Colts vs. Panthers: Week 16 game predictions

The Colts play their final home game on Sunday against the Panthers. How will they play in front of their fans a final time?

The last few weeks have been ugly for the Colts. They have failed to win most of their games and are coming into the final two weeks of the season limping to the finish line. They take on the Panthers now in their second to last game of the season.

Will Grier will be making his first pro start for the Panthers. The rookie was a third-round draft pick out of West Virginia in this April’s past draft. They are choosing to go with him over Kyle Allen, who has made most of the starts this year after Cam Newton got hurt.

The Colts will be without Kenny Moore for a third straight game, so their secondary will continue to suffer in his absence. Malik Hooker is also questionable, so the Colts might be missing two starters back there. That does not bode well for their chances at winning this game.

If Indy wants to win their home finale, it will have to be about the running game. Marlon Mack will have to find holes in the Panther defense and take advantage of them. The offensive line will have to play better than it has the last two weeks too.

Game prediction: Colts 20 Panthers 17

If Allen was starting this game, I would say Carolina would win. But a rookie in his first start will have a rough time no matter who they face. The Colts won’t win this game from playing well, they will just make less mistakes than Carolina under their rookie.

It would actually be better if the Colts didn’t win this game, because then their draft pick would be higher. We will see how everything shakes out on Sunday.