The Colts are in the middle of a rebuild Authentic Malik Hooker Jersey , right? That has been the common refrain from fans and analysts alike all season. This is a team that is still a year or two away from really competing. There are just too many holes to truly run with the best teams in the NFL. The problem with that assessment is that no one bothered to tell the Colts. In a season where we were largely hoping to see marked improvement across the board and an Andrew Luck who could show that he was able to return to form after a protracted absence, we have gotten instead a well-coached team that looks like it could beat anyone in the NFL as the regular season comes to a close. In consecutive weeks the Colts have handled a Texans team that was on a 9-game win streak and a Cowboys team that was on a 5-game win streak. What is more impressive still is that rather than the old blueprint for this Colts team of letting Andrew Luck go to work and hoping that is enough, they’ve won in different ways. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY SportsAgainst the Texans it was a combination of strong defensive play and Luck taking deep shots to T.Y. Hilton. Yesterday against Dallas, it was a smothering defensive performance and a ground and pound game behind the formidable young offensive line that paved the way to a shutout win. Contributions from rookies like Darius Leonard and Tyquan Lewis as well as a young secondary made the Cowboys offense that had been rolling look totally impotent.So how good are they really? 1-5 seems like a distant memory for this team, who since that time have found their stride on defense as health and reps have given way to a very strong group. Since that time we’ve seen Darius Leonard sustaining a rookie season that could very likely end up with him as an All-Pro. As a unit the defensive line has hit their stride down the back stretch of this season, finding ways to repeatedly abuse opposing quarterbacks and making teams pay when they can’t get receivers open quickly. Complementing that effort perfectly has been the emergence of the secondary who are playing their best football of the season and have essentially shut down top receivers over the past two weeks. Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty ImagesWhat’s more, this team has taken on some of the best running backs in the NFL and proven itself up to the task of limiting them. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus seems to be hitting his stride in terms of play calling and has really got a feel for his team’s strengths and how best to use them. While there aren’t a plethora of game breakers across the group, this defense is loaded with guys who can make a play and who do their jobs well. That kind of balance can be huge in the playoffs.In all reality though, this isn’t a team that has to have a dominant defense. The reason? Andrew Luck. Luck has had a fantastic return season and has gotten better and his arm stronger as the season has progressed. Despite the loss of Jack Doyle, and no notable receivers to speak of behind T.Y. Hilton, Luck inside of Frank Reich’s scheme has been efficient Authentic T.Y. Hilton Jersey , smart, and dangerous. The offensive line since the return of Anthony Castonzo has been essentially a brick wall, allowing the second fewest sacks in the league through 15 weeks. They trail only the Saints, who have attempted 140 fewer passes than they have. That is just plain incredible. The job of this line has been ridiculous. With the renewed running game we saw yesterday, this offense only stands to get more deadly as the season goes on. Frank Reich has continued to improve, and if he is given a balanced attack that can open up the play action, this offense can be deadly. Despite a relative lack of skill position players on the offense, a combination of Reich’s play calling and Luck’s brilliance has enabled them to get players involved and be very successful. Eric Ebron, the presumed first round bust at tight end who was signed in the offseason, has been incredible, setting the franchise record for most touchdowns by a Colts tight end in a season Authentic Chester Rogers Jersey , and has two games to go yet. Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty ImagesSo the question remains, how good is this team? At their best, as in the way we’ve seen them play the past couple weeks? They are good enough to beat any team in the NFL. Over the past few weeks as we’ve watched the white hot Saints, Rams, and Chiefs cool a bit from their ridiculous levels of the earlier parts of the season, the Colts have been the ones heating up. They got a gut check game against Jacksonville to remind them that there was no room to take a week off. Now they’ll face the next two weeks in “must-win” mode. Games against the Giants and Titans will be critical to getting into the playoffs, and they’ll need either Baltimore or Pittsburgh to drop one game to make that possible. Additionally, if the Texans were to somehow lose out and the Colts win out, they would take the division. Once in, this is a team that no one will want to face. Given their youth, it is certainly possible that they could show up flat and drop a game to anyone. However Authentic Braden Smith Jersey , they have proven over the past several weeks that they are not a team to be taken lightly, and through solid coaching, sound play, and breakout performances from their young defense, this is a team that can absolutely contend for a Super Bowl this season. Regardless of how this season finishes, it is tough not to be excited about the possibilities for this young team as they grow and move forward. So what do you think? Is this team ready to contend now?Colts News: A look at the Colts roster decision-making process as cut day looms Collaboration, honesty, freedom: How the Colts go about making their roster decisions – The AthleticWith the deadline to cut rosters just days away, the Colts are going through their process of making final roster cuts. But what is that process like?Peyton Manning On Frank Reich, Andrew Luck, Colts' New-Look OffenseLegendary Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning today sat down with Colts.com's Caroline Cann and discussed a multitude of topics prior to the annual Colts Kickoff Luncheon.Peyton Manning on Andrew Luck http://www.indianapoliscoltsteamonline.com/matthias-farley-jersey , Adam Vinatieri and that hilarious SNL skitPeyton Manning returned to Indianapolis to tell stories at the Colts' preseason luncheon.Seven Things To Watch: Colts at Bengals | WFNI ESPN 107.5 / 1070 The Fan | Indy's SportsCenterThe 2018 preseason finale is here with the Colts traveling to Cincinnati for a Thursday night kickoff. What are seven things to watch for as the Colts play the Bengals in Week Four of the preseason?2018 Colts Preseason Preview: Colts/Bengals, Week 4Taking a look at the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals Week 4 preseason matchup.Several roster battles linger into Colts' preseason finale | Sports | heraldbulletin.comThe fourth and final week of the preseason rightly is an afterthought on the annual NFL calendar.Colts at Bengals: What to watch for Thursday night | FOX59INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Areas of interest in the Indianapolis Colts’ preseason game against the Bengals Thursday night at Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium. Kickoff: 7 p.m.Broadcast: FOX59 Caught in a draft?: The NFL is one of the true meritocracies.Mailbag: How Much Did The Colts Hold Back In The Preseason? | WFNI ESPN 107.5 / 1070 The Fan | Indy's SportsCenterThis week, mailbag readers inquire about the young linebackers on the roster, trading Jacoby Brissett and the depth at wide receiver behind T.Y. Hilton.KRAVITZ: Over-looked and under-appreciated, Colts' Leonard is establishing himself as a star-in-waiting | 13 WTHR IndianapolisKRAVITZ: Over-looked and under-appreciated, Colts' Leonard is establishing himself as a star-in-waiting.2018 Colts Kickoff Luncheon Q&A: Frank ReichIndianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich on Wednesday met up on stage with general manager Chris Ballard at the annual Colts Kickoff Luncheon for a Q&A session about a variety of topics.2018 Colts Kickoff Luncheon Q&A: Chris BallardIndianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard on Wednesday met up on stage with head coach Frank Reich at the annual Colts Kickoff Luncheon for a Q&A session about a variety of topics.Eric Ebron On Honeymoon With Wife And Colts: "It's All Been Positive."It's been a big year for tight end Eric Ebron - on the field and off. In March, he agreed to come to Indianapolis to play for the Colts. In July, he committed to a lifetime with his love, Gabriela. And he's looking forward to new beginnings with both of tCOLTS MEDIA