As the Colts get ready to face the Eagles, their defense is full of confidence. And it might leave Philly with even more confidence when it’s all said and done.
The Colts played their best defensive game in recent memory against the Redskins last week. All aspects of the defense were clicking. They stopped the run, covered well in the secondary, and even got some pass rush going. More of the same could be coming against Philly.
With the Eagles having so many injured receivers, the secondary could have a field day. Malik Hooker hasn’t had any interceptions yet this year. That could change on Sunday. Having so few receivers could allow Hooker an opportunity to take some chances on the ball.
The Colts should also be able to stop the run. Jay Ajayi is still day-to-day with an injury, so he might not play Sunday. If that’s the case, the Colts will have to face 35-year-old Darren Sproles. Sproles used to kill the Colts in the past, but that seems unlikely to happen on Sunday.
Philly’s defense is pretty good in their own right. That means the Colts will have to make sure that they stop the Eagles on offense. This could be a defensive battle all the way to the end. Neither team’s offense is at full strength so both defenses should have an advantage.
Expect Darius Leonard to keep up his stellar play. He will be all over the field again making plays from sideline to sideline. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him lead the Colts in tackles again. His play could be key down the stretch in a tight ball game.
If the Colts defense can’t step up, they will lose on Sunday. But if they play like they did against Washington, they could come out winners.