Here are three key matchups we’re excited to see on Sunday during Colts-Vikings.
We’re not going to lie, it’s pretty scary to think how the Indianapolis Colts will fare in Week 2 against Minnesota on the heels of their brutal season-opening loss to the Jaguars, who could end up with the worst record in the NFL when all is said and done.
You could argue that the Vikings are more talented at EVERY single position compared to Jacksonville. To make matters worse, they will be motivated to get the sour taste stemming from their loss to Green Bay out of their mouth, so Indianapolis will have its hands full on Sunday.
In the simplest of terms, we’re talking about a team in Minnesota that (at full strength), could be one of the last teams standing in the NFC by the end of the year. We aren’t trying to strike fear into the Colts fanbase, but the team simply needs to be better prepared than it was in Week 1.
If that isn’t the case, things could get out of control in a hurry for the Colts and they could be treated to some boos by the 3,000 or so fans that will be in attendance at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday.
However, we fully believe that head coach Frank Reich will have the team ready to go and fans will be treated to a solid performance. It goes without saying that this game features a ton of star power, and that will only make for a plethora of must-see matchups on both sides of the ball.
Here are three that we are chomping at the bit to watch.
3. Anthony Castonzo vs Yannick Ngakoue
The Colts OL will need to step up against the Vikings’ vaunted pass rush.
Just when Colts fans thought they no longer had to worry about Yannick Ngakoue wreaking havoc in the backfield twice a year, Indy gets slated to face his new team in second game of the 2020 season.
We all know that Ngakoue is one of the most efficient pass rushers in the NFL as he’s recorded 37.5 sacks, 86 QB hits and 14 forced fumbles since entering the league as a third-round pick back in 2016. To put those numbers into perspective, he’s compiled at least eight sacks in each of those four seasons.
Luckily for Indianapolis, the Pro Bowl defensive end is still getting up to speed with Minnesota after he was acquired via trade less than two weeks before the start of the 2020 campaign.
Better still, Ngakoue won’t have fellow world-beating DE Danielle Hunter to absorb double teams and create more space for him to exploit. Prior to the start of the season, the Vikings placed Hunter on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury.
Despite those two variables working in the Colts’ favor, Ngakoue is still more than capable of being a game-breaker. Minnesota could move him around, but assuming he lines up on the right side, our eyes will be focused on left tackle Anthony Castonzo, who played 100% of the snaps in Week 1 after popping up on the injury report with an oblique injury.
Let’s hope the 32-year-old stalwart is healthy and at the top of his game on Sunday.