Carson Wentz Will Make-Or-Break Indianapolis Colts’ Postseason Ceiling

It’s the one question consistently on the minds of Indianapolis Colts fans: Carson Wentz’s inconsistencies. Will Wentz be able to help the Colts to a deep playoff run, or will the passing game cap their true potential?

Wentz has done a lot of things right for the Colts during his first season in Indianapolis, more than enough to pay off the price of a 2021 third-round pick and 2022 first-round pick sent to the Philadelphia Eagles this past offseason for him.

Throwing 26 touchdowns to only six interceptions, head coach Frank Reich has helped Wentz tap back into the quarterback everyone saw from 2017-2019, one year before his disastrous downfall in Philadelphia. Wentz’s improvements also show in the advanced metrics where he carries a QB rating of 95.8, the best figure since 2018. Also, Wentz ranks eighth in QBR at 58.3, which is in the same ballpark as Kyler Murray, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes.

However, as of late, defenses are making it so tough for young superstar running back Jonathan Taylor to take over games singlehandedly. Over the last two games against the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders, Taylor has only 216 rushing yards on 47 carries (4.6 YPC). It’s still an above-average clip, but it’s not the MVP-esque dominance we’ve seen of Taylor in weeks past.

Opposing teams are betting on Wentz to beat them. So far, the results are a mixed bag. Wentz pulled off heroics on Christmas Day in Arizona, but fell flat on his face at Lucas Oil Stadium in a playoff-clinching situation versus Las Vegas.

So, which version of Wentz will appear in postseason play? It will be the deciding factor on how high the Colts’ potential is to be a cinderella story in January football. Over the last 11 games, Wentz has only thrown over 250 yards twice. With defenses going all-in on stopping Taylor, that number will need to increase in win-or-go-home scenarios.

In a year where no team is separating itself from the rest in the AFC, Indianapolis has all the ingredients to make a deep playoff run. They have a team built to thrive in in climate weather, thanks in large part to Taylor and an elite offensive line. Also, an opportunistic defense led by linebacker Darius Leonard has stiffened up as of late.

The X-factor for the Colts comes back to Wentz and how he will fare in his first real postseason experience of his career. Not only will the results weigh heavily this offseason, but it could linger into 2022 and beyond as well for Indianapolis’ new signal-caller.