The Indianapolis Colts are heading into the 2021 NFL season as a very serious potential contender in the AFC. After upgrading from Philip Rivers to Carson Wentz at the quarterback position this offseason, the Colts firmly believe that they have the firepower to be one of the most feared offensive units in the entire league.
Last season, the Colts were a dangerous football team. However, they were hindered by Rivers’ aging arm. Indianapolis did not have the ability to make big plays down the field, which will change drastically with Wentz under center.
Jonathan Taylor was a huge bright spot for the Colts in his rookie year. He carried the football 232 times for 1,169 yards and 11 touchdowns as the starting running back in his first season. Many are expecting Taylor to improve even more in his second year.
Indianapolis has quite a few playmakers on the offensive side of the football. They brought back Marlon Mack in free agency to be a “thunder and lightning” duo with Taylor, while also re-signing TY Hilton. In addition to Hilton, the Colts have Michael Pittman Jr., Parris Campbell, Zach Pascal, Jack Doyle, and Mo Alie-Cox as weapons for Wentz.
All of that being said, let’s dive in and take a look at three bold predictions for the Colts’ offense in 2021.
3. Jonathan Taylor Ends Up Being A Top-Three Running Back
We talked a bit about Taylor’s potential, but we are going to see it on full display this season. As we mentioned, many are expecting Taylor to improve dramatically from his rookie season. He has dominated every single year he has played the game of football and will end up being one of the NFL’s best running backs in 2021.
Taylor will end the season as a top-three running back from a rushing yards and touchdowns perspective. He is going to put in work, especially with the Colts having a more dangerous aerial attack.
Exactly what should fans be expecting from Taylor this season? We are projecting that Taylor will rack up 1,300 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. Those numbers would make him a true superstar at the running back position.
2. The Colts Get The Dynamic Version Of TY Hilton Again
One of the main storylines from last season was the struggles with consistency that TY Hilton was having. While he ended up catching 56 passes for 762 yards and five touchdowns, he did not produce at the level that Colts’ fans are used to.
This season, that will change and we will see the dynamic version of Hilton once again. Wentz can sling the ball down the field at an elite level and Hilton will benefit in a big way.
Hilton will end up catching at least 75 passes for 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns. He will get back to looking like a true star No. 1 wide receiver. That will be a very welcome sight for fans in Indianapolis.
1. Carson Wentz Forces His Way Into The MVP Conversation
Finally, how could we possibly end this list of bold predictions without talking more in depth about Carson Wentz. He struggled through the 2020 season with the Philadelphia Eagles and ended up losing his starting job to rookie Jalen Hurts. Wentz ended up completing just 57.4 percent of his pass attempts for 2,620 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions last year.
Just a few short years ago, Wentz was one of the top up-and-coming stars at the quarterback position in the NFL. He was an MVP candidate and the sky was the limit. Well, that is the version of Wentz that the Colts will be getting.
Being able to reunite with Frank Reich, who he had a ton of success under in Philadelphia, and having an elite offensive line and supporting cast will help Wentz get back to playing at an elite level. We aren’t predicting that he will win the MVP award, but he will force his way into the conversation. That could power the Colts to being a potential Super Bowl contender.
