Victory Mondays are the absolute best. There is no question about that. The Colts delivered the best performance of the Shane Steichen era with a 33-8 drubbing of the Miami Dolphins. The Colts start this season 1-0 for the first time since 2013. That’s right, over a decade since we last won an opener. On a day when key former players were in the building to honor the late Colts owner Jim Irsay, they dominated like we have not seen in quite some time.
This entire offseason was marred by controversy about who would start at quarterback. Shane Steichen announced that Daniel Jones, not Anthony Richardson, would be starting Week One. The majority of the fanbase was puzzled by the decision. A decision that, while close, we all thought Richardson played well enough to retain his incumbent status.
It appears the decision was made the day the Colts signed him in free agency. We all know that I was Team Richardson from the start, and after yesterday’s game, it’s apparent that we all owe Shane Steichen an apology. A large one. Now, it’s one week, and they bludgeoned a weaker team that has dealt with a plethora of preseason injuries. If this is what the Colts team will look like with Daniel Jones, we are in for an entertaining season.
Impact From The Beginning
I wrote in the Week 1 preview about how important it was to get out to a fast start. Every team scripts the first 12-15 plays of the game and this plan was executed flawlessly. Watching Daniel Jones play you could see why he won this job. He looked comfortable at the line of scrimmage whether it was calling out checks or changing protections. These little nuances are so imperative in an advanced scheme that Steichen employs.
I am not saying that Richardson is incapable of being able to run the scheme, but today was the reason Jones won the job. The attention to detail and the ability to bring out the best in the players around him was a sight to see. The Colts had seven total drives, and all of them brought points, a feat unmatched since 1978. Daniel Jones and Shane Steichen have quickly made us forget about Anthony Richardson already in Week 1.
Let’s Not Forget About The Defense
For all the talk of the performance of the offense, the defense was just as impressive. They did allow a touchdown at the end on a fourth downplay but they were flawless. We all saw why they call Lou Anarumo the “Mad Scientist” after this week’s performance. From the first drive, Dolphins QB Tua Tagvailoa was confused at everything that Lou was calling.
The defense, along with only allowing 8 points, is credited with forcing three turnovers, three sacks, and only allowing twelve first downs. To pour salt on the wound of Miami, the Colts’ offense turned those three turnovers into 17 points. The Colts only had 51 points off turnovers the entire 2024 season. The worst aspect of the defense last season was the tackling. What an improvement this season, and you can see they all have more confidence in themselves with the new voice. This was an absolute masterpiece from Lou Anarumo on Sunday.
Give Steichen Credit
Look, I get it. Watching Anthony Richardson was fun. The explosive plays, the runs, the deep ball shots. It’s entertainment, but this was the most fun I have had watching Colts football since Andrew Luck was under center. If this is the Shane Steichen playcalling we were supposed to have when we hired him, then this front office made the right decision by bringing in Daniel Jones. We saw what the team was capable of with Gardner Minshew two seasons ago. The Gus Bradley defense appears to be the main hindrance to the football team.
Did the Colts make the wrong decision in drafting Anthony Richardson? While the reviews seem to be out, it’s still too early to tell. What will Daniel Jones be able to impart in Richardson is now the larger question. Yes, it’s still Week One and very early in the season, but these were the types of games that the Colts would either sweat to the end or lose outright. This time it was a dominant performance, and that must be applauded.
Whether you continue to be Team Richardson or Team Jones, the time is now for Daniel Jones and this football team. Regardless of their hot start, sustainability is yet to be seen. The Colts welcome the Denver Broncos next week in another difficult matchup. Can they repeat their Week One performance? No idea, but for now, we all owe Shane Steichen an apology.
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