The 0-2 Indianapolis Colts find themselves in what is essentially a must-win game against the Chicago Bears, even though the NFL season has just begun. In short, making the playoffs after an 0-3 start has been nearly impossible to overcome over the last 20-plus years.
As always, when it comes to winning in the NFL, there are a myriad of things that have to go correctly. But on the defensive side of the football, what are those big-ticket items for the Colts? What must go right?
Here are the three areas defensively that the Colts have to win in their matchup with the Bears.
For a look at the three keys to victory on offense, click here.
The run defense
Yes, I know–the run defense, again. But really, any sort of potential success starts here. If a turnaround is going to happen this season, it begins with being much better against the run.
As we’ve seen, a poor run defense is just too much to overcome because of the negative trickle-down effect it has to the rest of the Colts’ football team, whether that’s making things more difficult on the secondary in short down-and-distance situations, the opponent controlling the time of possession, or the Colts offense playing from behind, along with a number of other issues bad run defense creates.
Finding some sort of success is going to take a collective effort as defensive coordinator Gus Bradley highlighted earlier in the week. There isn’t just one or two things that have to improve–it’s everything. I suppose some good news is that the Colts are facing a Bears offense that has struggled to find success in the run game up to this point, averaging only 3.5 yards per rush, which ranks 29th in the NFL.
That, however, is no guarantee that the Colts find success and doing so has become a lot more difficult with DeForest Buckner on injured reserve. We also do not know Laiatu Latu’s status for Sunday’s game either.
Converting pressures to sacks
The Bears offensive line has been shaky, surrendering the ninth-most pressures and the second-most sacks. When Caleb Williams drops back to pass, there could be the opportunity for the Colts pass rush to get after him.
However, converting those pressures to sacks will be the crucial element here. Williams has shown an impressive ability to escape and extend plays, which will result in more coverage time for a Colts’ secondary that still has its own question marks, especially without JuJu Brents.
In addition to that component, there is also the obvious benefit that sacks bring, which is creating long down-and-distance situations for a Bears’ offense that has struggled to move the ball.
Limit explosive pass plays
The Bears haven’t been able to generate big plays through the air through the first two games, totaling just two passes of 20-plus yards. However, they certainly have the personnel to do it with Williams at quarterback and DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, and Keenan Allen–who has been on the injury report–at receiver.
With the struggles that the Colts run defense has had, which led to the Packers throwing the ball only 14 times this past Sunday, the unknowns in the secondary have flown under the radar, but still exist. Getting Julian Blackmon back at safety will help, but Odunze and Moore against Jaylon Jones and either Sam Womack or Dallis Flowers are matchups that certainly favor the Bears.
Again, Chicago has struggled to sustain drives, so put them in a situation where if they’re going to score, it’s because they are forced to put together 10-plus play drives.