3 non-division games on the Colts 2023 schedule with entertaining matchups
1. Colts at Ravens (Jonathan Taylor vs. Roquan Smith)
A team that actually had the statistics to prove that they were a top defense against the run were the Baltimore Ravens. During the 2022 season, the Ravens allowed just 92.1 rushing yards a game— third best in the NFL. Baltimore’s trade for Roquan Smith was the main reason why they were so good defensively.
When Smith arrived, he played like one of the best linebackers in football, which he is, and everything fell into place for the Ravens on defense. The presence of Smith elevated Patrick Queen’s game, and Baltimore was just lights out against the run. That will probably continue to be the case this season.
However, in Week 3, Roquan Smith and the Ravens will have the challenge of containing one of the best running backs in football: Jonathan Taylor. Just two seasons ago, Taylor led the league in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. However, in 2022, Taylor’s production took a hit because of injury and a decline in Indy’s offensive line.
If the offensive line can return to a solid status in the run game, this has a chance to be another strength-on-strength matchup, highlighted by a top running back in Jonathan Taylor and a top linebacker in Roquan Smith. That should make for a good game as fans get to watch and see which side comes out victorious.