Indianapolis Colts snap Week 1 curse as Daniel Jones deals in 33–8 debut

The streak that wouldn’t die finally did

An 11-game Week 1 drought ended with a thud in Miami. The Indianapolis Colts didn’t just sneak past the Dolphins — they handled them, 33–8, and looked sure of themselves from the opening snap. Daniel Jones, in his first game as a Colt, was calm and clinical: 22-of-29 passing, 272 yards, one touchdown through the air, and two more on 1-yard keepers. No turnovers. One sack. A career-high 197 passing yards before halftime set the tone.

For a franchise that hadn’t started 1–0 since 2013, this wasn’t just a win. It felt like a reset. Back then, Andrew Luck beat the Raiders to open the year. Since then: slow starts, odd breaks, a tie sprinkled in, and a pile of early-season frustration. On Sunday, the Colts tore that narrative up and played fast, decisive football.

Jones kept his comments measured afterward, calling it a good start and pushing the focus forward. That fit the mood. Relief? Sure. But there wasn’t victory-parade energy. There was a sense this team expects more than one clean Sunday in September.

Context matters here. Jones won the starting job only three weeks ago, edging out Anthony Richardson after a tight summer battle. He didn’t just manage the game — he owned it at the line, checking protections, moving safeties with his eyes, and using his legs in the red zone when the numbers were right. The decision-making was steady, snap to snap.

Credit also goes to head coach Shane Steichen. His plan married pace with simplicity. Motion to reveal coverage. Quick throws to get Jones comfortable. A few layered shot looks. And in the low red zone, a dose of quarterback runs that forced Miami to defend 11-on-11. It wasn’t flashy. It was efficient and ruthless.

This is the version of Jones the Colts believed they could unlock: the dual threat who doesn’t chase hero plays, who wins with timing, and who turns second-and-8 into third-and-2 with a smart scramble. He looked settled — and that calm spread to the rest of the huddle.

What changed — and why it matters

Start with the offensive line. The pass protection looked connected, and the run blocking had a clear identity. They kept Jones upright almost the entire day, giving up only one sack and few clean shots. When the pocket did squeeze, Jones didn’t panic. He either climbed and threw or took what was there on the ground.

Jonathan Taylor’s 71 yards on 18 carries won’t jump off a stat sheet, but the carries mattered. The Colts stayed on schedule, controlled the tempo, and kept Miami from pinning its ears back. Taylor got tough yards on early downs and helped sell play-action. The backs ran behind their pads, and the line finished blocks. That’s culture stuff, not just scheme.

Receivers and tight ends helped too. They ran through catches, blocked on the perimeter, and turned easy throws into chain-movers. The first half had a rhythm: quick outs, crossers, screens, then a well-timed deep shot to keep the safeties honest. By halftime, Miami was reacting — not dictating.

Defensively, Indianapolis tackled well in space and forced Miami to string plays together. The Dolphins’ speed is always a threat, but the Colts limited explosives and kept the middle of the field from becoming a runway. Eight points allowed tells the story: no freebies, no broken coverages that flipped the game. It was disciplined football.

Steichen’s imprint is obvious. He doesn’t chase balance for balance’s sake. He chases answers. If the picture is light in the box, he runs it. If the flats are soft, he takes them. The plan moved fast, but it wasn’t complex for complexity’s sake. Players didn’t look like they were thinking — they looked like they were playing.

As for Richardson, the backup handled a tough week like a pro. Losing a close competition stings, but the sideline energy was positive. No drama. That matters in a locker room that has seen plenty of quarterback churn in recent years. Stability is a skill in this league, and the Colts finally showed some.

One game doesn’t promise anything in the AFC, where margins are thin and scouting reports travel fast. But Sunday offered a template that holds up against good teams: protect the ball, win in the red zone, stay out of third-and-longs, and make offenses drive the length of the field. The Colts checked those boxes.

What stood out the most was how normal it looked. No tricking their way to points. No relying on one star to do everything. It was system football — the kind that turns hot starts into sustainable runs if the details stay sharp.

Five things that popped on the rewatch:

• Poise at the line: Jones consistently got the offense into the right plays and protections, especially against late safety rotations.
• Red-zone conviction: The designed QB keepers paid off because the Colts made Miami defend the perimeter first, then hit inside.
• First-half punch: 197 passing yards before the break put Miami on its heels and let Indy dictate the second half.
• Clean sheet: Zero turnovers and only one sack — that wins in any stadium, any week.
• Explosive control on defense: Miami had to earn every yard. Few freebies. Tight angles and solid tackling.

There’s still polish to add. A couple of deep shots sailed, and a few drives stalled when timing slipped. Short-yardage physicality can tick up another notch. Those are fixable with reps and film work. The core — identity, communication, pace — is in place.

What does this mean big picture? The Colts have been searching for a steady hand since that last Week 1 win a decade ago. They’ve tried different styles and different answers under center. On Sunday, Jones and Steichen looked aligned. The quarterback played within himself. The play-caller stayed one beat ahead. That’s the partnership Indy has been hoping to build.

The schedule will get tougher, and defenses will adjust. They’ll sit on the quick game, squeeze the edges, and test whether Indianapolis can win outside the numbers when the box is heavy. That’s where continued chemistry between Jones and his receivers matters — sight adjustments, trust throws, and second-reaction plays that come from reps, not hope.

For one week, though, the Colts didn’t blink. They started fast, handled the middle, and closed. After years of opening-day stumbles, they left no doubt. That’s how you change a storyline — not with a miracle play, but with four quarters that look the same: organized, physical, smart.