The Colts Have Now Proven Themselves “Boss Hoss”

By Bill Carroll

James Ewell Brown “Jeb” Stuart was a U.S. Military Academy graduate who joined the cause of the pro-slavery South, rising to command the cavalry of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. He was mortally wounded in battle north of Richmond May 11, 1864, at the Battle of Yellow Tavern. A Union trooper, John A. Huff, fired the fatal shot that mortally wounded Stuart, effectively crippling the Confederate’s cavalry.

Huff was with his unit, the 5th Michigan Cavalry when Stuart and his staff rode into view. He shot Stuart from a distance of about 30 feet with a .44 caliber revolver, the bullet striking Stuart in the right side of his stomach. The wound prove mortal, Stuart died the next day, the Confederacy’s reconnaissance capabilities never recovered.

If you are confused about why you are seeing a military history lesson rather than football analysis, indulge me please. The cavalry of the Napoleonic to Civil War period were seen as similar to fighter pilots of later wars. The exploits of cavalry leaders like Philip Sheridan, Stuart, Joachim Murat and Louis-Pierre Montbrun of the Napoleonic Wars, and José Antonio Páez Herrera of La Guerra Federal.

If the 2025 Colts and Broncos were represented by cavalry commanders, entering the season, I saw the the Colts as Stuart, bold, improvisational, and reliant on reconnaissance and flair. I thought that the Broncos, by contrast, would be Philip Sheridan, disciplined, aggressive, and relentless in pursuit. Having witnessed the dramatic, 29-28 victory over the Broncos it is clear that something has changed on the field and in the Colts’ locker-room.

The Next Chapter: Colts Versus Titans

The Tennessee Titans offense is one of the worst in the NFL, ranking 32nd in total yards per game and points per game. Their defense, however, is significantly better, with a 17th overall rank in total defense and a solid  pass defense, though their run defense is weaker. 

Despite the dreary numbers regarding the Titans’ offense and being only slightly more competitive on defense, at 27th in yards allowed at 378 and 30th in sacks at two, the Titans will likely play their best versus the Colts. Indianapolis is a division rival and the Titans will be desperate to avoid being 0-3. Since 1990, only four out of 162 teams that started (0-3) have made the postseason, which represents a percentage of approximately 2.5%.

The Tale of the Tape

The Colts’ Defense

Now ranked as the third-best total defense by yards allowed in the NFL with the second-best defensive Expected Points Added (EPA) per play based upon factoring in turnovers. They are led by a strong defensive line featuring DeForest George Buckner, Nicolas Cross, who has nine tackles with a sack and Camryn Bynum who has posted three solo tackles, and two interception new additions like Charvarius Ward, and an energetic line-backing core, the defense is athletic, large and opportunistic.

The Colts’ Offense

The undefeated Colts are led by Daniel Stephen Jones III, who in his first two games as a Colt: [via @PFF] has a 74.2% adjusted completion %, has passed for 616 total yards, scored 5 total TDs, with 0 turnovers and 111.1 passer rating. He has set an NFL record by scoring on his 1st 10 series of the season.He is the top #WaiverWednesday pick up at the QB spot and, depending upon the scoring model, may be ranked as high as second among fantasy QBs.

Via @HolderStephen 

Jones was blitzed on 68% of drop-backs. Went 16 of 24 for 267, 1 TD on those plays. Highest blitz percentage faced by any QB since Jared Goff (79%) in Week 18 of 2023… The Colts are the 1st team in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to have 0 punts in each of their first 2 games of a season.

In his own words:

“I feel confident. There’s a great energy about our team,”

The Colts have also run the ball often and well. Jonathan Taylor leads the team with 236 rushing yards on 43 attempts, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Their other top rushers include D.J. Giddens (41 yards on 12 attempts) and Daniel Jones (28 yards on 13 attempts), with the team averaging 161.5 rushing yards per game. That puts them 3rd in the NFL.

Rookie phenom Tyler Warren paces the receiving talent with 155 yards on 11 catches. Next is Michael Pittman Jr. with 10 snags for 120 yards and a TD. Third is deep-threat, Alec Pierce with 108 yards on just five catches for a sterling 20.8 yards per reception.

The Titans selected Cameron Anthony Ward with the first overall selection of the 2025 NFL Draft. Thus far he has shown flashes of the talent that allowed him to be a dominant player at Incarnate Word, Washington State and Miami (FL), however he is completing passes at a 50.8% clip, averaging 4.7 yards per attempt and his 61 attempts have produced 287 yards and a TD.

He has also contributed with is legs to the Titans’ 180 team rushing total with his eight. Everything about this game shouts a Battle of Carrhae level rout is coming. But Desperation feeds intensity.

? Player Spotlight: Jeffery Simmons – Titans’ Defensive Anchor

If there’s one player on the Titans’ defense who demands strategic attention, it’s Jeffery Bernard Simmons Jr., the two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle and emotional core of Tennessee’s front seven. Simmons is disruptive, powerful, and technically refined. He is a juggernaut, collapsing pockets and blowing up run plays before they develop. Despite the Titans’ overall defensive struggles, Simmons remains a consistent force, posting 2.5 tackles for loss and 6 pressures through two games.

Simmons lines up primarily as a 3-technique but shifts across the interior depending on down and distance. His explosiveness off the snap and ability to shed blocks make him a nightmare for zone schemes and a magnet for double teams.

? Colts’ Counter Strategy

1. Interior Double Teams & Slide Protection Expect Shane Steichen to slide protection toward Simmons, especially on passing downs. Guards Quenton Nelson and Matt Goncalves will likely be tasked with combo blocks, Super athletic center, Tanor Bortolini would chip before releasing to the second level. Keeping Simmons occupied neutralizes his ability to penetrate and disrupt timing.

2. Quick Game & RPOs Daniel Jones excels in the quick game. By getting the ball out in under 2.5 seconds, the Colts can negate Simmons’ pass rush. RPO slants and bubble screens force Simmons to hesitate. He can’t crash the line if the ball might be thrown behind him.

3. Misdirection Runs The Colts’ run game will lean on split-zone and counter concepts, using motion to pull Simmons laterally. Jonathan Taylor’s vision and burst allow him to exploit gaps created when Simmons is baited out of position.

4. Tempo Variations By alternating between no-huddle and slow-developing formations, the Colts can wear down Simmons and prevent him from dictating pace. Fatigue limits his explosiveness and reduces his impact late in drives.

Simmons is elite, but he’s not invincible. The Colts’ offensive line, paired with Steichen’s scheme and Jones’ decisiveness, offers a blueprint to contain Tennessee’s most dangerous defender.

After Action Report: But Before the Action

James Ewell Brown “Jeb” Stuart died at Yellow Tavern. The Confederacy lost its eyes. The Colts, once Stuart-like in style, have evolved. They now blend flair with discipline. They scout, strike, and survive.

In 53 BCE, Roman forces under Crassus were annihilated by Parthian cavalry. Poor reconnaissance, overconfidence, and tactical rigidity doomed the Romans. The Titans risk similar fate.

The Colts execution is precise; their defense is opportunistic. The have offensive balance. Their quarterback is efficient under pressure. Their coaching staff is adaptive. The Titans are flailing. Their rookie quarterback is raw. Their offensive line leaks. Their defense is vulnerable to the run. Their margin for error is gone

I thought that the Broncos, Sheridan-like, had the discipline and arsenal to overwhelm. They didn’t. The Titans, desperate and cornered, will fight. But unless they find a new commander, a new strategy, and a new spark, they’ll fall. The Colts are no longer cavalry. They’re combined arms. And they’re winning.