Colts Versus Packers Preview
Which team has the upper hand in this great week 11 matchup?
Perhaps the best game of the week will come when the 7–2 Green Bay Packers travel to Indianapolis to take on the 6–3 Colts. This matchup between division leaders should prove to be a good one. So which team comes out with a victory?
This game has the potential of being an ugly, slow paced contest. All things which favor the Colts. Indianapolis has one of the best defenses in football this season. The Colts currently rank in the top-five in points allowed per game (fourth-fewest), rushing yards allowed per game (fourth-fewest), passing yards allowed per game (second-fewest), and total yards allowed per game (fewest).
For as good as the Colts’ defense has been this year, Green Bay’s offense is right with them. The Packers are averaging the sixth-most total yards per game, the sixth-most passing yards per game, and the third-most points per game.
Something has to give in this matchup. However, the keys to the game may actually be both team’s defenses.
Obviously Indianapolis has a better defense than Green Bay. This is the first thing that should tilt the game in the Colts favor. Indianapolis has excelled at forcing turnovers this season, especially interceptions. The Colts currently have 11 interceptions, which is the second-most in the NFL. Now Aaron Rodgers doesn’t throw many picks, as he only has two games with an interception this year. The Packers are 1–1 in those games though. There’s also some concern Davante Adams may miss Sunday’s game with an ankle injury. If Rodgers is without his number one receiver against an already tough defense, things only get more difficult. This could lead to multiple turnovers for Green Bay, thus giving Indianapolis an upper hand.
On the other side of the ball, Green Bay’s defense hasn’t been great this year, especially at forcing turnovers. The Packers are currently tied for the second-fewest takeaways this season. This could cause problems, considering the best way to beat Indianapolis is to force them into mistakes. If the Colts can play turnover free football, they’re virtually unbeatable. Indy is 4–0 in games that Philip Rivers doesn’t throw an interception.
It doesn’t stop there for Green Bay’s defense being a key factor either. We have seen teams be able to shred the Packers with the run game. Dalvin Cook had a monster game, while even James Robinson had 109 yards on the ground last week. This trend very well may continue as the Colts are coming off a game in which they had 133 yards rushing. Indianapolis also has one of the best offensive lines in the league, which should only open up more running lanes. Perhaps the biggest benefit of the run game for the Colts will be keeping Aaron Rodgers off the field. Indianapolis currently ranks eleventh in time of possession per game. A game against a team that struggles at forcing turnovers and stopping the run should only bring that number up.
This game just has too many factors going Indy’s way. The Colts are coming in off a dominant victory over the Tennessee Titans. The Packers on the other hand barely squeaked by the Jaguars 24–20. The Colts have by far the better defense. They’re also more equipped to force turnovers, and to drain the clock. Oh and the game is in Indianapolis. The Colts should hand Green Bay their third loss of the season.
