(Photo: IndyStar)
AFC Game Of The Week
Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Chargers
Colts (5-1)
This is one of those “topsy-turvy” seasons, if you ask me. There’s no way you could’ve told me after six games that the Houston Texans wouldn’t be in first place, and that a team that dominated this division throughout the 2000s would be back on top of the AFC South. It’s been a rough few years for this franchise after their era of success with Peyton Manning, Tony Dungy, and Marvin Harrison. They had a potential franchise quarterback in Andrew Luck until he stunned the world by announcing his retirement in 2019. Since then, the Colts have gone through a revolving door of quarterbacks — from Philip Rivers to Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, and even Anthony Richardson, whom they drafted fourth overall in 2023. Unfortunately, Richardson hasn’t panned out. Everyone laughed when the Colts signed Daniel Jones, but they’re getting the last laugh. He continues to impress and is playing the best football of his career. As good as Daniel has been, Jonathan Taylor is the engine of this Indy offense. When he’s healthy, his impact is undeniable. Right now, he’s number two on my MVP radar, behind Baker Mayfield. This has hands down been the biggest surprise of the season, and I’ve been genuinely impressed. If you had told me they’d be 5-1 at this point, I would’ve thought you were crazy. On Sunday, they’ll head back to SoFi.
Chargers (4-2)
Yes, they won against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday — but I wasn’t thrilled. They were up by 13 and then took their foot off the gas. I get it — it’s the NFL and things happen — but I viewed that game as a “get-right” moment after back-to-back losses. They rolled over against the New York Giants and took them far too lightly, and a week later, the Washington Commanders came into SoFi and took their lunch money. I’m glad they bounced back in Week 6, but they should’ve never let the Dolphins back into that game. When you’ve got a team down, you keep them down — no questions asked. I thought this was a different Chargers team, especially after the 3-0 start. Justin Herbert looked like a new quarterback — less forcing, more control. But my concerns remain: they struggle to stop the run, the pass rush hasn’t been consistent, and since losing Joe Alt, the offensive line has had trouble keeping Herbert upright. On Sunday, they return home for a showdown with the Colts.
Colts X-Factor: Tyler Warren
I loved watching him at Penn State (and I bet they wish they still had him now)! As a rookie, he’s already made a mark on this offense and helped Indy get back to pushing the ball downfield. Tyler reminds me so much of former Colts tight end Dallas Clark — a big-bodied mismatch weapon who thrives in the seams and exploits linebackers and safeties. I can’t wait to see him grow into a star.
Chargers X-Factor: Ladd McConkey
He’s become Justin Herbert’s safety valve since last season. Ladd is a crafty playmaker with the ability to hurt a secondary in multiple ways. He’s quick, athletic, has solid hands, and most importantly, he’s dangerous after the catch — a key trait for any wide receiver. His presence alone forces defenses to respect the deep threat. Expect him to stretch this young Colts secondary.
Final Thoughts:
I saw a tweet the other day that said, “It’s feeling like 2007 in the AFC again,” as the current division leaders — Steelers, Patriots, Colts, and Chargers — all won their divisions that year. Here, we have two teams trying to prove they belong in that conversation. It’s also a fun storyline: a battle between Philip Rivers’ two former teams. If the Colts want to win, they need to succeed on early downs. The Chargers defense thrives when opponents are behind the sticks, so staying in manageable down-and-distance situations will allow Shane Steichen to open up the playbook. They’ll also need to contain Justin Herbert — he’ll test this young secondary vertically. I expect a spy on third downs to limit Herbert’s scrambling. Finally, they must capitalize in the red zone — field goals won’t be enough. On the Chargers’ side: attack the Colts secondary early and often. It’s a young group that can be baited into mistakes. Controlling third down will be crucial — stay on the field and wear the defense down. Defensively, they must force Daniel Jones into long-yardage situations and, most importantly, bottle up Jonathan Taylor before he reaches the second or third level. This has the makings of one of the more entertaining games of the day. I like the Chargers to come out on top and stay in first place in the AFC West.
