INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — It's only been one week, but so far, that's enough for some to buy into the Indianapolis Colts' Daniel Jones experiment.
Jones won a much-publicized (and often scrutinized) quarterback battle this summer against Anthony Richardson Sr., but Jones made head coach Shane Steichen look wise for his decision last week in a 33-8 victory over the Miami Dolphins. It was the Colts' first win on opening day in a dozen years.
Jones had one of the most prominent performances of his seven-year career, going 22-of-29 passing (75.9%) for 272 yards (9.4 YPA), three total touchdowns, no turnovers, and a passer rating of 115.9. Not only did the Colts dominate Miami, but their quarterback looked the best he has in years.
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, some around the league are already taking notice of Jones.
"As one NFC coach texted: 'Don’t forget what Shane Steichen did for Jalen Hurts when they were together in Philly. This could be a match,'" Russini wrote.
The Colts have a roster that has been good enough for the last several years to tread water and hover around .500. In fact, since the Colts last made the playoffs in 2020, the Colts are 31-37-1. The Andrew Luck retirement obviously threw a significant wrench into the Colts' potential over that time, but the argument in favor of the team has largely been that they're good enough to make the playoffs if they get adequate quarterback play.
Jones provided that last Sunday, and then some.
However, this Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium awaits a much stiffer test than the Dolphins, as the Denver Broncos and their staunch defense come to town.
If Jones keeps up his hot streak against the Broncos in a Colts win, expect him to be a more common topic of conversation among the national talking points.
Jake Arthur has been covering the Indianapolis Colts for over a dozen years and is a member of the PFWA. He's one half of the Locked On Colts podcast, can be seen on WTHR+, and has worked for the Colts' official website, On SI, and more. You can follow him on X @JakeArthurNFL.