The 2026 NFL season kicked off with a massive split for the Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts. While the Chiefs rolled over the Denver Broncos 31-10 on Monday Night Football, the Colts got absolutely shelled 41-23 by the Baltimore Ravens, giving up over 500 yards of offense while only putting up 251 themselves, plus two turnovers and two sacks. But don’t let those numbers fool you, because the Chiefs aren’t. These two square off on Sunday Night Football in Week 2, and Kansas City is talking like Week 1 was a total mirage for Indy.
Colts Offense: More Dangerous Than You Think
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo isn’t letting that Week 1 blowout distort his view of the Colts’ offense. Before Thursday’s practice, Spags was straight up wary of star running back Jonathan Taylor. Taylor put up 121 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns against Baltimore, even in a losing effort. Spagnuolo didn’t mince words: “He’s really good. One thing we have to do is try to bottle him up. When he gets to the edge…he’s really good.” He even recalled a short-yardage play from last year where Taylor “popped,” emphasizing, “He’s tough to catch, so trying to get him bottled up and not let him hit a seam north and south would be really good.”
And what about Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, who was just “middling” in his first game back from an Achilles tear? Spagnuolo sees right through it. “We can’t be deceived by this quarterback, thinking he’s a statue,” Spagnuolo remarked. “He’s a really good athlete, too. And they have option football in their game; their coaches do a really good job of it.” Spags believes Jones elevates Taylor’s game significantly. “When Daniel Jones and Taylor are playing together,” he explained, “Taylor plays really well because you have the threat of the quarterback throwing it, so they’re dual threat in that regard… I’m not deceived by the fact that they didn’t have a great game last week.” This guy is not taking anything for granted.
Colts Defense: Pride and Creativity
It’s not just the offense that Kansas City respects, either. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes weighed in on Wednesday, saying he expects the Indianapolis defense’s veterans to bounce back hard after their rough opener. He highlighted their defensive coordinator, Lou Anarumo, as “one of the best defensive coordinators I’ve went up against” and praised Anarumo’s “long track record of finding creative formations” to mess with offenses like the Chiefs.
Mahomes isn’t overlooking the talent either. He specifically mentioned “their defensive line, their safeties, their corners, they have really good football players or linebackers.” These guys have pride, and they know what they’re doing. Mahomes summed it up: “They won a lot of football games last year off their defense, and Coach Anarumo is one of the best defensive coordinators I’ve went up against.” Sounds like the Chiefs are ready for a totally different Colts team.
So, while the scorebook from Week 1 might make it seem like the Chiefs are facing a pushover, Kansas City’s locker room is clearly sending a different message. They see a dangerous Jonathan Taylor, an athletic Daniel Jones, and a proud, veteran defense led by a top-tier coordinator. Sunday Night Football isn’t just another game; it’s a massive chance for the Colts to prove the Chiefs’ faith in them is warranted and show the league that their Week 1 was a true anomaly. Get ready for what could be a totally different game than what we saw last week.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Arrowhead Pride.
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