As much as none of us want it to happen, of course, the Indianapolis Colts could afford a loss in Week 4. It would also be excusable. Fans should not panic over going on the road and facing a good Los Angeles Rams team and returning with a loss.
Hardly any team in the NFL is easy to beat at home. The Rams are not easy to beat anywhere. LA is the defending NFC West champion and a solid favorite to take their division again. Meanwhile, Indy is better than most expected through three games. (Thank you, Daniel Jones!)
But Indianapolis might get a bit of a break in Week 4. Los Angeles has to play just four days after taking on Indy, and that game ultimately might have more meaning than Week 4. On Thursday Night Football in Week 5, the Rams face inter-division rival, the San Francisco 49ers.
Indianapolis Colts could catch a break in Week 4 with Los Angeles Rams' injuries
This means that LA could hold some players out who are a bit dinged up in hopes they can be full go on Thursday, and then get a mini-bye after that. Every game is important in the league, of course, but there is a lot of season left to play. Why spend so much capital on beating an AFC team when LA needs to win its division games?
Wide receiver Davante Adams, for instance, is questionable with a hamstring injury. He missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but was able to do a bit on Friday. If the Rams were playing the 49ers in Week 4, Adams would probably be good to go. It is better than he is available versus San Francisco.
Starting right tackle Rob Havenstein and tight ends Tyler Higbee and Colby Parkinson are also questionable. Higbee and Parkinson both missing the game seems unlikely, but if they do, that is a gift to the Indianapolis Colts defense. The same goes for Havenstein.
In fact, there is a decent chance the Indianapolis Colts steal a game in Week 4 simply because the Los Angeles Rams' injury concerns are all on one side of the ball. Indy's defense hasn't been great this season so far, and the Rams have a good offense. Indy will take all the breaks it can get.