Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts game preview, odds, and predictions
By Stu White
Coming off a 19-9 loss the the San Diego Chargers, the Indianapolis Colts will try to avoid losing back-to-back games for the first time under head coach Chuck Pagano when they host the undefeated Denver Broncos on Sunday. Kickoff is slated for 8:30 p.m. ET, and the game can be seen on NBC.
The big story, of course, involves Peyton Manning’s return to Indianapolis, where I guess he has some sort of history. Maybe he played there or something? Colts owner Jim Irsay has been making headlines this week — and not the good kind like you want — for some perceived “cheap shots” he took at Manning. Expect to hear plenty about it during the broadcast because we all know how much impact an owner’s comments can have on the play on the field.
Sunday’s game also marks the return of Von Miller from his six-game suspension. Miller should be pumped up for his return to the field, so don’t expect him to mollycoddle Indy’s Andrew Luck.
For you nerds and pocket-protector wearers out there, here’s a look at each time by the numbers (their respective NFL ranks are in the parentheses):
Passing Offense
Denver: 360.7 yards per game (1)
Indianapolis: 215.6 yards per game (23)
Rushing Offense
Denver: 115.3 yards per game (15)
Indianapolis: 130.7 yards per game (8)
Scoring
Denver: 44.2 points per game (1)
Indianapolis: 24.7 points per game (11)
Passing Defense
Denver: 337.7 yards per game (32)
Indianapolis: 205.7 yards per game (5)
Rushing Defense
Denver: 69.8 yards per game (1)
Indianapolis: 132.0 yards per game (31)
And for you non-degenerate gamblers out there…
Line: Denver (-7)
Over/Under: 56
My Expert Prediction: Although it’s hard to have a lot of faith in the Colts after how out of sync they looked against the Chargers, I think they’ll give Denver a tough game through the first three quarters. When it comes down to crunch time, though, it’d be foolish not to put my metaphorical (or literal) money on Peyton Manning. Denver wins 35-27