INDIANAPOLIS – The response was Shane Steichen at his stoic best.
Why has Daniel Jones avoided sacks so successfully this year?
“Because our offensive line is really good right now,’’ Steichen said this week.
He elaborated, but already had delivered the salient point.
The 6-1 Indianapolis Colts are off to their best start since their last trip to the Super Bowl – that would be 2009, when they opened 14-0 – and while it’s been seven weeks of complementary football, Daniel Jones and the offense are the undeniable catalysts. They’re on an absolute heater.
And it’s not hyperbole to trace everything to the offensive line. The overall production has been withering and at times historic:
*an NFL-best 33.1 points per game. The 232 points through seven games are the most in the Indy era and the third-most in franchise history.
*1st in yards per play (6.4).
*1st in points per drive (3.46).
*1st in yards on first down (7.0).
*1st in first downs per game (23.6).
*1st in fewest sacks allowed (6).
*3rd in yards per pass play (8.3).
*10th in rushing yards per play (4.7)
Like his coach, Jones understands why everything has worked at a high level thus far on offense.
“It helps just knowing, getting through progressions and knowing you got time to find the guy,’’ he said. “I think these guys have played incredible throughout the season against some good fronts and handled a lot of different stuff.’’
There have been occasions during video review when Jones has been surprised by the actual quality of his protection.
“You’re like, ‘Man, I had more time than I thought I did,’’’ he said. “But yeah, it’s been a lot of fun playing with these guys.’’
Those guys have come together following an offseason that saw perennial Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly and emerging right guard Will Fries relocate to the Minnesota Vikings as free agents and right tackle Braden Smith return after dealing with personal issues that forced him to miss the final five games.
Position coach Tony Sparano Jr. insisted his confidence in what would be a retooled offensive line never wavered. He fully endorsed a 2024 draft that essentially delivered a succession plan: Matt Goncalves in round 3 and Tanor Bortolini in round 4.
Goncalves divided eight starts as a rookie at left and right tackle, while Bortolini stepped in for Kelly five times. Fries’ departure and Smith’s return funneled Goncalves, a natural tackle, to right guard.
“I’ve just got a lot of belief in the guys we have. I always have,’’ Sparano said Thursday. “I spoke last year about how excited I was to get the players we were able to acquire in the draft. I had a lot of belief in these players and knew when given the opportunity, they would perform at a high level. I feel that way every week. It’s my job to help them get to their potential and I think they all have the potential to be really, really great players in this league.’’
Quenton Nelson’s first seven seasons have been off the charts: Five All-Pro selections, including three first-team honors, and seven Pro Bowls. He’s the first Colt and joins Hall of Famer Joe Thomas and Richmond Webb as the only offensive linemen named to the Pro Bowl in each of their first seven seasons.
It’s possible Nelson is in the midst of his best season.
“He’s a truly, truly special player,’’ Sparano said. “He affects the game in a lot of ways. He allows us to do a lot of different things scheme-wise – running and pass – with the ability he has. You don’t have to look very far in any of the games to find an exceptional block that he’s made. He’s had a ton of ‘em.’’
According to Pro Football Focus, Nelson is the league’s top guard by a wide margin – an 88.2 grade, 10 points ahead of the Rams’ Kevin Dotson – and the second-ranked offensive lineman behind Detroit tackle Penei Sewell (95.2).
Left tackle Bernhard Raimann is No. 12 at his position (77.5) while Bortolini is ranked No. 2 among centers with a 79.2 grade.
Nelson’s 2025 highlight tape features using power to create an interior crease for Jonathan Taylor and unique athleticism for a 6-5, 330-pounder when pulling and obliterating a defensive back or linebacker on the edge.
Taylor was asked if there was a special moment with Nelson through the first two months of the season. He zeroed in on the Colts’ 40-6 blowout of Las Vegas in week 5.
In the third quarter, Taylor’s 6-yard TD run through the left side of the line included minimum contact as Nelson pushed tackle Jonah Laulu inside, Raimann muscled end Tyree Wilson outside and Bortolini pulled around Nelson and drove linebacker Devin White through the end zone.
A Taylor-led celebration ensued and was joined by Nelson and other linemen.
“There’s a picture out there of after . . . the Raiders and he’s behind me and he’s hitting the dance with me,’’ Taylor said. “I’d say that’s one of my favorites just because the offensive line, they don’t get a lot of love. Of course everyone talks about them, but just as far as the praise and the accolades, so anytime there’s some light shined on ‘em, I’ll always enjoy that.’’
Taylor piling up the TDs
We’ve seen this act before.
When Taylor led the NFL in rushing in 2021 with a franchise-record 1,811 yards, he set another club mark with 18 rushing TDs and tied Lenny Moore’s record with 20 overall TDs.
Through seven games, he’s leading the league in rushing with 697 yards and once again generating TDs at a record pace. Taylor has rushed for 10 TDs and added another in the passing game. He’s the first player in team history with three rushing TDs in three games in a season.
For perspective, his 11 TDs are more than the Raiders (10) and Tennessee Titans (seven), who visit Lucas Oil Stadium Sunday, and match Atlanta’s output.
Taylor has pushed his career rushing TD total to 61 in 74 games. That’s third in Colts’ history and he’s zeroing in on the Nos. 1-2 spots held by a pair of Hall of Fame backs. Moore finished 63 in 143 games and Edgerrin James a record 64 in 96 games.
Does getting into the end zone ever get old?
“Never,’’ Taylor said. “Whenever you can score points, I mean, that just means you’re one step closer to winning the game. You’d rather have three touchdowns than 200 yards because you know like this is contributing to us. Both are contributing to the win, but the touchdowns, that’s points on the board.’’
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.