If there’s one thing I’ve learned since doubting the Rams all 1999, it’s that strength of schedule and “who’d they beat?” arguments are a waste of time.
The Colts are in the Super Bowl conversation for sure, but are they at a stage where they should be the first AFC team mentioned to be Miami-bound in February?
Not yet. Not when the Colts haven’t proven it against the caliber of teams they’ll see in the AFC playoffs.
The Colts’ unbeaten record is built on the foundation of wins against teams that form the weak underbelly of the NFL this season. The combined record of the Colts’ foes going into Sunday’s games was 12-29. Two Colts opponents — the Rams and Titans — were winless going into Sunday’s action.
Mind you, the fact that the Colts have not played any power teams is not their fault. Would-be contenders such as Miami — and especially Tennessee — have fallen off the levels both were at last season. All the Colts can do is play who’s in front of them and beat them.
Mission accomplished as far as that’s concerned, but there’s still some performances that give me pause. Average-at-best teams — such as the Jaguars and 49ers — shouldn’t be able to push the Colts to the two-minute warning in games at Lucas Oil Stadium as both have done this season.
It feeds into the perception — fair or unfair — that the wins the Colts have don’t rate much on the perception scale, especially when you look at the Colts’ competition for the AFC’s Super Bowl spot. All have at least one victory that stands out more than any one Colts win.
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