Colts set the pace, then never let up
By Caspian
The Indianapolis Colts didn’t just win their opener. They squeezed the life out of it. A 33-8 Week 1 hammering of the Miami Dolphins started with a simple formula: hold the ball, stay ahead of the sticks, and force Miami into long, ugly third downs. The time-of-possession split told the story—nearly 39 minutes for Indy, around 21 for Miami—and the game felt even more lopsided than that. By the time the Dolphins finally found the end zone, the clock was inside the final seven minutes and the stadium’s tension had long since turned into a victory lap.
Daniel Jones played the game the way coaches dream for Week 1 quarterbacks: calm feet, quick decisions, and no panic when the pocket squeezed. He worked through progressions, took what Miami gave him, and kept drives alive with smart throws on third down. The signature early pop came when Michael Pittman turned a clean pitch-and-catch into a touchdown to push the lead to 9-0. It wasn’t flashy, but it was ruthless—methodical marches that ended with points, one after another, until the Dolphins were chasing shadows.
Rookie tight end Tyler Warren looked like he’s been in this offense for years. Seven catches, 76 yards, and a tone-setting cameo as a runner on a short-yardage keeper that moved the chains—every touch had purpose. Jones kept going back to him because he rarely put the ball in jeopardy. Warren’s routes were sharp, his hands were steady, and he didn’t drift on timing throws. When the Colts needed a reliable answer on second-and-medium or third-and-manageable, Warren was often the first read and the right one.
The Colts’ offense didn’t have to force explosives because special teams and defense kept handing them leverage. New kicker Spencer Shrader was perfect, drilling all four field goals and turning stalled drives into scoreboard pressure. That consistency changed the way Miami had to call the game; with every kick, the Dolphins’ margin for error shrank. Coverage units did their job too, keeping Miami’s return game quiet and the field tilted toward the Dolphins’ end of the turf. It all added up to a complementary performance that made the play sheet feel bigger for Shane Steichen and smaller for Miami.
On defense, Lou Anarumo’s debut as coordinator came with an unmistakable edge. The Colts disguised looks, showed pressure from depth, and challenged Miami’s timing. New safety Cam Bynum jumped a route for a clean interception, the kind of play that flips momentum and message: you can’t just throw to spots against this secondary. And there was a little sting in the tail when former Dolphins corner Xavien Howard fell on a loose ball, turning a Miami mistake into more Colts points. Up front, the front seven kept run lanes honest and made the short game feel crowded. The Dolphins managed only 43 total yards in the first half while the Colts ran 43 snaps—control in numbers and on the field.
The shutout watch got real. It wasn’t just the scoreboard; it was the rhythm. Miami’s drives kept hitting the same wall: too many second-and-longs, too many third-and-forevers, too little time to adjust on the sideline before Indianapolis was back on the field grinding clock. The only blemish arrived in garbage time—a well-timed screen to De’Von Achane from the 11 that finally broke through, followed by a two-point conversion for a cosmetic 33-8 finish. The Colts were 6½ minutes from their first blanking since late 2021, and the fan base knew it.
How did Indy build the avalanche? One efficient march at a time. Early, Jones leaned on play designs that prioritized rhythm throws and yards after the catch. As the lead grew, Steichen leaned into tempo control and let the line lean on Miami’s front. Drives were balanced, and the ball spread to keep Miami from settling on matchups. Even when the Colts didn’t reach the paint, Shrader kept stacking points. That steady drip became a flood by the third quarter.
Five snaps that swung the game
- Pittman’s strike: The first-quarter touchdown from Jones to Michael Pittman put the Dolphins on their heels and stamped the tone—clean execution beats perfect coverage.
- Bynum’s theft: Cam Bynum’s interception short-circuited a rare Miami surge and gave the Colts a short field. Moments later, more points.
- Howard’s fumble recovery: Xavien Howard pounced on a loose ball against his former team, a play that drew the loudest roar of the day and another momentum swing.
- Warren on the keep: On a tight third-and-short, rookie TE Tyler Warren took a handoff and powered through the pile. It wasn’t glamorous, but it extended a scoring drive and broke Miami’s spirit.
- Shrader’s fourth field goal: The last one didn’t just pad the lead—it closed the door on any math that might have kept Miami alive. Every decision becomes easier when your kicker is automatic.
From Miami’s view, the frustration was obvious. Their offense never found rhythm in the first half, and by the time they tried to push tempo, the Colts were dictating fronts and coverage looks. Protection wasn’t disastrous, but it was rarely comfortable. That forced throws into tight windows and kept the ball away from their speed in space. The late Achane screen, sprung by timing and a well-sold design, showed what could’ve worked earlier—if the Dolphins had stayed on schedule. Instead, Indianapolis kept them behind the chains and off the field.
Context mattered here. This was a first look at a retooled identity: Steichen’s offense built on timing and precision, Anarumo’s defense built on disguise and rally tackling, and a special teams group that stacked hidden yards. It was also a night layered with meaning for a franchise turning a page. Team co-owners Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, and Kalen Jackson were handed game balls in their first game leading the club after Jim Irsay’s passing in May. Steichen called the moment “really special and fitting” for the family and the locker room, and you could feel why—the performance matched the occasion.
Big picture, the Colts didn’t win with a single star turn. They won by being clean. Few penalties that mattered. Few self-inflicted wounds. Efficient red-zone snaps, smart third-down choices, and a defense that hunted takeaway chances without losing shape. Jones didn’t need heroics; he needed answers, and he had them. Warren looked like a weekly problem for linebackers. Pittman did what a WR1 is paid to do—finish drives. And if Shrader keeps kicking like this, close games tip in Indy’s favor.
Week 1 is a snapshot, not a verdict. But it did reveal something useful: the Colts can play to a clear identity and force you to play left-handed. That’s what travel teams dread and playoff teams build. Next up, the challenge is consistency—carry the tempo control, keep the defense multiple without getting cute, and make every possession at least end with a kick. If they stick to that script, this opener will look less like a surprise and more like the first chapter of a plan coming together.
