After a heartbreaking road loss on primetime to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Indianapolis Colts now sit at 0-2 with a close to must-win game this Sunday hosting the Houston Texans (also winless at 0-2) (-1.5).
For what it’s worth, only seven 0-3 teams have rebounded to make the playoffs in NFL history, and only five such teams since 1990.
Right now, the issue is on defense. Offensively, the Colts rank tied for 10th in most points scored at 26.5 average points scored through two games. However, on defense, they rank dead last at 32nd, having surrendered a whopping 37.0 points per game respectively.
Indianapolis has surrendered back-to-back outing of allowing 500+ offensive yards, which is a streak they assuredly would like to snap with their AFC South rival, the Texans and quarterback C.J. Stroud coming to town.
Right now, it’s both the Colts passing and run defense which have been problematic, which makes it hard to shore up either side of the ball on short notice right now. In particular, new starting defensive end Arden Key has struggled in run defense, the linebackers have collectively struggled, and opposing passers are picking on debuting cornerback Justin Walley in the slot. The Colts could also use more pass rushing as a unit as a whole.
Only 15% of Colts fans are confident that the team is headed in the right direction (and it’s hard to blame them!):
With top football lieutenants, longtime general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen, already on the hot seat entering the season, where “the sense of urgency has never been higher” was already proclaimed from team ownership, and those seats have only gotten hotter—and we’re only two weeks into the 2026 season.
