Daniel Jones was just named a captain for the 2025 Indianapolis Colts. Although new, his teammates already look to him as a leader in the locker room and are tasking Jones with being someone at the front of the charge. His first opportunity comes without delay as the Colts seek their first week win since 2013. Yes, you read that right. 2013… The Colts defeated the then Oakland Raiders by a score of 21-17. Since then, it has been nothing but disappointment.
The Colts have thrown countless quarterbacks
at the issue; maybe therein lies the problem, but regardless, the team isn’t following the definition of insanity. Not only have the quarterbacks changed but the coaches, players, venues, etc. have all changed. The Colts have been the road team and the home team, the favorite and the underdog, and everything in between. The fact that they haven’t won a week one contest since 2013 is truly remarkable. Yes, they only get one shot each calendar year, but if you know any fifth graders out there, they have never been alive during a week one Colts victory. Ouch.
Jones is no stranger to being a captain on a NFL team. He was selected by his teammates each year on the Giants even when the organization itself doubted his ability to lead the franchise. Picking a quarterback may seem ceremonial at times as if there is no choice, but Jones didn’t have to be named a captain in his first year with the Colts. Players must believe he puts them in the best position to win. Win against the Miami Dolphins in week one and Jones might be the things of legends around here.
The Dolphins are no slouch, but they aren’t the stiffest competition either. Unfortunately, the level of competition has never seemed to matter when it comes to week one. In 2020, the Colts were the only win for the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars that season. The only win… Those are the types of bizarre circumstances that have to exist to make a streak like this possible. You don’t get here without a bit of bad and unexplainable luck. Speaking of luck, even Andrew Luck could barely get it done while he was here. Yes, he was quarterback for that Raiders win, but he had his fair share of losses over the years as well.
You would be hard pressed to find one thing today that is the same from that 2013 team. The logo on the side of the helmet is just about it. Everything has turned over two to three times from coaches to rosters. It is a curse of epic proportions that simply cannot be explained. Everything has changed except the ability to win the opening game. Daniel Jones is next in line to end the drought. Will he? He certainly could. Would he be the odds on favorite to be the one to finally win a week one contest after all these years? Doubt it. The streak has been a crazy one, though, so it might take something just as crazy to end it.
