The Indianapolis Colts are stuck in a bit of an awkward position right now. On the one hand, they have no incentive to tank because they don't have a first-round pick. On the other hand, they might not be good enough to compete at the highest level.
Outside of a couple of games, the Colts have had a chance to win it down the stretch, even with their string of head-scratching miscues. Now, they'll face a Dallas Cowboys team that has somehow regressed from last season.
With the Colts looking to win despite their fire sale, the Cowboys look like the perfect opponent to bounce back against. With that in mind, let's take a look at the four unsung heroes who might surprise the world in Week 9.
4 Indianapolis Colts players who'll shock the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9
Jalen Farmer
Jalen Farmer has been given the Herculean task of filling Quenton Nelson's shoes. By comparison, 99.9 percent of human beings will fail miserably at that task, but that doesn't mean he can't do a good job. That wasn't the case in his first career start, but it might be just a case of the jitters.
Farmer is a physical specimen and a true mauler. The Colts need to see what they have with him, so they must let him grow through his mistakes. The Cowboys' defensive line can be beaten, and he should be in for an easier day at the office in Week 9.
Anthony Richardson Sr.
The Colts will stick with Daniel Jones as the starter, but one can only wonder how long a leash they'll give him. He's been pretty bad this season, and while Shane Steichen might not be back next year, the organization has to consider all its options.
Anthony Richardson Sr. took the reins of the offense late in the previous game, and it wouldn't be much of a surprise to see him replace Jones if (when?) he gets off to another slow start. He's a mixed bag, but he can sling it, and the Cowboys' secondary is terrible.
Josh Downs
Josh Downs was one of the most disappointing players on the field in Week 8, not only because of his performance but also because of his attitude. He's checked out and wants to be traded, but this is not how to act.
So, given all the criticism he faced this season, and in an attempt to entice other teams, we expect him to be aggressive and get himself open early and often in this one. It'll be his final audition before the November 10 trade deadline.
CJ Allen
The Cowboys' once-explosive offense has become vanilla and predictable. CJ Allen has struggled for most of his rookie season, but he finally showed signs of life in the ugly loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
With Brian Schottenheimer's team struggling to make adjustments, we can expect the rookie out of Georgia to shake off his early-season woes and make a big impact against the running game. That might be this season's lone silver lining.
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