Kansas City Chiefs: Ranking 2021 AFC playoff teams
By Chris Clark
Kansas City Chiefs: Ranking 2021 AFC playoff teams
6. Indianapolis Colts
The Indianpolis Colts might be fortunate that the Josh McDaniels hire didn’t work out a few years ago. Instead, they ended up with head coach Frank Reich, who seems to be steering the team in a positive direction.
As the offensive coordinator for the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles, Reich was given the keys to a Colts team with the hopes to do the same as the lead man. After missing the playoffs last season, Reich has his team in the postseason for the second time in three years.
Between the Browns and the Colts, it’s nearly a toss-up for the No. 6 and No. 7 spots on this list. The reason that the Colts edge out the Browns for this spot is simply because of the experience that is in place. This is Reich’s second year in the playoffs as a head coach, while Cleveland’s Stephanski is in this first year in postseason play.
The Colts also have a veteran signal-caller in Phillip Rivers who knows how to handle the bigger stage over Baker Mayfield. With Rivers’ career nearing the end, he may have a stronger will to win and make a deeper run toward the Super Bowl.
It also helps that Indy boasts the eighth-ranked defense, which has looked solid over the last few seasons. If Reich can put together the right offensive game plan, this team has the ability to be dangerous paired with that defense.
That game plan should really incorporate the league’s third best rusher in the 2020 regular season in rookie running back Jonathan Taylor. Racking up over 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first season, Taylor could carry that same momentum into the playoffs.
Unfortunately for the Colts, they have to walk into Buffalo and face a Bills team that looks like a really formidable foe this postseason. It may not turn out to be the Colts’ year to really make some noise, but anything can happen. If they do walk out of Buffalo victorious, their next opponent will have their hands full. But until that happens, they’ll remain close to the bottom of this list.