Indianapolis Colts: 3 trap games on the 2021 schedule
By Jerry Trotta
1. Week 10 vs Jacksonville
The Colts embarrassed themselves in the first game of last season, when they were upset by Gardner Minshew and the Jaguars by a final score of 27-20. While they ultimately got revenge in the regular season finale, the initial loss proved Jacksonville shouldn’t be overlooked.
Not only did the Jaguars improve their roster this offseason, but they drafted their franchise quarterback in Trevor Lawrence first overall. While the former Clemson star can be expected to endure growing pains at the start of the year, he will likely have worked through them by Week 10.
In other words, this might not be a cupcake matchup for the Colts, who tended to play down to their competition at times last season. Perhaps more important is the fact they’ll be playing Jacksonville (presumably) coming off a lopsided win against the Jets and right before two big games against the Bills and Buccaneers.
The Colts Week 10 matchup vs Jacksonville is a little scary.
Though the Jaguars will likely be playing with a little more pride this time around now that they have a somewhat promising future, if the Colts learned anything from their Week 17 showdown last campaign, it’s that they should run Jonathan Taylor until the wheels come off.
Not literally, but the 2020 second-round pick racked up 256 rushing yards in that game, which was the most by a Colts running back in a single game in franchise history. That mark assured he’d finish the year with at least 1,000 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
That victory indicated the Colts learned from their mistake in Week 1 of trying to unleash an all-out aerial assault vs the Jags, but we wouldn’t be quick to assume that’s the case.
