The 6-7 Indianapolis Colts will travel to Denver to face the 8-5 Broncos in a game where they will be several-point underdogs.
While there is still a month left in the regular season, the playoffs have started for the Colts in what is essentially a must-win game if they hope to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Anthony Richardson has provide the offense and the team as a whole with a spark since returning to the starting lineup, but awaiting the Colts’ this week is a very stingy Broncos defense.
And if you ask ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky, if the Colts are going to win this game, their wide receivers and tight ends “have to have their best game of the season,” with Orlovsky adding that this means “ZERO drops.”
Dropped passes have been an issue for the Colts’ pass catchers throughout the season. According to PFF, prior to the bye week, Indianapolis ranked 20th in dropped passes this season with 19 on the year, and that includes seven just in the last three games alone with Richardson under center.
Hopefully providing a boost for the passing game this week will be the return of Josh Downs, who has been a go-to option through the air this season and has picked up a lot of first downs. After missing the New England game, he has practiced both days this week, which includes being a full participant on Thursday.
Awaiting the Colts is, as alluded to, a very good Broncos defense. Their front has been one of the best at pressuring the quarterback and stopping the run. The secondary, meanwhile, ranks fourth in yards per pass attempt surrendered and is eighth in interceptions.
Any potential success for the Colts offense is still going to start with the run game, but tough sledding may be in the forecast, which will put an additional burden on the passing game. And in those instances, if the ball is where it needs to be, the Colts’ pass catchers have to come up with the play.
Another part of the equation is the Indianapolis pass-catchers winning their routes in a timely manner and being where Richardson expects them to so the ball can come out on time and within the rhythm of the play.
In all three phases, the Colts need a very clean game in this matchup, and as Orlovsky emphasized, on offense that means no dropped passes and heavy contributions from the receivers and tight ends.