The Indianapolis Colts play the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 pm ET. Indy is 2-6, and Dallas is 3-5.
Both teams, of course, had higher hopes entering the season. The positive part for Dallas is that winning the NFC East is still attainable. That's how bad the division is.
Indianapolis has little chance of making the playoffs. The team hasn't done so since 2020 and is in full rebuild mode now. A victory against the Cowboys might not change the narrative of the season, but it would still be a welcome change for Colts fans.
- Indianapolis Colts inactives and injury updates
- Cowboys inactives and injury updates
- How to watch Colts vs. Cowboys in Week 9
- Storylines to watch for Colts in Week 9
- Prediction
Indianapolis Colts inactives and injury updates
Inactives
- Cornerback Justin Walley (knee)
- Linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither (knee)
- Safety AJ Haulcy (ankle) - listed as out on the Colts' official website on Saturday
Indianapolis will announce its full list of inactives an hour and a half before kickoff. Quarterback Riley Leonard will likely be listed as inactive, but he can be used as the emergency quarterback should Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson get hurt during the game.
With Davis-Gaither out, rookie CJ Allen is expected to be the green dot on defense for the first time in a full game. This could be a role he holds for the foreseeable future.
Cowboys inactives and injury updates
- Linebacker Malachi Lawrence (ankle)
- Wide receiver KaVontae Turpin (ribs)
Dallas had seven players listed as questionable on their final injury report. Maybe the most important names were wide receiver George Pickens and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Health-wise, the Colts should be in good enough shape to steal a victory.
How to watch Colts vs. Cowboys in Week 9
- Date: Sunday, November 8
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- TV Network: FOX
- Announcers: Adam Amin (play-by-play), Drew Brees (analysis), and Kristina Pink (sideline reporter)
For those in the Indianapolis area, FOX 59 (WXIN) will be your go-to channel. You can also stream the game locally on NFL+. If you live elsewhere, you might need a subscription to YouTube TV's NFL Sunday Ticket to watch the game.
You can listen live to the Colts radio broadcast locally on 93.5 / 107.5 The Fan, 97.1 HANK, and the Ascension St. Vincent Radio Network. Matt Taylor will provide play-by-play, Charles Arbuckle will do the analysis, and Larra Overton will report from the sideline.
Storylines to watch for Colts in Week 9
Who is playing in their final game as a Colt?
The answer may be no one. Indianapolis could be done making deals and won't feel pressured to trade players like Jonathan Taylor. Would it be wise to move unhappy wide receiver Josh Downs? Sure, but the team needs to get adequate draft value in return.
Of course, a win or a loss shouldn't change how Indianapolis approaches the deadline, but that might mean nothing is done.
Can Lou Anarumo's defense stop the Cowboys' offense?
Anarumo seems to get credit for being a good defensive coordinator even when the statistics don't show he should be. Historically, he's never had a sustained level of goodness from his groups. Still, the defense has improved a bit as the season has grown old.
That will be tested against Dak Prescott and his friends. This could be a game where Indianapolis's offense looks much better against a bad Dallas defense, but also one in which Indy could be outscored in a loss.
Will Anthony Richardson need to replace Daniel Jones?
Jones will start, of course. Shane Steichen wouldn't allow for anything else, but what happens if the game once again gets away from the Colts? Should Richardson replace Jones?
Why not? If nothing else, playing Richardson could make him more desirable in a trade. There is no reason not to move the backup quarterback at this point, especially since he is a free agent in the offseason.
Prediction
Colts 27, Cowboys 24
Indianapolis looks like it can't win another game, but losing to teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8 was no shame. The Colts offense likely has a good game or two in it, and taking advantage of a bad Cowboys defense should be assumed.
Indy will get out to an early lead and hang on late. 3-6 will have never looked better.
Add us as a preferred source on Google