INDIANAPOLIS — As it turns out, they’re running a confidence game. In a good way.
No matter who’s addressing the driving force behind one of the NFL’s surprise storylines through seven weeks — that would be the Indianapolis Colts getting off to a league-best 6-1 start — the same explanation eventually comes up.
Confidence permeates the offense.
Confidence in Daniel Jones. And a retooled offensive line. And Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, Josh Downs and rookie tight end Tyler Warren.
That confidence starts with coach Shane Steichen trusting his personnel, dialing up whatever combination the situation demands and sending in the next play to Jones.
But while it starts with Steichen, there’s no overstating Jones’ impact. He’s brought a quiet confidence — there’s that word again — along with stability and productivity to the single-most consequential position that’s held the franchise back since Philip Rivers in 2020.
It filters down from the top.
“It’s comfortability with the guys, being around the guys, being in the system,’’ Steichen said Monday afternoon, roughly 24 hours after the 38-24 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. “And I think the preparation builds confidence.
“He’s the guy. It’s just the preparation that he puts in day-in and day-out. He’s making big-time throws, getting us in and out of the right play.
“It breeds a lot of confidence in our football team for sure with the way he works and the way he’s playing.’’
In Phase 2 of his career, Jones is enjoying a mid-life resurgence. He’s completing 71% of his passes and averaging 8.4 yards per attempt with 10 touchdowns and just three interceptions. His protection group has allowed a league-low six sacks.
And then there’s this bit of historical perspective. Jones is the only QB in Colts’ history to compile a passer rating of at least 100 in six of the first seven games. That franchise history includes Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck, Bert Jones and John Unitas.
The New York Giants’ castoff has discovered a comfort zone — a confidence — with the Colts.
“It’s something that bleeds into the entire offense,’’ said Tanor Bortolini, in his first full season as Ryan Kelly’s successor at center. “When your quarterback’s playing with a confidence level that high, I think everyone in the offense feels it.
“As an offense, that gives us more confidence as a whole to go out there and know that no matter what they do, if we go out there and do our jobs, we go out there and execute, we’re going to score on every drive.’’
The offense ranks No. 1 in scoring (33.1), yards per play (6.4), first downs per game (23.1) and scoring efficiency (points on 63.1% of the drives). The 232 points are the most through the first seven games in club history since the 1964 Colts (237).
There might have been no better example of Steichen’s confidence in Jones and his supporting cast than on the second possession Sunday against the Chargers.
The game-opening drive was one of those quick clinics: five plays, 75 yards, two minutes and 24 seconds. Taylor zipped through the right side for the first of his three TDs, a 23-yarder that gave the Colts a 6-0 lead.
Then came a methodical 17-play possession that chewed up 70 yards and consumed seven minutes, 41 seconds. It ended with Jones faking a handoff up the middle to Taylor, then pulling the football back and hitting Pittman on the right side for a 4-yard TD.
The offense finished what it started because of Steichen’s trust. He went for it three times on fourth-and-short. The first — a fourth-and-1 after three lukewarm plays — came at his own 39-yard line with a 6-3 lead. Taylor initially was ruled short, but an instant review overturned the call on the field.
Taylor also converted a fourth-and-1 with a 7-yard run and Jones’ TD to Pittman was on fourth-and-2.
“Looking back at it, I didn’t really notice we went for it three times on fourth down,’’ Bortolini said. “When we’re going for it, we just feel like we’re going to get it. There’s no doubt in our mind that, ‘What if we don’t get it?’ There’s really not that ‘What if?’ mentality.
“We’re going to go out there, run the play well, get the first down and keep marching down the field. I think it’s really awesome that Shane has that confidence in our offense. Sometimes coaches would lean towards punting in those situations, but he always feels like we’re more than capable of doing it. (So) why not do it?’’
What about the defense?
It’s fair to question whether Steichen’s aggressive playcalling is being affected by a deficient defense.
While the offense has scored at least 29 points in six games, Lou Anarumo’s defense has sprung major leaks because of injuries that have depleted his cornerbacks room.
The defense has allowed at least 400 yards in three of the last four games, including 445 Sunday after 400 to Arizona. The Chargers and Cardinals have piled up 51 points the past two games.
Justin Herbert and Jacoby Brissett have combined for 740 yards and four TDs. That’s the most yardage in consecutive games since Tampa Bay’s Jameis Winston and New Orleans’ Drew Brees produced 474 yards and eight TDs in weeks 14-15 of 2019.
Three starting-level corners are on the injured reserve list: Charvarius Ward (concussion), Jaylon Jones (hamstring) and rookie Justin Walley (knee). A top backup nickel, Mike Hilton (shoulder), also is on IR.
Ward suffered his second concussion of the season in pregame warmups against Arizona and will miss at least the next three games. The team is optimistic he’ll return at some point.
There’s been no recent update on Jones.
Further complicating personnel matters for Anarumo are injuries to ends Samson Ebukam (knee) and Tyquan Lewis (groin). Ebukam is expected to miss a few games, according to a source.
With the 6-1 start, it’s possible general manager Chris Ballard will explore acquiring a corner or edge rusher in a trade prior to the Nov. 4 deadline.
“Chris does a phenomenal job, along with his staff,’’ Steichen said. “I think they’re always looking into different things that could come up before the trade deadline.
“I leave that stuff up to him.’’
Steichen was asked if the depleted nature of the defense forces the offense to be more aggressive and carry a heavier load.
“Every week is different,’’ he said. “I think our job as coaches and players is to go out and execute at a high level at all times. We know that in this game how hard it is to go out and execute and win every week. There are going to be games that are up and down, and that’s part of the business.
“It’s just a belief that no matter what happens in the game we’ve just got to try and find a way to win it no matter what.’’
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.