We. Are. Back. The Colts return from their much-needed bye week and head to Denver to face the Broncos, who are also coming off their bye week. There is no other way to say it; it is a must-win for this football team in what will be a playoff game atmosphere in Denver. With a win this week, the Colts can move their playoff chances to over 50 percent, and with a loss, it moves them under 15 percent. The Broncos struggled in their last game defensively against Cleveland, but they are winners of three straight and are in the driver’s seat for the elusive final playoff spot.
New First For Anthony Richardson
It has been a season of firsts for Anthony Richardson and this week is no different. Not only is this a “playoff game” for the Colts but it’s the first time Richardson has been placed in a season-correcting situation, on the the road. With Richardson missing most of last season, it was Minshew who had that opportunity last season. We all know how that ended for the Colts last season.
We have seen two extremes this season with Richardson. The horrific performance(s) at the beginning of the season eventually led to him being benched. Since his return to the starting lineup, he has shown improvement, but he has been far from spectacular. The 19-play drive that he led to get the victory over the Jets was the highlight of the season. Which Richardson will show up and how does he handle the crowd, the altitude, and the pressure? If they want any chance to win, Richardson has to silence his critics and play the best game we have seen.
Preventing The Explosive Plays
The often-used phrase that not only myself has used with this Colts defense is “bend but don’t break.” The defense saw improvement around the mid-season but has seen some regression the past couple of weeks. You could argue the regression has hurt not only the defense, but it has really hurt Anthony Richardson. He is constantly playing from behind and would cause a change in the gameplan.
When going against a rookie quarterback the key is to prevent explosive plays and give him defensive looks that you did not expect him to see or know. Bo Nix has exceeded expectations this season and has been coached up by Sean Payton. With two weeks to prepare, he will undoubtedly be ready for this defense but if Gus Bradley can bring some new looks and confuse him it could benefit them. Gus Bradley rarely strays from his norm but this week is an absolute must-win and they have to pull out all the stops to get this victory.
Run The Ball With A Healthier Offensive Line
The offensive line looks like they will get one key piece back this week in Ryan Kelly. The team opened his 21-day activation window this week, and practice reports this week lean him towards returning. With Raimann back last week, they are nearly back to full strength. They have another week of Mark Glowinski getting into the fold, and Matt Goncalves looks to be starting at right tackle again this week. Braden Smith appears to be done for the year as he is out indefinitely while he attends to a personal matter, though there’s a chance that he could return before the regular season’s conclusion. I know this fanbase is thinking about him and wish him nothing but the best.
It’s imperative that the Colts stick with the strength of their team. The Broncos defense is no slouch, especially against the run. They are ranked 6th overall and are allowing under 100 yards per game. Does this mean they should focus on moving the ball through the air? Absolutely not. The focus needs to be running the football with Jonathan Taylor and Anthony Richardson. They have to keep the Broncos guessing with some abstract play calling. The battle between Shane Steichen and Vance Joseph will be the key matchup I will be watching this Sunday, especially in the red zone.
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