Tag: Indianapolis

Bills vs. Colts: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 10

Bills vs. Colts: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 10

The Buffalo Bills (7-2) will face the Indianapolis Colts (4-5) on the road in their upcoming Week 10 matchup.

The games within the game will make all the difference for the Bills as they try to win in Indianapolis for the first time since 1999.

Here are three key matchups to watch during Sunday’s Bills-Colts contest:

Bills front seven vs. Jonathan Taylor

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The Bills’ front seven has been inconsistent this year in defending the ground game, and they have been under the microscope this week after allowing the Miami Dolphins to run all over them. Running backs De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert each averaged over five yards per carry and combined for 119 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Now, they have Jonathan Taylor to worry about.

Taylor has been one of the best backs in the NFL when healthy since he entered the league. This year he is averaging an impressive 4.8 yards per carry and is 19th in the NFL in rushing yards (502), just ahead of James Cook (496).

The Bills will need execution and effort from their front seven throughout the game to keep Taylor in check. Guys like DaQuan Jones, Ed Oliver, and Greg Rousseau will be counted on to make an impact at the line of scrimmage.

CB Taron Johnson vs. WR Josh Downs

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Slot cornerback Taron Johnson, a second-team All-Pro last year, will be tested by a young up-and-comer in Week 10. Second-year wide receiver Josh Downs operates out of the slot and has quickly gained rapport with quarterback Joe Flacco.

In four games together this year, Downs has averaged 9.75 targets, 7.5 receptions, and 69.25 receiving yards per contest. He has the most catches from Flacco by a decent margin and has been the most-targeted receiver in all four games.

Johnson has a tough task with keeping tabs on Downs and also being ready to head downhill to tackle Taylor in the running game. It’s a tall task but that’s nothing new for one of the best nickel corners in the game.

QB Joe Flacco vs. Bills pass coverage

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We could more widely talk about the playcalling duel between Shane Steichen and Bobby Babich, but let’s zoom in a bit. Flacco vs the Bills’ coverage will be a chess match to watch.

Flacco has been around the block. In his 17th year, he is still proving he can be effective. He has seven touchdowns and two interceptions through four games played, and his 94.5 passer rating ranks 14th in the NFL.

The Bills passing defense struggled against the Dolphins last week as Tua Tagovailoa completed 89% of his passes. The Bills currently rank middle-of-the-pack in passing defense DVOA (15th).

The defense might have a little bit of an easier day if WR Michael Pittman Jr. can’t play due to injury, but what would really help them is having more of a pass rush.

Colts will be without key offensive starter vs. Bills

Colts will be without key offensive starter vs. Bills

The Indianapolis Colts’ offensive line won’t be at full strength when they host the Buffalo Bills in Week 10. They’ll be missing a major piece to their puzzle up front.

On Tuesday, the team placed veteran center Ryan Kelly on injured reserve, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Kelly, a Pro Bowler in four of the past five years, will miss at least the next four games for the Colts after suffering a knee injury.

Colts running back Jonathan Taylor will be looking to get back on track on the ground this week despite the loss of their team captain at center. In last week’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings, he was held to 3.7 yards per carry and totaled just 48 yards.

Taylor will attempt to right the ship while running behind rookie center Tanor Bortolini on Sunday. But, even with a fourth-round rookie handling the snaps, the Bills defensive line will still be tested.

Bortolini, a former Wisconsin Badger, will start at center for Kelly for the third time this year. He has fared well while at center so far. In 160 total snaps, his 66.3 Pro Football Focus grade ranks 18th among 57 qualifying centers. Bortolini has given up zero sacks on just one pressure allowed and has committed just one penalty.

The Bills’ defensive line has seen its struggles as of late and they recently lost defensive linemen DeWayne Carter and Dawuane Smoot to IR. They did bring back free-agent defensive tackles Jordan Phillips and Quinton Jefferson on Wednesday, but they are a unit on the team that has left a lot to be desired.

How the Bills’ front, particularly Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones, perform going up against the rookie is now a key matchup to watch in Week 10.

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Notre Dame lands forward as first commit of 2025 recruiting class

Welcome, Brady!

Notre Dame had been waiting for its first commit in the 2025 recruiting class. Finally, that wait has come to an end.

[autotag]Brady Koehler[/autotag], a four-star power forward from Cathedral in Indianapolis, has announced that he’s committing to the Irish. He ranks 90th nationally among 2025 recruits on On3, 98th on ESPN and 114th on 247Sports, on which his composite score ranks him 14th all-time among Notre Dame commits since 2000.

When On3 asked him why he chose to play for the Irish under [autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag], he said this:

“I chose Notre Dame because of the relationship that I have built with coach Shrews, coach (Ryan) Owens, and the rest of the staff over the last year and how they are all in on me. Also, I feel like I will thrive at Notre Dame.”

Koehler’s commitment falls in line with Shrewsberry’s desire to attract talent within the state of Indiana. This also might just be the start as five-star forward Jalen Haralson, widely considered the state’s best 2025 recruit, has the Irish as one of his final choices for a decision he’ll make Wednesday.

For now though, Irish fans can be happy with Koehler:

Here’s hoping this is the start of a fruitful time for Koehler in South Bend.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on X: @gfclark89

Don’t count Porsche out at Indy – Bourdais

Sebastien Bourdais was buoyed by his pole run in qualifying for today’s six-hour TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It brought a glimmer of hope that the No. 01 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R isn’t eliminated from the …

Sebastien Bourdais was buoyed by his pole run in qualifying for today’s six-hour TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It brought a glimmer of hope that the No. 01 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R isn’t eliminated from the championship.

At the same time, he recognizes that Porsche Penske Motorsport, currently one-two in the championship, seems to be able to pull out a good result in any circumstance.

“They always seem to come back from the dead,” Bourdais said with a laugh. “So every time you think they’re pretty much done there, they come back and finish on the podium or win the race. It’s the beauty of IMSA — it’s never over. But at the same time, they haven’t had a single bad race so far this year, and we’ve already had one DNF and one that looked like a DNF.

“So, yeah, we need help for sure. If the stars align, and we get a little lucky, then everything’s possible. On pure results, if they finish placed, then it’s very much over.”

Indy first-timers

Ben Barker, driving the No. 55 Proton Competition Ford Mustang GT3 with Giammarco Levorato and Corey Lewis, is one of several drivers in the field making their debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and RACER sought out his first impressions.

“First time to the to the mecca of motorsport in the U.S., and yeah, it’s pretty amazing. Like the whole complex is pretty crazy. It’s an exciting little track and lots of cars, so it’s going to be busy.

“It’s short, it’s it’s not loads to it. But equally, there’s quite a lot of combined corners sections that you really have to think about your car placement. Trying to learn the track [in the first practice session] with lots of cars was a bit tough, so I didn’t really get in a proper flow.”

Proton Competition’s Ben Barker is among the drivers making their Indianaplois bows. Jake Galstad/Motorsport Images

Weather wondering

Who knows? Every time we think rain or thunderstorms will impact a race, we’re wrong. The chance of rain has ebbed since yesterday, and now the forecast predicts only a slim chance toward the end of the race. It’s also going to be considerably cooler than the past couple of days.

The greater impact, if the storms that rolled through Friday evening are any indication, is from lightning. Lightning strikes within a certain radius of the track will bring a red flag.

Drive time

The minimum drive time for GTP and GTD PRO in the six-hour race is 30m. Minimum drive time for LMP2 and GTD is 1h30m. Maximum drive time for all classes is four hours.

Tire allocations

GTP and LMP2 have seven sets of Michelin hard-compound tires between qualifying and race. GTD PRO and GTD have nine sets for the event. Rain tires, which have a chance of coming into play, do not count against the allocations.

How to watch and listen

The race will be broadcast in its entirety, beginning at 11:30 a.m ET on Peacock, with the NBC broadcast kicking in at 3 p.m. ET. Audio coverage from IMSA radio will be on IMSA.com, RadioLeMans.com, and SiriusXM (XM 206, Web/App 996)

Acura to the fore in second IMSA practice at Indy

The second practice session for tomorrow’s Tirerack.com Battle on the Bricks, the penultimate round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championhsip, produced a couple of rare occurrences – the Iron Lynx Lamborghini SC63 toward the top of the time …

The second practice session for tomorrow’s Tirerack.com Battle on the Bricks, the penultimate round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championhsip, produced a couple of rare occurrences – the Iron Lynx Lamborghini SC63 toward the top of the time sheet, and both Cadillacs outside the top five.

Louis Delétraz took the No. 40 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Acura ARX-06 out with low fuel and fresh tires with less than 15 minutes left in the 90-minute session to claim the top time of the morning, a 1m15.422s (116.42mph), seven-tenths of a second better than yesterday, but well off the track record from last year.

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Felipe Nasr led most of the session before being knocked to second by Delétraz, and while he improved his time in the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 on his final lap, he still ended up 0.282s off of the No. 40. Romain Grosjean posted a 1m15.840s in the No. 63 Lamborghini Iron Lynx SC63 for the third-best time in the session, the first appearance for the sill-new LMDh car in the top three.

Ricky Taylor turned his best lap in the No. 10 WTRAndretti Acura for the fourth-best time, ahead of Mathieu Jaminet in the No. 6 PPM 963. Philipp Eng was the best of the BMW M Team RLL M Hybrid V8s in sixth, and the best Cadillac Racing time was posted by Sebastien Bourdais in the No. 01 V-Series.R.

Ben Hanley led LMP2 for United Autosports in the No. 2 ORECA with a 1m17.560s lap (113.21mph). Tom Dillmann in the championship-leading No. 52 Inter Europol by PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports ORECA was 0.172s off Hanley’s best for second, ahead of the other United Autosports entry, the No. 22, with a 1m19.385s posted by Paul Di Resta.

Nicklas Nielsen in the No. 88 AF Corse entry was fourth ahead of yesterday’s quick driver, Mikkel Jensen in the No. 11 TDS Racing ORECA.

GTD PRO entries headed the GT field, only one GTD car interrupting the top nine in PRO. Laurin Heinrich set the quick time as AO Racing tries to hold on to its slim lead in the GTD PRO championship, a 1m23.424s (105.25mph) in the No. 77 Porsche 911 GT3 R. One of the team’s chief rivals for the title, though, was second-quick, Alex Riberas setting a time only 0.092s slower in the No. 23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo. Daytona winners Risi Competizione were third, Daniel Serra turning a 1m23.525s lap in the No. 62 Ferrari 296 GT3.

Marvin Kirchhöfer (Pfaff Motorsports McLaren 720S GT3 EVO) and Nicky Catsburg (No. 4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Z06 GT3.R) rounded out the top five as the entire GTD PRO field was within eight-tenths of a second.

Anders Fjordbach’s No. 86 MDK Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3.R was the lone GTD car to insert itself into the top nine of the GTD PRO field, his 1m23.822 good enough to lead the class and make him the eight GT car overall. As Winward Racing looks to clinch the championship this weekend as well as defend last year’s victory, Russell Ward had the No. 57 Mercedes AMG GT3 in second at 1m23.854s. Devlin DeFrancesco was another 0.072s back in the No. 78 Forte Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 that podiumed at Indy a year ago.

Gianmarco Levorato had the No. 55 Proton Competition Ford Mustang GT3 in fourth, followed by Michell Gatting for the Iron Dames in the No. 83 Lamborghini Huracán. Only two cars in the 22-car GTD field were outside a one-second margin to the leader.

The session was interrupted by a single, three-minute red flag to retrieve the No. 55 Mustang after a spin and stall.

Qualifying for tomorrow’s six-hour race, starting with both GTD classes, begins at 3:40 p.m. ET, carried live on IMSA.tv and Peacock.

RESULTS

2025 four-star power forward recruit lists Notre Dame on final five

Hope he chooses to stay in-state.

Notre Dame does not yet have a commit for its 2025 recruiting class. However, one four-star power forward recruit from Indianapolis could change that. We’ll just have to see.

Brady Koehler, who attends Cathedral, has narrowed his choice to five schools, including the Irish. Also on the list are Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Iowa and Northwestern. He has visits lined up with each school. Notre Dame’s visit, the third chronically on his itinerary, happening from Sept. 6 through Sept. 8.

Koehler is listed as Indiana’s fourth-ranked recruit in the 2025 recruiting class according to 247Sports. That site also indicates that the Demon Deacons are the favorites to land him. However, Cathedral has also the Fighting Irish as its mascot along with the Blue and Gold as its colors, so maybe that’s an advantage for [autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag] and his staff?

Koehler is coming off a season in which he averaged 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks a game. That will catch the attention of any college program.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Wisconsin new Big Ten rival makes headlines at media days with giant inflatable mascot

Wisconsin new Big Ten rival makes headlines at media days with giant inflatable mascot

The 2024 Big Ten football season will be highlighted by the conference’s change. That change includes the addition of former Pac-12 powers USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington, who will all try to make strong first impressions when the season kicks off in late August.

Oregon is taking that idea of a first impression to the extreme. It began its first moments in the conference at Big Ten media days by sending a gigantic inflatable duck down the White River in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana.

Related: Where Wisconsin lands in USA TODAY Sports’ 2024 Big Ten football preseason poll

It was not a small rubber duck one would see at a playground or at the beach. Instead, it more resembled a large cargo ship — but in the form of Oregon’s famous mascot.

We have recently named the Oregon Duck the No. 1 mascot in the new expanded Big Ten Conference. A stunt like this one should only increase that prestige.

 

The Ducks football team are set to visit the Wisconsin Badgers on Nov. 16 in what will be one of the biggest games on Wisconsin’s schedule. The Badgers will be in search of a statement victory to establish the Luke Fickell era, while Oregon projects to be one of the sport’s true national title contenders.

This stunt is all fun and games. But Wisconsin fans should not accept a large inflated Oregon Duck on Lake Mendota or Monona leading up to the matchup between the two schools.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

NASCAR stands by Indianapolis caution call

NASCAR senior vice president of competition Elton Sawyer stands by the timing of the caution that ended Sunday’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway while reiterating the tower likes to give a driver time to pull away from an accident scene before …

NASCAR senior vice president of competition Elton Sawyer stands by the timing of the caution that ended Sunday’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway while reiterating the tower likes to give a driver time to pull away from an accident scene before making the call.

“Now we’ve had the opportunity of 24, 48 hours to digest it, I still go back and think our race director did a really good job in how he managed that,” Sawyer said Tuesday morning on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

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Ryan Preece spun off Turn 2 from contact with Chase Elliott as the field was on two laps to go in the second overtime attempt. Preece’s No. 41 Ford Mustang made contact with the inside wall but Preece initially started to move away from the scene. But the car was sitting idle as the field came through Turn 4 and down the frontstretch to the white flag.

Preece tried again to get the car going but it didn’t move as Kyle Larson led the field through Turn 1. NASCAR called the caution as Preece – who posted on social media Monday he ran out of fuel after being spun – continued to sit idle with the field going through the short-cute between Turns 1 and 2.

“Our goal at every event is to finish under green,” said Sawyer. “That’s what our goal is going into the weekend but there are circumstances that happen on the last lap at Indy and I’ll go back to last year at Pocono, a very similar situation with the same car I might add, the 41.

“[In] both we’re trying to give that car every opportunity to get started, get rolling, and let the race end naturally. As we came off Turn 4 coming to the start/finish line to the white, it’s a two-and-a-half-mile racetrack so you still have a lot of racing that can happen.

“As the cars started to get off in Turn 1, you’re starting to get closer to having to make a decision, and that’s really our process and our mindset. It’s the same as it was last year at Pocono; I believe the 41 had spun in the tunnel turn, and again, you give the drivers every opportunity to get going but also the guys that are leading, you can’t let them race through a situation where you got a car stopped on the racetrack. That was our decision process and how we digest that through a very quick (period).”

Larson won the Brickyard 400 over Tyler Reddick and Ryan Blaney. The caution for Preece was the 10th of the race, which went 167 laps because of the two overtime attempts.

Notre Dame’s Chris Guiliano wins 100 freestyle at U.S. Olympic trials

Go for the gold in Paris, Chris!

Notre Dame’s [autotag]Chris Guiliano[/autotag] always will remember the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Largely overlooked going into the 100-meter freestyle, the reigning ACC Swimmer of the Year surprised everyone by dominating the event. It culminated with a win in the final with a time of 47.38 seconds. Here’s the final in its entirety:

A surprising number of Irish fans made the trip, and they made their feelings about Guiliano’s victory loud and clear:

This victory qualifies Guiliano for his first spot on the U.S. team for the Paris Olympics. The U.S. has won gold in this event in two of the past three Olympics. Caeleb Dressel took the gold in Tokyo, but his third-place finish in Giuliano’s triumph means he won’t get a chance to defend that medal.

Guiliano also qualified for the 4×100 relay team simply by finishing in the top four. His teammates will consist of Dressel, Jack Alexy and Hunter Armstrong.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Marcus Freeman Visits Indianapolis Prospect

A huge in-state target for Notre Dame…

Notre Dame’s 2025 recruiting class is off to a fantastic start as most outlets have the Fighting Irish ranked as the top class nationally.  It’s clearly early and Notre Dame is a program that usually falls the closer to signing day we get, so the importance of stacking a strong class early is that much more important.

With all of that in mind, Marcus Freeman is doing his best to continue to load up the Fighting Irish secondary.  He was in Indianapolis on Friday night to take in Ben Davis High School’s basketball game.  There he watched Notre Dame target Mark Zackery.

Zackery is listed as a four-star prospect on 247Sports.  The outlet ranks him as the 62nd overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting class while the 247Sports composite ranks him 179th overall.

You can see Notre Dame cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens and offensive line coach Joe Rudolph seated next to Freeman.

Zackery named Notre Dame as one of his 10 finalists earlier this month and was on campus for junior weekend last weekend.