The Indianapolis Colts head to Green Bay to take on the Packers in their Week 2 matchup. Both teams are looking to avoid falling to that dreaded 0-2 mark.
Each week and in each game, there are always some key matchups that seem to carry just a big more weight than others when it comes to determining the outcome of the game.
For the Colts in this matchup with the Packers, here are the three key matchups to watch for as the game unfolds.
Colts’ run defense depth vs. Josh Jacobs
The Texans ran all over the Colts last week, but there was a stark contrast in how the Colts run defense held up when Grover Stewart was on the field versus when he wasn’t. In short, the Colts gave up 4.0 yards per rush with Stewart and 7.8 yards per carry without him, according to Next Gen Stats.
This week the challenge doesn’t get any easier for the Colts as they face the Packers Josh Jacobs. It’s looking like Malik Willis will be starting at quarterback for the Packers and his job gets easier with a run game to lean on. The Colts need to put this game in the hands of Willis, not Jacobs, and that starts with Taven Bryan, Raekwon Davis, and Adetomiwa Adebawore playing better.
Packers receivers vs. Colts cornerbacks
There may not be a bigger matchup discrepancy in this game than the Packers’ deep wide receiver unit against the Colts’ thin cornerback room. With Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Bo Melton, the Packers have five receivers that they are more than willing to throw to at just about any moment.
The Colts, meanwhile, will have their cornerback depth tested with JuJu Brents on IR. This leaves either Dallis Flowers or Sam Womack to start opposite of Jaylon Jones.
With the Packers likely starting a backup quarterback who has just 67 career pass attempts and hasn’t even been with the team for three weeks, the thought would be we see a run-heavy approach from Green Bay. However, Matt LaFleur loves to pass the ball and the opportunity to exploit the Colts secondary exists. The question, however, is can Willis capitalize?
Colts big play offense vs. Packers safeties
It was the explosive passing play that kept the Colts in last week’s game against the Houston Texans. Two touchdown passes of 50-plus yards along with another 57 yard completion that set up a touchdown allowed the Colts to keep things close.
This week in the Packers defensive backfield is Xavier McKinney one of the better safeties and big play eliminators in football. Can the Colts still find a way to generate an explosive play or two? If not, can the passing game find the consistency needed to sustain long drives?