Both the Indianapolis Colts and the Green Bay Packers will be looking to bounce back after each team suffered a loss in their respective regular season openers. Historically speaking, falling to 0-2 does not bode well for making the playoffs.
In Week 1 against the Houston Texans, the Colts used a heavy-dose of light boxes to provide their secondary with additional help against a strong trio of receivers. However, that left them exposed in the running game, which Joe Mixon took full advantage of.
Making matters more difficult for the Colts’ defense is that JuJu Brents has since been placed on IR, which will now put the depth of an already thin cornerback room to the test.
If the Colts offense is going to find success this coming Sunday against the Packers’ offense, here are their three keys to doing so.
Related: 3 Keys to victory for Colts’ offense vs. Packers
Stop the run
I assume that after last week’s performance, where the Colts gave up 213 total rushing yards to the Texans, including 159 yards to Joe Mixon, this one is a given. The challenge this week doesn’t get any easier with Josh Jacobs in the backfield for the Packers. Jacobs has the ability to take games over and that is going to be how the Packers win this one.
One would think that the Packers will look to lean more heavily on the run game with Malik Willis at quarterback. Containing Jacobs would put Willis in long down-and-distance situations where the pass rush can pin its ears back and the secondary has the advantage in coverage. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the pendulum swing for the Colts in the other direction, playing with heavier boxes in an effort to make Willis be the one to beat them.
An added wrinkle that could create an additional challenge for the Colts in this regard is that the Packers do like to run end-arounds, not to mention that Willis’ ability as a ball carrier adds a different dynamic to the Packers offense.
Take away the easy completions
As the Packers’ head coach and play-caller, Matt LaFleur does a very good job of getting his pass-catchers in space where they then have the opportunity to make plays. The Packers also boast a litany of pass-catching options that can hurt opposing defenses in a variety of ways.
Along the lines of what we highlighted in the last section, taking away those quick passing opportunities, which likely requires playing with more defenders in the box should be a priority. Now, the downside to this is that it leaves the cornerbacks in one-on-one situations, but ultimately the goal for the Colts should be forcing the Packers to put this game in the hands of Willis.
If Willis ends up beating you here and there for a few chunk plays–tip your cap. But what the Colts shouldn’t let happen is Willis meticulously working the offense down the field.
Get off the field on third downs
I know this is a key to victory that I could use every week, but it’s been an issue for the Colts since last season, and against the Texans in Week 1, we saw how Houston was able to extend several drives by finding success on third downs.
Contributing to the Colts’ ability to accomplish this really begins in the trenches. They need to limit the Packers’ run game, putting them in those aforementioned third-and-long situations, and then the pass rush needs to get home and cause some chaos.
Third down success means short drives for the opposing offense and more opportunities for the Colts’ offense. Likely facing a backup quarterback who has been in Green Bay for just over two weeks, the Colts need to play well on these pivotal downs.