Colts vs. Saints: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 15

Key matchups in Week 15.

Following their last-minute 38-35 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts are back on the road as they’ll face the NFC South-leading New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football. Despite their 6-7 record, the Colts are technically still alive in the AFC playoff race.

If there’s anything that should give this AFC South competitor hope, it’s knowing the Saints are capable of being beaten at home. Since Week 10, the Saints are 1-2 at home, including their 26-9 upset loss vs. Atlanta.

Here are three key matchups to watch in the Colts’ Week 15 bout:

WR Michael Thomas vs. Colts’ injured secondary

After engaging in a dog fight with the Buccaneers’ receiving corps in Week 14, the Colts’ secondary is in store for another one as they’ll face the league’s best receiver right now. Whether it’s through his skill-set, size or historic production, the Saints’ Michael Thomas is producing a historic season by all means.

With three games remaining, Thomas is only 23 catches (121) away from surpassing Colts great Marvin Harrison’s all-time record for most catches in a season (143); while also being in a good position to finish with a top-10 highest season total of receiving yards, since he’s currently at 1,424.

Even if fully healthy, the Colts’ secondary was going to have a hard time defending the Ohio State product and now it’s likely the case given their state of injuries. Cornerback Kenny Moore II isn’t playing on Monday and the duo of Rock Ya-Sin and Pierre Desir are banged up with nagging injuries.

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Colts vs. Buccaneers: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 14

Key matchups in Week 14.

Despite losing four out of their last five games, the Indianapolis Colts remain optimistic about their playoff chances as they return to the road for a Sunday matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers While both teams are only one win apart in the standings, their play has gone in different directions.

As the Colts lost all of their momentum from the first half of this season, the NFC South competitor has only gotten better in recent weeks. Following a string of tough, last-minute losses in October, the Buccaneers have won three out of their last four games and are attempting to grab the NFC’s final Wild Card spot.

Here are three, key matchups to watch in the Colts’ Week 14 bout:

WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin vs. Colts’ secondary

If there’s any duo of wide receivers who are the best together, it’s quite easily Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. The dynamic duo has carried the Buccaneers’ offense this entire season at the tune of 1,100 receiving yards apiece, 140 combined catches and 16 total touchdowns.

Besides their great numbers, Evans and Godwin scare opposing secondaries because of their evolving skill-sets and legitimate size. Although Evans is bigger at 6-foot-5 and 231 pounds, Godwin is still fairly big himself (6-foot-1 and 209 pounds), thus allowing them to box out and outjump their defensive counterparts.

Entering Sunday’s game, the Colts already had an unproven secondary dealing with some injuries and they will be missing their most valuable slot corner/blitzer Kenny Moore II due to injuries. It’s going to be interesting to discover who, when, and how they’ll defend Evans/Godwin, as their current depth chart includes Pierre Desir, Marvell Tell, and Quincy Wilson—if made available to play.

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Colts vs. Titans: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 13

Key matchups in Week 13.

After having an extended break following last Thursday’s game against the Houston Texans, the Indianapolis Colts return to action as they’ll host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. They approach the end of this three-week stretch, which consisted of all divisional matchups.

Even with their loss in Week 12 and suffering additional injuries, the Colts are still very much alive in the AFC playoff picture. It’s just a matter of relying on their strengths at this point, and hopefully getting back a key contributor or two in the coming weeks.

Here are three, key matchups to watch in the Colts’ Week 13 bout against the Titans:

QB Jacoby Brissett vs. Titans’ Top 10 scoring defense

Even as someone who has defended Jacoby Brissett on various occasions, I must admit now is the time for him to step up his game. Regardless if it was before his knee injury in Week 9 or right after, the Colts’ QB1 has begun to struggle and is in need of a huge game on Sunday.

While the Titans rank fairly low in defensive categories such as passing yards allowed (24th with 255) and red-zone scoring percentages (30th with 64.5%), they’ve been a stingy group in other areas. Entering Week 13, the Titans have been giving up the ninth and eighth fewest points per game and third-down conversions, respectively. This is huge to think about in relation to Brissett’s struggles.

For a quarterback that has averaged 138 passing yards in his last two games along with being sacked four times, the odds seem to be against Brissett having a breakout game. Especially when he’ll be missing his three best offensive targets in RB Marlon Mack, WR T.Y. Hilton, and TE Eric Ebron.

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5 takeaways from Colts’ 33-13 win vs. Jaguars

While football will always remain a team sport, it doesn’t stop certain individuals from being more important than others; especially when their presence alone separates you from the pack. On Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts (6-4) witnessed that kind …

In his first full game back since Week 8, quarterback Jacoby Brissett produced two touchdowns and led the Colts to a much-needed 33-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-6). With the JB7 under center, the first place AFC South leader played their best game in recent weeks and seems to be back on track as six games remain in their season.

Here are five takeaways from the Colts’ 33-13 win over the Jaguars.

JB7 literally makes a huge difference

Even during Brissett’s good start to this season, there were still various Colts fans and media who weren’t on the bandwagon. After every game, including JB7’s standout performances against the Falcons and Texans, those same people continued to wonder if he was actually capable of being this team’s quarterback.

But after not having the NC State product available for action over the last two weeks, there were little to no complaints from JB7’s doubters as he once again displayed his obvious talent and leadership. Although his final numbers weren’t the best (15/24, 148 passing yards, one passing touchdown to one INT), the Colts’ QB1 impact was still felt throughout Sunday’s game.

Against the Jaguars, we saw the same Brissett who took care of the ball, made the right adjustments pre-snap, and had a couple of sensational plays to either extend or conclude Colts’ offensive drives.

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Colts’ player of the game vs. Jaguars: CB Kenny Moore

Kenny Moore carried the secondary.

In a week where the Indianapolis Colts (6-4) needed a bounce back win, cornerback Kenny Moore rose to the occasion and had a great performance in the 33-13 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-6).

The defense knew the Jaguars were going to come in throwing the ball heavily with the return of their starting quarterback Nick Foles. Foles hadn’t played since Week 1 against Kansas City.

Moore finished the day with a team leading eight total tackles, one sack, one tackle for a loss and a huge pass breakup on a fourth-down attempt.

That pass defended that came in the third quarter when Jacksonville went for it on fourth and four. Foles fired one to D.J. Chark on a corner route and Moore came out of nowhere to tip the ball away.

With Pierre Desir still out and Rock Ya-Sin getting hurt as well, Moore had to carry this secondary and did so flawlessly.

The Colts are now 6-4 and on top of the AFC South with a Texans loss. Hopefully, Moore can continue his success in the slot when the Colts travel to Houston for a huge divisional game.