The Indianapolis Colts couldn't keep their foot on the gas in their first test of the season. Now, unfortunately, things won't get much easier as they square off against Patrick Mahomes on his home turf in Week 2.
The Kansas City Chiefs rolled past the Denver Broncos in the season opener and look like one of the teams to beat in the AFC again. That said, they also showed some cracks on both sides of the gridiron.
With Shane Steichen's team under much more pressure than the average team at this point in the season, the Colts have no choice but to be aggressive. Considering that, we crafted four optimistic — but possible — predictions.
4 optimistic Indianapolis Colts predictions for Week 2 vs. the Chiefs
The defense will strip-sack Patrick Mahomes twice
Patrick Mahomes will have undrafted free agent rookie Kahlil Benson at left tackle. He held his own pretty well against Nik Bonitto and the Broncos' defensive front, but the Chiefs now have a full week's worth of his tape.
Benson never played left tackle before Week 1, and it should be just a matter of time before he gets exposed. The Chiefs' tackle situation is pretty bland, to say the least, and Mahomes might not be as mobile, as he's also coming off a big injury.
The Colts' pass rush isn't necessarily the best, but they're getting the Chiefs' offensive line at a bad time. With Laiatu Latu having another strong outing, they'll get to Mahomes multiple times, and they'll force multiple takeaways — one deep into opposing territory.
Tyler Warren will score two touchdowns
Tyler Warren was a no-show in Week 1. He was the offense's most disappointing player, hauling in just three receptions for 13 yards and a garbage-time touchdown. So much for the most-hyped Colts player in training camp.
But after watching Evan Engram lead the Broncos in receiving yards and have a touchdown grab in the season opener, one can only wonder what the Chiefs' soft linebacker corps will do against a much better tight end.
Warren is a perennial mismatch in the end zone, and he should be in for his first 100-plus-yard game of the season. Moreover, we expect him to find paydirt multiple times, with one of those scores coming out of the backfield.
It'll be a one-possession game
The Chiefs aren't a perfect team by any means, but they should be much better than they were last season. Their defense is new and might need time to get fully in sync, yet they have enough talent to make this game tough.
That said, we also expect them to be a bit deflated after their strong season opener, whereas the Colts will play like a team with nothing to lose. They'll take risks and desperately try to end their eight-game winning streak and buy their coach some time.
Whether they'll be able to pull it off remains to be seen, but one thing's for sure: There will be multiple lead changes all through the game, and it will go down to the wire. Hopefully, Spencer Shrader will have the last laugh.
Daniel Jones will throw for 250+ yards
Daniel Jones' return from injury was a bit of a mixed bag. Of course, it's hard to blame a player for struggling after suffering such a major injury, and it's not like the Colts' playmakers did much to create separation.
But now that he's gotten his legs back under him and will face an inexperienced secondary, Jones should be sharper and much more confident in Week 2. We're talking about 250+ yards and three-touchdown-type confidence.
Jones is also auditioning for a long-term job in Indianapolis. He has to be the reason this team wins some games, not just a game manager rallying behind Jonathan Taylor's prowess in the running game. It all begins in Week 2.
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