Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: Week 4 Preview
November 8, 2012; Jacksonville FL, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) calls a play as center A.Q. Shipley (62) hikes the ball during the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Indianapolis Colts defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-10. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
With the Colts coming off a statement win over the defending NFC Champion 49ers, they travel to Jacksonville to take on their division rival, the Jaguars. This will be the 2nd road game in as many games and the first against a division opponent. The Colts have lost four of the last six games against Jacksonville. The 0-3 Jaguars have been the bottom of the totem pole this with a dismal defense and outright lack of an offense. They have only scored two touchdowns all season and they came when the Seahawks were already up 31-0 last week. Although this proves to be a lopsided affair on paper, the Jaguars always play the Colts hard and it could be anything but an easy win.
Why the Colts will win
- Andrew Luck will have one of the best games of his career from a completion standpoint. With the running game he has now, he won’t have to pass it nearly 50 times a game and have a completion percentage under 60. He should play efficient enough to win the game and doesn’t have to work his 4th quarter magic if this game is in fact a blowout.
- Trent Richardson should have his breakout game for the Colts. With Ahmad Bradshaw nursing a neck injury and will be missing the game, Richardson won’t have to split carries and should have a big game in the process. The Colts haven’t had a Top 5 rushing attack in many years and it looks good going forward with Indy’s new toy Trent Richardson.
- The Colts defense will have to stop the run at all costs. Maurice Jones-Drew has killed the Colts with his evasiveness and his speed. The Colts have been successful in containing opposing running backs from running all over them and this game should be no different. It especially helps that Jones-Drew is nursing an ankle injury and has been hurt all year.
- Coby Fleener should have a bounce back game after being blanketed by the 49ers last week. Throughout the season, we will see the Luck-Fleener connection grow akin to how Peyton and Dallas Clark thrived together.
Why the Colts will lose
- If Blaine Gabbert is ineffectual, which he very well might be, he will be benched for Chad Henne who is more than capable to play well under the circumstances than Gabbert has.
- Maurice Jones-Drew amasses over 250 yards of total offense which kills the clock for most of the game and prevents the Colts from hitting a groove offensively.
- The Colts will ultimately lose if Mark Brunell, Fred Taylor, and Jimmy Smith use a time machine from the year 1999 and play for the Jaguars this Sunday.
Ultimately, the Colts should handle their division rival handily as they are riding high after a huge win against the 49ers. The team is far improved than their 2012 team and should take care of business Sunday in Jacksonville.
Colts 34 – Jaguars 10
GO COLTS!!!
Frank McMahen is a Staff Writer at Naptown’s Finest. Follow Frank and Naptown’s Finest on Twitter.