The question hovering over the Colts as they prepare for Sunday's opener against the Ravens is straightforward: can they actually get this done? Baltimore arrives with a two-time MVP under center and a roster built to punish the slightest hesitation. For Indianapolis, the path to a Week 1 win runs through three specific areas, none of which involve moral victories.
The first priority is getting Jonathan Taylor going. This could be the key every week, but that does not make it any less important against Baltimore. Taylor brings the obvious big-play ability to the Colts' backfield, yet it is his capacity to steadily churn out four- or five-yard gains that holds real value. That kind of consistent production keeps the offense ahead of the sticks and out of predictable passing situations. When the run game works, it opens up the playbook for Shane Steichen and the passing game for Daniel Jones. When it stalls, the offense finds itself in obvious throwing downs, and the defense gains the upper hand. Against a Ravens front that can be aggressive, establishing Taylor early is not just a nice idea. It is the mechanism that keeps the entire operation balanced.
The second issue is the pass rush, and it is the one that has followed this team through the entire offseason. The question is simple: do the Colts have enough juice around Laiatu Latu to consistently get after the quarterback? Training camp did not provide any answers. That uncertainty becomes a serious problem when the man in the pocket is Lamar Jackson. If the Colts cannot generate pressure, Jackson gets time and clean pockets to throw from, and he can hurt opponents with his arm. If they try to force the issue and miss, he can extend plays with his legs, turning broken downs into big gains either on the ground or through the air. There is no schematic fix for a quarterback who can make a defense pay for both aggression and patience. The Colts need someone to win a one-on-one matchup and collapse the pocket before Jackson has a chance to improvise.
The third key is the least glamorous and the most self-inflicted. It is cliché, but the Colts cannot beat themselves. An abundance of penalties can be difficult to overcome, and losing the turnover battle is often a death sentence on the road against a team of Baltimore's caliber. Keeping mistakes minimal and taking care of the football sounds like coach-speak, but it is the difference between a competitive game and a blowout. The Ravens are the kind of team that will capitalize on every extra down and every short field they are gifted. The Colts do not have the margin for error to give those gifts away.
The broader context here matters. This is a new-look offense under Steichen with Jones taking over at quarterback, and the early schedule does not offer a gentle landing. Baltimore is a measuring stick of the worst kind, a defense that can take away what you do best and an offense that can exploit what you do worst. The Colts know what they need to do. The question is whether they can execute it for sixty minutes.
The pass rush question, in particular, looms large because it is the one area where the team has not shown its hand. Latu is the centerpiece, but he cannot do it alone. Someone else needs to step up, and the Colts have not proven they have that guy yet. If they do not find him on Sunday, Jackson will have all day to operate, and that is a recipe for a long afternoon.
The run game and the discipline issues are more controllable. Taylor is a proven commodity, and the offensive line has the pieces to create lanes. The penalty problem is a matter of focus and execution. But the pass rush is the unknown, and it is the one that could decide the game.
If the Colts can run the ball, protect the football, and find a way to make Jackson uncomfortable, they have a real chance. If they cannot do any of those things, the Ravens will make them pay. Sunday will reveal which version of this team showed up.
According to Yahoo Sports.