NFL Power Rankings Week 7: Colts Move Up After Second Win

After a soul destroying overtime loss to the Ravens, the Colts go back to their winning ways after beating the Texans. The national media moved the Colts back up the power rankings board. A second win on the season looks to have give the Colts a life line on the season and in the division title race. Is this the Colts team fans should get used to or another outlier game against a poor team? Here is how the Colts stack up in the week 7 power rankings

ESPN has the Colts at 21.

The uncertainty surrounding the health of key players such as Carson Wentz, T.Y. Hilton, Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith combined with not having a substantial victory over a playoff-caliber team — Miami and Houston are a combined 2-10 this season — caused the rating to drop. But Indianapolis is starting to get healthy, and it’ll have an opportunity to rack up significant victories in the next two games against San Francisco and Tennessee.

NFL.com has the Colts at 18.

The Colts buried the pain of Week 5’s Monday night collapse and took out their aggression on the poor Texans, who were pummeled in Indy’s 31-3 win at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Colts rode to victory on impact performances by their best players. Carson Wentz played within himself and connected on downfield throws like he was on the 2017 Eagles. Jonathan Taylorcontinued his recent rampage with a monster outingthat included two touchdowns and an 83-yard run. Then there’s linebacker Darius Leonard, who was a menace to Davis Mills and the Texans all afternoon, causing fumbles, snagging interceptions and wreaking havoc for four quarters. Playing the Texans can make anyone look good, but the Colts look like a team on the rise.

CBS Sports has the Colts at 17.

As Carson Wentz gets better each week, so do the Colts. They are getting healthy after a slow start, which is why they are back in the division race.

USA Today has the Colts at 22.

They’re showing signs of life despite brutal early schedule, and QB Carson Wentz is a major reason. He’s only been picked off once in 193 throws this season, his 0.5% INT rate pacing the league.

Bleacher Report has the Colts at 23.

There hasn’t been much for fans of the Indianapolis Colts to cheer about in 2021, including a soul-crushing overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5. There were finally some smiles in Week 6. Most came courtesy of a 31-3 drubbing of the Houston Texans at home. Quarterback Carson Wentz was efficient, passing for 223 yards and two scores. Running back Jonathan Taylor had another monster game, rushing for 145 yards and two touchdowns while averaging over 10 yards a carry. The Colts also got wide receiver T.Y. Hilton back, who caught all four of his targets for 80 yards.

One win over a bad team won’t fix all that ails the 2-4 Colts, but head coach Frank Reich told reporters that it still felt good to roll for once.

“We had to feel what it feels like to win this way,” coach Frank Reich said. “Defensively, getting turnovers. Offensively, getting those chunk plays, and special teams playing solid. It was a good step, but we know we’ve got to get a lot better.”

As bad as the Colts have been, the team is still in second place in a weak AFC South. And with the first-place Titans coming to town on Halloween, turning the season around remains a possibility