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NFL Power Rankings: Steelers rise and Texans fall flat in July

By Will Lomas

MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 02: Head Coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with Terry Bradshaw after the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. The Chiefs won the game 31-20. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 02: Head Coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with Terry Bradshaw after the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. The Chiefs won the game 31-20. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – NOVEMBER 18: Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers looks down during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Estadio Azteca on November 18, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images)
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – NOVEMBER 18: Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers looks down during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Estadio Azteca on November 18, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images) /

12. Indianapolis Colts (finished 21)

What I said at the end of last season:

"Man, is there a team that you are less confident about predicting their future in the NFL? Are the Colts going to keep Jacoby Brissett? Will they move away from the tight end heavy offense and lean more into something designed to get the ball out quickly to players in space? Can Indy patch together a defense with Justin Houston and Jabaal Sheard both over 30? I can keep doing this but the point is that after a season where the Colts stopped feeling competitive months ago, what are you building around in 2020 other than solid coaching and a few good players?"

Looking back:

Just like the Bucs, all the Colts had to do was get any other quarterback. Like Brady, they didn’t get a great quarterback but he has T.Y. Hilton and Michael Pittman to throw to which helps a lot, especially behind that offensive line.

The problem is, I think the Colts are going to have to be an offense that makes a lot of plays on the ground and they will eventually have to lean on Jonathan Taylor. The rookie from Wisconsin was explosive at the college level, but he fumbled 18 times in 41 career games and he had 968 touches during his 3-year college career.

Those are two huge numbers that really concern me going forward even if he does have a very good offensive line blocking for him.

Justin Houston was great on defense last year, but his season did trail off with just 3 sacks in his last 6 games, and if he doesn’t provide a pass rush for the Colts on the EDGE then they are in big trouble since no one on their roster had more than 2.5 last year.

That excludes DT Deforest Buckner who is another reason why the Colts are higher in these power rankings, but I think the middle of that defense is at danger of being exposed this season outside of Buckner and Darius Leonard.

To stop a team like the Titans you really want a defense that can win side to side and also prevent big cutbacks and I don’t think this roster can do that, and I have serious concerns that they can put up enough points to keep up with the Texans who are going to have to score a lot to win games.

That is why they are outside of my top-10 in these power rankings.

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