Colts Keep Falling in NFL Power Rankings After Losing to the Titans and Firing Chris Ballard

The Indianapolis Colts blew a 13-0 lead to Tennessee and fired GM Chris Ballard a day later, and three of four outlets pushed them down for Week 7.

by Bryce Lazenby

Oct 20, 2026

The Indianapolis Colts blew a 13-0 lead to Tennessee and fired GM Chris Ballard a day later, and three of four outlets pushed them down for Week 7.

Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

The Indianapolis Colts led the winless Tennessee Titans 13-0 at halftime Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium and lost 26-20. By Monday morning, owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon had fired general manager Chris Ballard in his 10th season with the team.

Indianapolis outgained Tennessee by 213 yards and still found a way to lose it. Daniel Jones went 22 of 42 for 269 yards, a touchdown pass and two interceptions, the Titans sacked him six times, and Oluwafemi Oladejo returned a blocked punt for the go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

Three of the four outlets we follow dropped the Colts two to four spots. CBS Sports kept them at No. 24, and they now sit anywhere from No. 23 to No. 27.

Pro Football Talk

This week’s ranking: 27
Last week’s ranking: 23

Mike Florio was the hardest on Indianapolis, sliding the Colts four spots to No. 27, the lowest ranking any outlet gave them. He kept his note to one question. “Is a fire sale coming?” he asked.

Irsay-Gordon said the season’s goals haven’t changed, and head coach Shane Steichen said Jones remains the starter. Florio’s question still hangs over a 2-4 team that just fired the man who built the roster, and fans are already asking if Shane Steichen is next.

Fox Sports

This week’s ranking: 23
Last week’s ranking: 20

Ralph Vacchiano dropped the Colts three spots and read Ballard’s firing as the owner waving the white flag on 2026. In his view, Steichen is probably next to go, and Jones shouldn’t get comfortable either.

He called the Titans loss embarrassing. Tennessee scored on all five of its second-half possessions, counting the blocked punt, and the loss snapped Indianapolis’ six-game winning streak against the Titans, according to Vacchiano.

ESPN

This week’s ranking: 26
Last week’s ranking: 24

ESPN’s panel moved the Colts down two spots, and Stephen Holder put the offense’s biggest issue on the quarterback. Jones has committed nine turnovers this season, with multiple giveaways in three of six games.

Holder allowed for some context, including an underwhelming receiver group without Alec Pierce (heel) and a line that struggles with blitzes. Jones still ranks 30th in QBR, 29th in yards per attempt and 29th in completion rate, per ESPN, after ranking in the top five in all three at this point last season. Jones himself admitted he’s been forcing throws that aren’t there.

CBS Sports

This week’s ranking: 24
Last week’s ranking: 24

Pete Prisco was the only one who held the Colts in place. He still thinks the Titans loss could be a damning blow to this regime, and he made clear Indianapolis has to turn it around fast.

The schedule won’t help. The Colts visit the unbeaten Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, and cornerback Sauce Gardner is week to week with a calf strain.