2011 Indianapolis Colts Predictions
The Colts have been a strong futures investment in the AFC South. Last year’s division title was their seventh since the AFC South was formed in 2002.
The Colts have won at least 10 games nine consecutive seasons while reaching the playoffs each of those years, and as long as Peyton Manning is healthy and playing at a high level, Indy should remain the cream of the crop in the division.
Offense: The Colts ranked fourth in the NFL in both scoring and total offense last season with 27.2 points and 380.8 yards per game.
Indy has been a pass-first team for a long time, but Manning really had to carry the load in 2010 when starting running back Joseph Addai missed eight games with an injury.
Manning helped the Colts rank first in the NFL with 288.1 passing yards per game while completing 66.3 percent of his passes for 4,700 yards with 33 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.
The running game ranked 29th in the league with 92.7 yards per contest.
Manning could be poised for a fifth MVP award if he can fully recover from offseason neck surgery. There is speculation that he won’t be ready to start the season opener at Houston.
“I’ve never missed a game in my entire football career due to an injury since I was 13 years old, and I sure don’t want to miss Week 1 of the season,” Manning said.
When Manning is able to go, he’ll benefit from having a full stable of receivers, something he didn’t have in 2010.
Reggie Wayne is Manning’s favorite target. The duo hooked up 111 times for 1,355 yards and six scores last season.
Manning will be glad to have Pro Bowl tight end Dallas Clark back in the lineup after he missed most of 2010 with a wrist injury.
Center Jeff Saturday and right tackle Ryan Diem anchor a line that tied for first in the NFL with only 16 sacks allowed last season.
It will be interesting to see how rookie Anthony Castonzo holds up as Manning’s blindside protector.
Defense: Indy’s stop unit ranked 20th in the league in total defense in 2010 with 341.6 yards per game. It finished 23rd in scoring defense with 24.2 points allowed per contest.
Run defense is the area that needs the most improvement and that starts up front.
Ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, who combined for 21 of the teams 30 sacks, did their jobs in 2010, but the interior didn’t do its job. Two-time All-Pro Tommie Harris has been added to beef up the interior and the run defense.
The linebacking unit should instantly be improved with a healthy Gary Brackett back in the middle. The experience Pat Angerer gained while filling in for Brackett should benefit him on the strong-side this year.
The secondary was decimated with injuries a year ago and should be better if it can avoid the injury bug. I really like the safety duo of Antoine Bethea and Melvin Bullitt. Bethea led the team with 106 stops in 2010.
Prediction: 1st Place AFC South – The Colts won 10 games and the division in 2010 despite dealing with a ton of injuries on both sides of the football. With better fortune this year and another strong season from Manning, the Colts have an excellent chance to win the South for an eighth time in nine seasons. NFL Odds makers have listed the Colts at +105 to win the AFC South.
Individual Team NFL Season Predictions
