NFL power rankings: How Colts compare to Jaguars, Texans
The Indianapolis Colts find themselves in an unexpected position with Christmas right around the corner -- tied atop the AFC South with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans.
Each team is 8-6 and faces an injury question at key positions. Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Houston QB C.J. Stroud are in concussion protocol, as is Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. The Colts also aren't sure if running backs Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss will be available this week against the Atlanta Falcons.
So where does that leave each team in the NFL's pecking order? Mostly, the Jaguars and Texans are viewed a little more highly than the Colts.
Be ready for Week 16: Colts vs. Falcons start time, betting odds, injuries, playoff standings
NFL power rankings: Are the Colts lucky at 13th?
Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk, 13th, up 1 place from last week: Whoever convinced Jim Irsay to hire Shane Steichen instead of Jeff Saturday deserves a HUGE Christmas bonus. The Texans are 10th and Jaguars 12th.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports, 13th, up 1: Shane Steichen has done an amazing job getting this team into playoff contention with a backup quarterback. The schedule is favorable the rest of the way, too. The Jaguars are 10th, Texans 11th.
Eric Edholm, NFL.com, 13th, up 2: With the playoffs potentially hanging in the balance, the Colts received notable contributions from D.J. Montgomery, Tyler Goodson and Trey Sermon -- none of whom were on the roster a few months ago. Most of it happened after the Steelers built a 13-0 lead, too, but the Colts weren’t at all spooked. It was a terrific answer after the second-half performance in the loss to the Bengals. Now we wait to hear about the Michael Pittman Jr. (concussion) and Zack Moss (arm) injuries they suffered in the win, plus any updates on Jonathan Taylor’s status. But this was low key a massive game for Gardner Minshew. He has battled all season and kept the team competitive, with Indianapolis going 6-4 in his starts and 2-0 when replacing Anthony Richardson midgame. Yet Minshew had been a bit erratic and mistake-prone before Saturday, which is why his three-TD performance was a confidence builder. His passing stats (18-of-28, 215 yards) weren't eye-popping, but it felt like his best game of the season. The Jaguars are 10th, Texans 11th.
Frank Schwab, Yahoo, 13th, up 3: In the second half on Saturday, the Colts were without their preferred quarterback (Anthony Richardson), top two running backs (Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss), No. 1 receiver (Michael Pittman Jr.) and longtime right tackle (Braden Smith). And they still put up 30 points on the Steelers. Colts coach Shane Steichen has a great case for NFL Coach of the Year, especially if Indianapolis wins the division. The Jaguars are 11th, Texans 12th.
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News, 13th, up 2: The Colts keep getting it done around Gardner Minshew, running with and passing to whoever it takes to keep the ball moving and scoring in Shane Steichen's offense. He is making a sneaky strong coach of the year case. The Texans are 10th, the Jaguars 12th.
David Helman, Fox Sports, 17th, up 2: I’m still at a loss when trying to figure out what makes the Colts good, which is why I think Shane Steichen probably deserves to win NFL Coach of the Year. Shout out to Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson for stepping up to carry the ground game in place of Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss. The Texans are 10th, the Jaguars 15th.
Connor Orr, Sports Illustrated, 13th: The Colts’ continued juggling act has been phenomenal. This week, Michael Pittman Jr. and Zack Moss both went down, and Trey Sermon, now on his third NFL team since being drafted in 2021, led the team in rushing. Four sacks, nine QB hits, and four different defenders sharing in a piece of the backfield terror showcase just how tireless this team is and how heavily they are punching above weight class. The Jaguars are 9th, the Texans 15th.
Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report, 11th: Somehow, the Colts continue to find a way. Despite all the injuries to key personnel throughout the season, they own a winning record. They're within striking distance of a division title. The Jaguars are 10th, the Texans 14th.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: NFL power rankings: How Colts compare to Jaguars, Texans
