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Stampede Blue

https://www.stampedeblue.com/ | 491 entries published

An Indianapolis Colts blog

Latest Entries

The Colts made history in the worst way possible

The Indianapolis Colts have recently become known as a franchise that isn’t afraid to forge a unique path. They brought in an ESPN analyst in the middle of the season to be their interim head coach. Not Jeff Saturday’s fault, but that act set the scene for a 1-7 finish to the year. Look no […]

about 1 month ago | 1 read

Colts-Texans opening odds: One more for the road

Another season of Opening Odds is in the books. While it isn’t the way any of us would like to see the season end, I hope you enjoyed it. The Indianapolis Colts are set to conclude their season with a rather meaningless road contest against the Houston Texans who ended the Colts’ season Saturday night. […]

about 1 month ago | 1 read

Colts free fall out of playoff race with 6 straight losses down home stretch

With Sunday’s 23-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Indianapolis Colts left the home finale with a familiar sting that has defined how each season is destined to end. The Colts winless drought reached six straight games down the home stretch and they will miss the playoffs for the fifth straight season following another late […]

about 1 month ago | 4 reads

Colts lose sixth straight, narrowly falling to Jaguars, 23-17, at home

Another game, another loss, for the Indianapolis Colts, who saw a once promising 8-2 start, snowball to a shocking 8-8 record for their latest annual season collapse—having now lost six straight games. Of course, by virtue of the Houston Texans beating the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday, the Colts already knew they were eliminated from […]

about 1 month ago | 2 reads

Should embattled longtime Colts GM Chris Ballard be back for 2026?

Having officially been knocked out of playoff contention again, the Indianapolis Colts (8-7), and specifically team owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon and her two sisters, will face some tough decisions this upcoming offseason. Chief among them is expected to be the job security of longtime general manager Chris Ballard, along with other key leadership positions […]

about 1 month ago | 0 reads

Week 17 Colts vs. Jaguars Game discussion

The Indianapolis Colts are at home to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in week 17 of the 2025 season, kickoff is at 1:00 p.m. EST. The Colts season is effectively over. A year that started with so much hope, so much promise and it’s gone. All of it. There’s just not much to say. Another year of […]

about 1 month ago | 3 reads

Colts announce inactives for Week 17 against Jaguars

The Indianapolis Colts announced their inactives for Week 17’s home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, with no real surprises: The Colts had already declared starting center Tanor Bortolini (concussion) and rookie backup defensive end JT Tuimoloau (oblique) out before the weekend, as well as downgraded right guard Dalton Tucker (shoulder) to out yesterday. Veteran backup […]

about 1 month ago | 2 reads

Where to Watch: Colts host Jaguars for Week 17

Having been officially knocked out of playoff contention, the Indianapolis Colts (8-7) will host the division leading Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4)(-4.5) at 1 PM EST (FOX) with seemingly nothing left to play for, except for franchise pride. The Colts will continue to start unretired longtime veteran quarterback Philip Rivers behind center, who leads an offense that […]

about 1 month ago | 2 reads

Colts could reportedly start rookie QB Riley Leonard for regular season finale

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Indianapolis Colts (8-7), having already been eliminated from the playoffs, could start rookie quarterback Riley Leonard in place of longtime veteran Philip Rivers next weekend on the road against the Houston Texans: Obviously, this makes a great deal of sense for the regular season finale. This will presumably […]

about 1 month ago | 2 reads

5 Questions with Big Cat Country: What’s it like, going to the playoffs?

In Week 17 of 2025 our Indianapolis Colts will host the Jacksonville Jaguars. Knowing the party was coming to town, I sat down with Gus Lodge of Big Cat Country, SB Nation’s Jaguars blog. You can find him on Twitter @gus_lodge or @duval22dotcom. We swapped questions and answers about both the Jaguars and the Colts […]

about 1 month ago | 2 reads

Indianapolis Colts playoffs: Updated elimination scenario, AFC standings, playoff picture for Week 17

Saturday update: The Colts were officially eliminated from playoff contention when the Houston Texans beat the Los Angeles Chargers 20-16 on Saturday evening. The Indianapolis Colts may or may not be in a do-or-die situation in Week 17 when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Their playoff picture could be settled on Saturday afternoon […]

about 2 months ago | 4 reads

Sunday could count for everything or nothing at all for the Colts

The entire fate of the Indianapolis Colts could be decided around 7:30 EST on Saturday in a game they don’t even play. The Colts lost their say in what happens to them a few weeks back when their slide became overwhelmingly long. Now, their season hangs in the balance, and the Houston Texans have a […]

about 2 months ago | 2 reads

Colts lose arguably best defensive player for remainder of 2025 season

According to head coach Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner will undergo season-ending surgery on his herniated disc and be placed on injured reserve (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport): When it rains in Indianapolis, it seems to pour with injuries, as the Colts are already without starting quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) for the […]

about 2 months ago | 0 reads

PFF highlights Colts’ Alec Pierce as part of Top 10, NFL Week 17 matchup to watch vs. Jaguars

According to PFF, Indianapolis Colts wideout Alec Pierce vs. Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones is among its Top 10, Week 17 player matchups to watch league-wide: Indianapolis Colts WR Alec Pierce vs. Jacksonville Jaguars CB Jarrian Jones When the Colts and Jaguars met three weeks ago, the contest included major ripple effects in the AFC South. Now, their second showdown is far less […]

about 2 months ago | 1 read

Indianapolis Colts Injury Report: CB Sauce Gardner Christmas Miracle

/ The Indianapolis Colts today released their Thursday injury report for Week 17 of the NFL season against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. CB Sauce Gardner was limited at practice today with a calf injury. This is the first time Gardener has managed to practice since injuring his calf injury a few weeks ago. It […]

about 2 months ago | 0 reads

Indianapolis Colts Injury Report: C Bortolini Headlines A Busy Report

The Indianapolis Colts today released their Wednesday injury report for Week 17 of the NFL season against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Center Tanor Bortolini missed practice today due to a concussion. Bortolini had entered the league’s concussion protocol. He will likely be out this week unless he can clear the protocol quickly this week. […]

about 2 months ago | 1 read

Colts’ Stock Up/Stock Down: Week 16 vs. Niners

Stock Up Alec Pierce & Josh Downs The Colts’ young wide receivers carried most of the load on offense against the Niners, with Downs leading the team in catches and first downs, and Pierce having a rebound game after a quiet stretch posting over 85 yards and two touchdowns. I expected more from Tyler Warren […]

about 2 months ago | 3 reads

Vikings claim former Colts backup QB off waivers

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Minnesota Vikings have claimed recently waived Indianapolis Colts backup quarterback Brett Rypien off waivers, with starter J.J. McCarthy (hand) already out this week: Before this past Monday’s primetime game, the Colts waived Rypien, who had previously been signed to the active roster a week prior to serve as […]

about 2 months ago | 1 read

Five Colts named as NFL Pro Bowl Games alternates for AFC

It’s shaping up to be another disappointing season as this once promising campaign concludes, but it’s possible that the Indianapolis Colts could still be well represented at this year’s Pro Bowl Games. The Pro Bowl games will be held during Super Bowl LX week on Tuesday, February 3rd, in the San Francisco Bay area, and […]

about 2 months ago | 1 read

Colts’ Week 16 QB Analysis: One last glimpse of the football we’ve lost.

Thanks to the nflFastR project, Pro Football Focus and NFL NextGen Stats for the timely sources of data. For those of you new to this, I will publish key QB stats each week judging how well the Colts’ QB performed. Yes, O-Line, receivers, and play-calling impact these numbers but they are primarily QB measures. I will probably modify the […]

about 2 months ago | 1 read

Clinging to slim playoff hopes, Colts will continue to start Philip Rivers against Jaguars

According to head coach Shane Steichen, the Indianapolis Colts (8-7) will continue to start 44-year-old starting quarterback Philip Rivers against the Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) at home this week—even after dropping two in a row, and their playoff hopes currently on life support (per The Athletic’s James Boyd). While the Colts remain winless with Rivers through […]

about 2 months ago | 2 reads

Colts’ Tuesday Morning Awards: Week 16 vs. 49ers

8-7, season basically over, no 1st round picks for the next two seasons, and yet another season without playoffs for Steichen & Ballard. This one was to be expected, the Niners are a very good football team, with an excellent head coach, and the result of the game was never really in doubt. On to […]

about 2 months ago | 1 read