Willkommen!
The Patriots will kick off their first worldwide sport in six years Sunday in Frankfurt, Germany. At 2-7, the Pats are formally preventing for delight in opposition to an upstart Indianapolis workforce (4-5) that has eyes on a shock Wild Card berth. The Patriots have traditionally owned the Colts, who’re slated as 1.5-point favorites regardless of taking part in behind backup quarterback Gardner Minshew.
Last yr, the Pats bludgeoned Indy 26-3, when the Colts fielded one other backup quarterback, Sam Ehlinger. What will it take to copy that end result abroad?
Here’s what to look at for Sunday:
When the Patriots run
Rhamondre Stevenson is lastly discovering his outdated kind, breaking seven tackles during the last two weeks and speeding for a 64-yard landing in opposition to the Commanders. Stevenson discovered a large gap behind rising rookie proper guard Sidy Sow and deal with Mike Onwenu on his landing. Bill Belichick stated this week the Pats are snug with Onwenu remaining at proper deal with, the place he’s balanced the offense’s capacity to run behind both deal with spot.
Last season, nevertheless, the Colts restricted Stevenson to 60 yards on 15 carries. Their run protection has performed a bit softer this season, rating nineteenth by Pro Football Focus and twenty third by DVOA. If the Pats can block All-Pro defensive lineman DeForest Buckner and linebacker Shaq Leonard usually sufficient, Stevenson may very well be off to the races as soon as once more in Frankfurt.
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When the Patriots go
Under defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, the Colts are among the many few groups within the league working a base Cover 3 protection.
Last yr, Indianapolis performed to their zone-heavy tendencies and nearly completely rushed 4 in opposition to Mac Jones. This season, although, the Colts could also be inclined to vary up their method, with Jones going 10-of-23 for 85 yards, a landing and interception versus a nasty Washington go protection when it performed man protection. Jones additionally famous Bradley has elevated his strain price this season.
“Coach Bradley does a good job. They are very sound fundamentally, and they’ve been bringing some more pressures and things like that,” Jones stated. “It looks like a good defense on film, and they’re very sound. We have to bring our ‘A’ game and really just focus on what we can control.”
If the Colts do play man, search for Jones to focus on rookie Demario Douglas and Stevenson, his new go-to guys after the lack of Kendrick Bourne. Stevenson, nevertheless, may have a problem dealing with the NFL’s second-toughest go protection in opposition to working backs.
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When the Colts run
Two years in the past, Jonathan Taylor knocked the Patriots out with a late landing in a key regular-season matchup that formed the AFC playoff race. Taylor missed final season’s assembly, however has returned this season and will once more do main injury to a beleaguered Pats protection.
Taylor is averaging 3.48 yards after contact this season, one of many highest charges within the league. After a gradual debut, he rushed for 75 yards and a landing in opposition to a stout Cleveland protection, then gashed the Saints for 95 yards the subsequent week. The Colts’ offensive line can be sixth-best run-blocking unit within the league, per PFF.
That O-line additionally helped Zack Moss thrive in Taylor’s place earlier this season. Thanks to his head begin, Moss leads Indianapolis with 615 yards and 5 touchdowns.
The Patriots’ run protection will want defensive tackles Davon Godchaux and Lawrence Guy to rebound after getting dealt with too usually by Commanders offensive linemen 1-on-1. Linebackers Ja’Whan Bentley and Jahlani Tavai should additionally tighten up their tackling to forestall Taylor from going the gap when he reaches the second stage. Bentley has missed 13% of his deal with alternatives, per PFF, the very best single-season mark of his profession since his rookie season of 2018.
When the Colts go
Belichick will get his first crack ever at Minshew, a wily journeyman with a fast set off and gunslinger perspective.
“He’s done a good job really of handling the offense,” Belichick stated this week. “Familiarity with (Colts coach) Shane (Steichen), defending the ball. Just executing the offense, clearly that’s an enormous a part of it. They have good ability gamers, and a few good working backs now – (Zack) Moss and (Jonathan) Taylor are each very productive.
“He does a nice job of making good decisions and getting the ball to skill players.”
At receiver, Michael Pittman (58 catches, 593 yards, 3 TDs) has established himself because the Colts’ clear No. 1 possibility. At 6-foot-4 and 223 kilos, he’ll pose matchup issues for a smaller Pats cornerbacks group taking part in with out J.C. Jackson. Inside, rookie slot receiver Josh Downs suffered a knee damage final week that prevented him from ending the Colts’ win at Carolina and working towards on Wednesday. Indy’s subsequent greatest receiver is Alex Pierce (243 yards), although Minshew has made a behavior of concentrating on Moss and Taylor within the passing sport, with 31 catches between them.
Game choose
Colts 24, Patriots 19
Source: www.bostonherald.com