Colts at Chiefs SNF Predictions: 5 ‘glass half empty or maybe full’ primetime thoughts

As expected, Colts starting quarterback Daniel Jones wasn't particularly sharp last weekend, as he returned from a season-ending torn Achilles that he suffered in Week 14 of the 2025 campaign—and was held out of all of this year's preseason. Jones completed 19 of 31 pass attempts for 166 total passing yards, a passing touchdown, and an interception during Week 1's blowout home loss against the Baltimore Ravens. Jones is still looking to regain some of his prior explosion and athleticism, but it'll be tough sledding against this veteran Steven Spagnuolo coached Chiefs defense, after allowing just 131 total passing yards last week to the Denver Broncos . Jones doesn't lay a dud, but he's not the difference maker at starting quarterback needed to match Patrick Mahomes either.

After the Colts run defense surrendered 144 total rushing yards (*4th most last week) and 3 rushing touchdowns to future Hall of Famer Derrick Henry and the Ravens last weekend, it doesn't get any easier again. New Chiefs' running back Kenneth Walker is one of the hottest running backs in football after Week 1, following gashing the Broncos run defense for 173 total rushing yards (*3rd most last week) and a rushing touchdown. I expect the Colts defense to play with more pride on the road this weekend, and having a linebacker wear the green dot will only help their communication issues, but I don't have a great feeling about this one with their unit still reeling.

If there's a silver lining, it's that the Colts have historically played Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs very well to-date in the NFL superstar quarterback's future Hall of Fame career. Mahomes is 1-2 against the Colts lifetime, and Indianapolis narrowly fell 23-20 to Kansas City in overtime last year during Week 12. Even after the disastrous showing last weekend by the Colts, I still expect this to be a pretty competitive close football game.