29 | vs Tampa Bay | 1:00 PM |
| 13 | Sun, Dec 6 | @ Pittsburgh | 8:30 PM |
| 14 | Sun, Dec 13 | @ Jacksonville | 1:00 PM |
| 15 | Sun, Dec 20 | vs Houston | 1:00 PM |
| 16 | Sun, Dec27 | @ Miami | 1:00 PM |
| 17 | Sun, Jan 3 | vs Tennessee | 1:00 PM |
Writer’s Prediction
It’s now or never. Andrew Luck leads Indianapolis (+600) to its first Super Bowl title since 2006.
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