Tom Brady’s most recent version of FOX Sports’ weekly Power Rankings gathered a lot of attention. The former quarterback-turned-analyst couldn’t help but get personal this time. His words were laced with that familiar sting.

Coming off a dominant win against the Titans, the Indianapolis Colts are crowned as the number one team by the seven-time Super Bowl winner for Week 8, as they sat comfortably at 7-1.

The former Patriots legend said, addressing the Colts led by Daniel Jones: “Not gonna lie, didn’t want to do it, but I can’t ignore 7-1. The Colts have arrived, and they are finally the number one team in my power rankings. I know people have their doubts, but this offense hasn’t taken a single quarter off all season long.”

Even after retirement, it looks like the 15-time Pro Bowl clearly has some strong feelings towards the Colts, as Brady clearly mentions he ‘didn’t want to,’ add them to the list. Throughout his time with the New England Patriots, Brady’s Patriots consistently battled Peyton Manning’s Colts in wars that came to define the AFC map for more than a decade.

Brady ultimately had an upper hand in the rivalry, compiling an 11-6 mark against Manning overall. But Manning did have his victories when it counted, winning 3-2 against Brady in postseason games. Both men finished up as multi-time MVPs and Super Bowl winners, and two of the all-time legends in the league. But perhaps the rift between the Patriots and Colts still runs deep in Brady’s voice.

Continuing, Brady launched another jab shrouded in flattery: ”With a favorable schedule in the second half of the season, could the AFC run through Indy this year? I feel sick just saying that.”

Ironically, the same sin that nauseated Brady to his very core is respecting every rule. In their Week 8 win against the Tennessee Titans, the Colts showed another all-around offensive performance. Daniel Jones passed for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns without fumbling.

Michael Pittman Jr. again headed the receiving unit in creating good mismatches downfield, with Alec Pierce further streamlining his flow as Jones’ deep-threat receiver. Tight end Tyler Warren contributed four receptions for 53 yards and provided Indianapolis with a further established option in short-yardage and red-zone situations.

It was one of those contests that more than anything else explains what Brady means when he says the Colts have not “taken a single quarter off” all along.

The Colts made history amid Brady’s ranking

Where Brady’s commentary told us what was happening in his head, Indianapolis’ numbers tell us how they’ve changed. The Colts’ 2025 season has been compared to the Manning years, but statistically, they’re doing something that team didn’t.

The Colts’ 2025 season is drawing comparisons to the Peyton Manning era, but they’re actually hitting marks even those teams didn’t. They’ve scored 30 or more points in six of their first eight games, something the 2009 Colts never did. The last team to pull that off was the 2007 Patriots, who went 16-0 behind Tom Brady and Randy Moss.

Colts’ only games under 30 points came in a 29-28 win over the Broncos on a last-second field goal and a 27-20 loss to the Rams. Outside of that, it’s been pure offensive dominance, with the Colts averaging a stunning 33.75 points per game.

Each week, the Colts discover new ways to score, whether it’s on a Taylor breakaway, a Pittman slant route, or a third-down strike. The end result is a team that not only ranks atop the league in scoring but in faith. That’s the reason Pat McAfee asked Daniel Jones to sign a 10-year contract with the team.

Since head coach Shane Steichen took the reins, the Colts have blended balance, pace, and determination into a mix that few other franchises can contend with.