The Indianapolis Colts come into Week 11 of the 2016 NFL season needing a win more than ever. The Colts are 4-5 on the season and face division rival Tennessee Titans, who come in with a record of 5-5. Week 10 was a much needed bye week for Chuck Pagano‘s team, after they beat the Green Bay Packers 31-26 in Week nine. The Titans are also coming off of a victory against the Packers by the score of 47-25. This game is very important to both teams chasing down the AFC South leader Houston Texans. The Colts came up victorious in the last meeting between these two teams 34-26. Below are the Indianapolis Colts Week 11 keys to victory and a score prediction.
Indianapolis Colts Week 11 Keys to Victory
Stop Marcus Mariota’s Hot Streak
Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota passed for 295 yards and four touchdowns against the Packers last week. This does not bode well for a Colts secondary that has been one of the worst in football. The Colts are allowing 289 yards passing per game this season. They can hope that the secondary has a similar effort that was shown against the Packers. Furthermore, the bye week gave the Colts secondary some more time to get healthy. Cornerback Vontae Davis could be fully healthy for the first time this season. Safety Mike Adams could also play for the first time in three weeks. Seeing a fully healthy Colts secondary for the first time in 2016 could make a huge difference in the overall performance of Indy’s defense.
Protect Andrew Luck
It’s been the biggest question for the Colts all season. Can they protect Andrew Luck? So far the answer has been no. Luck has been sacked a league leading 33 times. The Colts are very lucky that he has been able to stay healthy so far. If the Colts protection breaks down, Brian Orakpo and Jurrell Casey could have themselves a field day. Orakpo has been impressive in 2016, amassing a team leading nine sacks for the Titans. Giving Luck time will also open up the entire Colts offense. If Luck is able to find his weapons like receivers T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief, it could be a long day for the Titans defense. Furthermore, if Luck is given time to find his best receivers, then running back Frank Gore will have a much easier time.
Finish the Game
Almost every single game the Colts have played in this season has come down to the final two minutes. The Colts have put way too much pressure on Luck to come up with clutch drives this season. The defense has also played very poorly at the end of games. Defeats at the hands of the Detroit Lions (39-35) and the Texans (26-23) truly showed the worst of the Colts defense this season. Even the Colts last victory against the Packers required some clutch first downs from Luck to seal the game. A comfortable lead in this game could go a long way towards building the Colts confidence for the rest of the season.
Prediction
The should Colts continue their momentum through the bye week and control the game the entire way. Mariota and Titans running back DeMarco Murray, who has more than 150 total yards on the game, will keep it close. But Luck will throw for 325 yards and have three total touchdowns, with only one turnover. The Colts will force turnovers off Mariota twice, which will be enough to keep the Titans attack at bay.
Indianapolis Colts 36, Tennessee Titans 29
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