Colts Fall Hard in ESPN NFL Power Rankings

The Indianapolis Colts fell 37-20 to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Despite being significant underdogs on the road, they dropped five spots from No. 17 to No. 22 in ESPN's latest NFL Power Rankings.

Losing on the road to the No. 10 team on those same power rankings shouldn't be a reason for a significant drop. So is there more to it than that?

Were the Colts punished for the loss of Anthony Richardson a well? Richardson is likely out for the rest of the season, and Gardner Minshew threw three interceptions in the loss to the Jaguars.

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ESPN's theme this week in their power rankings was a unit that has exceeded expectations for each team. Richardson was the representative for the Colts.

"From a distance, it's perhaps difficult to assess Richardson's performance given his rash of injuries (he's currently on injured reserve and it's unclear when he'll play again)," wrote Colts beat writer Stephen Holder.

"But this year's No. 4 overall pick has acquitted himself well when he has played, rallying from a 23-0 deficit to force overtime against the Rams and averaging 5.4 yards per carry when he runs the ball. His right shoulder injury could be a legitimate setback in his development, particularly if he misses the remainder of the season. But the Colts can move forward with some confidence that they have finally found their future at quarterback after many years."

A long-term loss of Richardson would help explain the rationale behind the drop in the power rankings better than a road loss to the No. 10 team.

Richardson's play early in the season has been as encouraging as his inability to finish a game has been concerning. He's started just four games for the Colts this year, finishing one.

If he's out for the season, which looks likely according to latest reports, the Colts will need Minshew to protect the ball better. They're still 3-3 on the season with winnable games coming up against the Cleveland Browns (3-2), New Orleans Saints (3-3), and Carolina Panthers (0-6).

Minshew is a capable enough quarterback to lead the rebuilding Colts to at least a 2-1 record over the next-three games. With those victories, the Colts playoff hopes will stay alive and a rise back up the power rankings will follow.

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