They have an elite defense that can deal with offensive mistakes from time to time. “That’s what I want to do”. “It’s you find a way to get to the playoffs and try to win a Super Bowl”. The Colts ran for 383 yards in four games, and while the average per game is lower than what the team totaled a year ago, the backfield looked better overall despite the absence of Gore.

Well, then. We don’t know about these Indianapolis Colts as they head to Buffalo for Sunday’s 1 p.m. regular-season opener against the Bills. Mayor Ryan? Don’t laugh, and Buffalo’s City Hall boss, Byron Brown, probably isn’t. There’s the new coach, the cocksure Rex Ryan, who’s talking playoffs (the Bills haven’t made it to the postseason since 1999).

And it isn’t just the fan base.

“I haven’t really had the chance to sit back and just think about how everything’s gonna play out”, Taylor said in the piece, linked above. The difference maker in this game is going to be the Colts offense because the offense is too dominant for the Bills’ defense. After losing the AFC championship game to New England in January, the next logical step would be a Super Bowl appearance, of course. “Like I said more so just excited to go out there and play”. “There’s a lot of excitement surrounding the season, and we’re building off what they did here past year”.

Minnesota (-21⁄2) over SAN FRANCISCO – It has been an offseason from hell for the 49ers who, thanks to arrests, early retirements, injuries and the loss of coach Jim Harbaugh, are a shadow of the team they used to be. Everybody checks them at the door every day they come to work. DeAndre Hopkins, teaming with rookie Jaelen Strong, will have to replace what Andre Johnson gave them. It’s Luck’s brilliance, even if it’s unintentional, is what many have said about his antics. The veteran is enjoying a change of scenery with the Colts and is more confidence than ever which is making Andrew Luck very happy.

Williams sure likes what he sees. While Taylor may yet prove to be such a player, his relative inexperience has to be a little unsettling for this team’s unfailingly loyal fanbase.

“These are guys that we earmarked”, said Williams.

On Monday, Pagano was asked if the inexperience up front on the defensive line will be a gamble for a Colts team trying to improve the rushing defense. While the Buffalo Bills’ offensive line will play a huge role in this, LeSean McCoy’s health and longevity is in the back of everyone’s mind as well.

As for the quarterback, well, as Ryan has alluded to, the situation wasn’t ideal, but he conducted a thorough and fair competition between Taylor, Matt Cassel, and EJ Manuel, and he determined that Taylor was the victor.

The intent to get more explosive in the passing game was why Buffalo intentionally went out and signed tight end Charles Clay. “He knows he’s kicking this week so we’ll see, but I will say this – he’s kicked better”.

Anthony Castonzo walked into the Colts’ locker room Friday with a big smile, a new contract and a familiar attitude. Look, we definitely expect to be in the playoffs, period. “So we’ve got him on a pitch count and we’re going to stick to it”.