Five reasons why Colts are real deal in AFC

Seven weeks into the 2025 NFL season, the race for the AFC title is beginning to take shape. The usual suspects are in the picture, with a few surprise contenders vying to crash the postseason party. 

At 6-1, the Indianapolis Colts boast the AFC's best record, but there is a lot more to like about this team than wins and losses. Here are five compelling reasons why the Colts are the class of the conference.

1. Their offense is historically good

The Colts lead the NFL in scoring (232) and own the league’s highest point differential (+92). While that’s impressive, a recent episode of "First Things First" uncovered an obscure but impressive statistic that suggests that these Colts are as good as advertised.

According to NFL analyst Kevin Wildes, the 2025 Colts are averaging 3.48 points per drive. To compare, that’s 11% more than the 2007 New England Patriots (3.14), who went undefeated in the regular season and were regarded by some as the best team in NFL history, and 13% more than the 2018 Kansas City Chiefs (3.08) in a season where Patrick Mahomes threw for 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns. The Pats reached the Super Bowl, and the Chiefs made it to the AFC Championship game. This suggests that the Colts are in good company and perhaps destined for a deep playoff run.

2. Daniel Jones is having an MVP season 

In Jones, the Colts have a franchise quarterback who is playing like one. Among AFC quarterbacks, his passing yardage (1,790) ranks third (Herbert, Mahomes). He has the best QBR (79.7), and his passer rating (105.9) ranks second (Maye). Only Drake Maye (75.2%) has a higher completion percentage than Jones (71.0%), and most importantly, Jones is tops in the only statistic that really matters — wins.

3. Jonathan Taylor is having a banner year

Taylor is not just leading the league in rushing; he’s lapping the field. His 697-yard rushing total through seven games eclipses the total of 10 NFL teams, and his 10 rushing touchdowns are more than every NFL team except the Lions, who also have 10. He is on pace to score 24 rushing touchdowns for the season, which would tie him for fifth-most all-time.

4. Their offense is balanced

With Taylor leading the charge, the Colts are No. 1 in team rushing yards, but their offensive attack is far from one-dimensional. They rank second in total yardage behind the Cowboys, and with 196 rushing plays and 217 passes, their offense screams balance. This balance makes them less predictable and more difficult to defend. Tyler Warren’s 439 receiving yards are tops among NFL tight ends and provide a perfect complement to Taylor’s prolific ground game. This gives the Colts a dynamic 1-2 punch that creates nightmares for opposing DCs.

5. They are eating versus the top AFC teams

The Colts defeated the Broncos in Week 2, and they just knocked off the 5-2 Chargers. With upcoming games versus the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers and the surging Chiefs, they will have multiple opportunities to flex their muscles and stake their claim as top dogs in the conference. 

While it is much too soon to award the Colts the Lamar Hunt Trophy, with each passing week, they're looking more like contenders than pretenders.