Heading into Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season, the Indianapolis Colts have the best offensive line unit in football, according to PFF.
After Week 1, the Colts’ offensive line unit was ranked No. 3, and the group jump to No. 1 following their performance against Green Bay.
In that game specifically, running back Jonathan Taylor ran for 103 yards on only 12 attempts. In pass protection, on 36 dropbacks for Anthony Richardson, the offensive line surrendered just five pressures.
As a unit, the Colts rank third in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric.
Individually, if you combine all tackles, guards, and centers, Will Fries has the fourth-highest overall grade of any offensive lineman in football. Bernhard Raimann is at No. 26, Quenton Nelson No. 27, Ryan Kelly No. 33, and Braden Smith No. 66–and this is out of 160 eligible linemen.
Collectively, the Colts offense is still looking for consistency, but if the offensive line continues to play at the level they’ve been at through two games, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before the water begins to find its level, as they say.
Good offensive line play allows for a stout running game, which leads to short down-and-distance situations, opening up the playbook and passing opportunities, along with giving the offense the schematic advantage.
Then on passing plays, we all know how important a clean pocket is for the quarterback so he can go through his progressions and make on time and in rhythm throws.
After how well this unit played last year, expectations were high for the Colts offensive line coming into this season, and so far they’ve delivered.
