For Ballard, this (should be) his make-or-break season. Playoffs...or else.

The man described by Jim Irsay as "the best GM candidate of the 21st Century" has failed to win a single AFC South crown in seven years. This is Year 8. It's time.

Chris Ballard knows what’s being said and what’s being written: He knows that a lot of us, fans and media, believe he should be on the hot seat. It’s his eighth year. They’re 54-60-1 during his tenure. They haven’t won the AFC South since his arrival, which was heralded by owner Jim Irsay. “Chris is the best GM candidate in the 21^st century,” he said. More recently, Irsay called Ballard a “blue-chip” general manager. His team has won one playoff game during his time here. That was in 2018. Long time again.

But by now, Ballard’s get-out-of-jail card, which he received when Andrew Luck unceremoniously retired, has expired. Now, he’s got his quarterback – a young one, mind you, but one with uncommon potential – and it’s time to produce. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: If the Colts fail to make the playoffs yet again – they’ve missed them three years in a row – Irsay needs to blow it up and start over.

I don’t know if Ballard is on the hot seat, but I know this: He should be.

Tuesday, during an interview with local media, Ballard was asked directly about whether he worries he’s in trouble should the season turn south.

Answer: Not really. At least no more than any other year. You can believe that…or not.

“I still have a strong belief in what we’re doing, how we’re doing it and how we’re going to get there,” he said. “That will not waver. It’s easy to vacillate, easy to vacillate and go with what the world wants you to do. You either believe in something or you don’t. This is what we believe. If it gets me fired, so be it.”