Week 11 Power Rankings: Colts Still At the Bottom After Tough Loss

Another week, another disappointment. The part of me that knows this season is doomed has been battling with the dumb optimist in me, and games like this one keep that battle raging.

For much of this game, this Colts team looked like it was every bit as good as the Steelers. If you were shown the first three-quarters of the game with no context and knew nothing about the Colts’ season, you might think they were a tough defense and possibly a playoff-caliber team.

Then they took their customary dump right on Jim Irsay’s finely manicured lawn, and Ben Roethlisberger rubbed their nose in it. There have been moments in this season that have shown promise for the future, but for now, the bottom of the league is right where they belong.

With that in mind, here is how the Colts measure up in the power rankings.

ESPN has the Colts holding at 29^th.

Crazy stat of the day: Jacoby Brissett has the most 60-yard passing touchdowns (four) by a Colts quarterback in a season since Johnny Unitas in 1966 (four). Those big plays have helped the Colts claim three wins, but they're currently the FPI underdog in each of their remaining six games.

Elliot Harrison of NFL.com has the Colts climbing one spot to 23^rd.

The Colts won't go down easy, as the Steelers were the latest to find out. After absorbing a couple of blowouts on the West Coast earlier this season, Indy pushed the superior Steelers to the limit at Lucas Oil on Sunday. Unfortunately for the Colts, Jacoby Brissett joined the pantheon of Indy quarterbacks done in by the offensive line. Hopefully, the gutty Brissett will emerge from the concussion protocol fully healthy. Meanwhile, DC Ted Monachino's defense played ball against Pittsburgh. Given that they were 32nd in points allowed coming in, that's notable. And they can't lose to the inferior Week 11 Byes.

Pete Prisco of CBS Sports has the Colts dropping one spot to 27^th.

They are showing some fight in recent weeks, which is a good thing. Some young players are flashing, which is good for the future.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has the Colts down one spot from 28^th.

Is there any quarterback injury that the Colts haven’t screwed up this decade?

Frank Schwab of Shutdown Corner has the Colts holding at 27^th.

I’m not sure what to make of the report from ESPN’s Mike Wells that Andrew Luck is going to Europe to get treatment on his shoulder, but it’s safe to say he doesn’t do that if he’s confident in how his recovery is going. Until he’s back on the field and looking like his old self, this is a scary situation for Colts fans.