Our offseason opponent breakdown series on theRams.com continues with Los Angeles' Week 4 home opponent, the Indianapolis Colts (SoFi Stadium, Sept. 28, 1:05 p.m. PT on FOX).
2024
The Colts' 2024 season was highlighted by quarterback controversy, as second-year gunslinger Anthony Richardson was benched midseason in favor of veteran Joe Flacco after Richardson took himself out of their Week 8 game against the Texans (Richardson became the starter again two weeks later). Head coach Shane Steichen, also in his second year, led Indianapolis to an 8-9 record, missing the postseason for the second-straight season.
Key changes
Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard made a few impactful moves during the offseason. Most notably, he added former Giants starting quarterback Daniel Jones to compete with Richardson for the starting job. The Colts made another splash on the offensive side by selecting Penn State tight end Tyler Warren in the first round of the 2025 draft. At running back, they signed veteran Khalil Herbert and drafted DJ Giddens out of Kansas State in the fifth round.
The Colts also hired former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, a 37-year NFL veteran who's a widely-respected defensive mind. To give him some weapons, Indianapolis signed former Vikings safety Cam Bynum (who had a career-highs in interceptions and passes defended last season) along with veteran cornerback Charvarius Ward, most recently with San Francisco. Ballard also added former Rams nose tackle Neville Gallimore in free agency.
Indianapolis spent its second- and third-round picks on defenders, selecting edge rusher JT Tuimoloau out of Ohio State and cornerback Justin Walley out of Minnesota. They also drafted Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard in the sixth round.
2024 kicker Matt Gay is no longer on the roster, as Spencer Shrader and Maddux Trujillo are set to compete for the job.
Head coach
Steichen enters his third season as head coach of the Colts with significant staff continuity, apart from Anarumo's hire this offseason.
What to watch for
Colts' dual-threat rushing attack versus Rams' front
Last season, the Colts ranked top 10 in rush yards per game (137.1), yards per attempt (4.7), 10-plus yard rushes (64) and rush yards over expected (+351). That production stemmed from the rare power/speed combination provided by running back Jonathan Taylor along with Richardson's dual-threat abilities.
Both Richardson and Jones are capable runners, both on designed carries and scrambles, so that aspect of the offense will likely remain intact no matter who wins the starting job.
The Rams' young defensive front struggled against the run to start the season, but turned things around by the year's end. During their five-game win streak from Weeks 13-17 (preceding a Week 18 game where starters rested), the Rams gave up an average of 99.4 rushing yards, the ninth-fewest in the league over that span. That stretch included a stout performance against the Cardinals, where speedy quarterback Kyler Murray totaled just 32 yards on the ground.
Los Angeles added defensive tackle Poona Ford and drafted outside linebacker Josaiah Stewart, defensive tackle Ty Hamilton and inside linebacker Pooh Paul to the front seven this offseason. Those additions, plus a year of added experience for playmakers like Jared Verse, Byron Young, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske and Omar Speights (all still on their respective rookie contracts), will make this a fun matchup to watch in Week 4.
