In Week 12, the Indianapolis Colts will play at home against the Tampa Buccaneers. This is the teams’ first matchup since 2021 when Tom Brady’s Buccaneers won 38-31. Brady is retired nowadays. Tampa has the former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield starting at quarterback. The Colts will go with Gardner Minshew, who took over for injured rookie Anthony Richardson.
The 5-5 Colts are coming off a bye week. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers (4-6) lost to the San Francisco 49ers 27-14 during Week 11. Following a three-game losing streak, Indianapolis won its last two games. On the other hand, Tampa Bay has lost five of its last six contests.
It has been a strange week for the Colts. They made a surprising move by waiving three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Shaquille Leonard. It will be interesting to see how the team responds after parting ways with such a beloved player. No wins are guaranteed in the NFL, but the Buccaneers matchup is winnable for the Colts. Here’s a look at three keys to victory.
How the Indianapolis Colts Can Topple the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tighten Up Their Run Defense
Tampa Bay is clearly one of the league’s worst running teams. They rank dead last in both rushing yards (769) and yards per carry (3.1). While they obviously aren’t a dangerous threat, they could still give the Colts’ defense some problems.
The New England Patriots ran all over Indy’s defense in the Colts 10-6 Week 10 victory. New England racked up 167 rushing yards. Rhamondre Stevenson led the way with 88 yards and Ezekiel Elliott had 54. Even quarterback Mac Jones chipped in with 25 yards.
The Colts still managed to win the game despite their run defense being shredded. Yet, it would be ideal for them to tighten things up versus the Buccaneers.
Unleash the Jonathan Taylor-led Run Game
Tampa Bay possesses the NFL’s sixth-ranked rushing defense. The unit has allowed only 900 yards and 3.7 yards per carry this season. Against San Francisco, they held star Christian McCaffrey to only 78 yards and no touchdowns.
The Colts have a dynamic running back duo in Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss. Taylor, who missed the first four games of the season on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) List, has had a couple of good performances as he looks to return to form. Meanwhile, Moss is ninth in rushing although he hasn’t been used much the past few games. If Taylor and Moss (if he can get more carries) can produce at a high level, the Colts have a nice shot at winning this game.
Take Advantage of Tampa Bay’s Secondary
Tampa Bay’s run defense is great. Its passing defense is a totally different story, though. The Buccaneers’ secondary has allowed 2,707 passing yards this year. Only the Washington Commanders and Los Angeles Chargers have given up more.
In the loss to the 49ers, Brandon Aiyuk torched the Buccaneers for 156 receiving yards and a score. George Kittle contributed with 89 yards and a touchdown.
Indianapolis needs to take advantage of that weakness as well. The team has a pair of talented wide receivers in Michael Pittman Jr. and rookie Josh Downs, who could have a field day against the Buccaneers’ defense. Pittman Jr. is having the best season of his career and Downs (third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft) is proving to be a steal.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
