Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Daniel Jones In Rarefied Air With Start To 2025 Season

“When we first got into training camp and he called a check that is in the playbook, but if you’ve been here, it’s one of those checks that’s like, ‘Oh, yeah, we call that sometimes,'” Taylor said. “The fact that he called it, it’s like, ‘Did this guy have the playbook six months ago?'”

That’s right. Day one or two of training camp, Jones is calling plays that veterans forgot existed. We’re talking about those dusty corner-of-the-playbook audibles that coaches draw up and immediately forget about. Jones didn’t just know them—he was confident enough to use them.

“That’s when I understood, ‘Oh okay, his level of preparation is different,'” Taylor said. “For him to come in Day 1, Day 2, and to make that call, make that check, he’s been studying. It’s Day 1 of install, but he’s already that far ahead. I’m like, ‘This guy, he’s legit.'”

Jones’ Preparation Meets Steichen’s System

The beautiful thing about preparation is that it’s the most underrated quality in professional sports. Talent gets you noticed. Film study gets you wins. Jones has clearly been burning the midnight oil, and it shows in ways that go beyond basic stats (though those are pretty ridiculous, too).

Through eight games, Jones ranks fourth in the NFL in passing yards with 2,062 and fourth in completion percentage at 71.2%. His QBR of 79.2 ties him for second in the league. But here’s the kicker. Jones has been pressured 92 times this season and hasn’t committed a single turnover-worthy play under pressure.

That’s not luck. That’s a quarterback who has done his homework and knows exactly where to go with the ball before the defense even shows its hand.

What Impresses Taylor Most About Jones

Stats are great for Twitter debates, but what about the intangibles? Taylor had plenty to say about that, too.

“The way he’s even-keeled,” Taylor said to Adams. “We’ll go down, we’ll score a touchdown, and yeah, he’s excited, but now he’s on the sideline, ‘Hey guys, be ready for this next drive.’ He’s already thinking about how we’ve got to continue to apply pressure. He has that competitiveness, that edginess to him. He’s tough as nails.”

There it is. The quarterback demeanor every team dreams about. Jones isn’t out there celebrating like he just won the Super Bowl after a first-quarter touchdown. He’s already mentally preparing for the next series, keeping his teammates locked in, and maintaining the kind of focus that separates good teams from great ones.

The Colts’ Offensive Explosion

Jones’ success has created a ripple effect throughout Indianapolis’ offense. The Colts currently lead the NFL in total yards with 3,052 and rank first in total points with 270. They’re sixth in passing yards per game (250.9) and seventh in rushing yards per game (134.4).

Having a quarterback who can consistently move the chains has opened up everything for Head Coach Shane Steichen’s offense. Defenses can’t stack the box against Taylor because Jones will pick them apart through the air. They can’t drop into coverage because Taylor will gash them on the ground. It is the kind of offensive balance that keeps defensive coordinators up at night.

Taylor’s Historic Start

Speaking of Taylor, Jones’ effectiveness has allowed the running back to have the best start of his career. Taylor currently leads the NFL in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. His 12 rushing touchdowns through eight weeks represent the second-most by any player since at least 1970.

That’s not a coincidence. When your quarterback is completing 75% of his third-down passes and averaging over 10 yards per attempt in those situations—numbers that no QB has achieved in the past 45 years—life gets a whole lot easier for everyone else on offense.

What’s Next For Jones and the Colts

The Colts face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium, and it is about to get ugly for Pittsburgh. The Steelers currently have the worst pass defense in the NFL, which means Jones is walking into the perfect opportunity to pad his already impressive statistics.

At 7-1, Indianapolis isn’t just playing well—they’re legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Jones has gone from a quarterback who couldn’t make it work with the Giants to an MVP candidate seemingly overnight. But as Taylor pointed out, this wasn’t overnight at all. Jones put in the work, studied the playbook like it was the Da Vinci Code, and showed up prepared to dominate.

The Colts didn’t just find their quarterback. They found a guy who was ready to be great the moment he got the right opportunity. And now, the rest of the NFL has to deal with the consequences.