The Indianapolis Colts kick off their regular season at home against the Baltimore Ravens this afternoon, and here are five bold predictions ahead of today’s matchup:
1. Sauce Gardner locks down Zay Flowers early
Flowers is dealing with a hamstring issue and drew a hefty target share expectation, but he’ll be seeing plenty of Sauce Gardner in man coverage. If Gardner wins that matchup in the first half, it takes away Baltimore’s easiest answer when the offensive line struggles — and that line is the year’s biggest question mark for the Ravens.
Advertisement
2. Colts RB Jonathan Taylor exploits Ravens head coach Jesse Minter’s defense again
Taylor torched Minter’s Los Angeles Chargers defense for 94 total rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns last October, as head coach Jim Harbaugh’s former defensive coordinator. Minter’s scheme hasn’t fundamentally changed, and the Ravens are breaking in new pass rushers up front (with starting Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike out). Expect Taylor to be the tone-setter often that keeps Indy’s offense ahead of schedule, especially with starting quarterback Daniel Jones working his way back from a torn Achilles early on.
3. The Colts win the pressure battle without blitzing much
Minter’s defenses have historically blitzed at a low rate (19% last year), which means the Colts’ front — led by DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart — gets to win with four rushers against a Ravens line PFF ranks 24th in the league, including a center making his first career start. Clean pocket push, not exotic pressure packages, is how Indy and Colts veteran defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo gets to Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
4. Colts starting quarterback Daniel Jones avoids the big mistake
Jones enters surprisingly healthy after last year’s late Achilles injury, and Indy’s offense was historically explosive by EPA/play under Colts head coach Shane Steichen. If he protects the ball against a Baltimore defense that’s also breaking in new pieces, field position swings the Colts’ way in a game expected to be low-scoring and close.
5. Colts win a tight one at home, something like 24-20
Baltimore is favored by 3.5 with a 47.5 total, but a lot of that leans on unknowns — new OC Declan Doyle calling his first regular-season game, a shaky interior line, and Jackson playing behind a center with zero career starts. The Colts faithful’s rapid noise, plus a battle-tested Colts offensive identity tips a close one to Indianapolis.
Read the full article here