“We certainly have a lot of respect for their team, and they’ve had a ton of success the past five or six years in the NFL,” quarterback Daniel Jones said Wednesday. “But we’ve got to play our game on Sunday, and that’s what’s important. Preparing for this week, the challenges that we see with this team and preparing for that and kind of not making it into a bigger – anything bigger than that.”
Steichen’s message to his team is also still the same as it’s always been, focusing on the day-to-day improvements rather than the big picture. So far this season, the Colts have been able to lock in on a week-by-week basis – whether it’s rebounding from one of their two losses or staying even-keeled after a big win – and there’s no reason why that will change this week.
“I think every week is different,” Jones said. “It’s a different challenge and I think we’ve done a good job throughout the year of growing and improving week-to-week. I think this defense poses a lot of challenges from a pressure standpoint, and it’s an aggressive group and (they’re) doing a lot of different things, so we have an important few days here to prepare for that and make sure we’re ready to go.”
The Chiefs defense has only allowed 181 points this season (third-best in the league) and is led by defensive end George Karlaftis, who has a team-high five sacks and 17 quarterback hits, and defensive tackle Chris Jones, whose three sacks and 10 quarterback hits are second on the team.
It’s a similar situation on the other side of the ball as well; Mahomes is leading a highly efficient offense that’s averaging 38.8 yards per drive (second only to the Colts’ 40.6) with 48.9 percent of their drives ending in a score. Again, the only team to boast a better number is the Colts, with 56.7 percent of drives ending in a score.
“I think the whole group – you can tell they’re well-coached, they’re well-prepared,” Jones said. “They got playmakers all over the field offensively and defensively.”
So, no matter what their record says, the Chiefs are good. Also, they’ve only lost one game at Arrowhead Stadium this year, falling to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2. The Colts know they’re in for a challenge on Sunday – and they’re ready for it.
You want to play in these games, in these big games,” Jones said. “And it’s the NFL – they’re all big games. But this is an opponent we respect a lot and a team that’s had a lot of success, so I’m excited.”