The Indianapolis Colts are looking to get into the win column for the first time this season. Can they slow down the San Diego Chargers?
Two weeks into the season and guess which club has allowed the most points in the league? Here’s a hint: It’s the same club that has surrendered the third-most total yards in the NFL and has totaled only two sacks and one takeaway in losses to the Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos.
For the third straight year, the Indianapolis Colts have opened the season with two consecutive losses. The last time they started the season 0-3 was in 2011, when Peyton Manning was shelved due to numerous neck surgeries and the club wound up going 2-14.
Meanwhile, the San Diego Chargers put 27 points on the board at Kansas City (albeit an overtime loss to the Chiefs) and followed that up with a 38-14 win last Sunday over the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, according to Odds Shark, Chuck Pagano’s winless bunch is a 2.5-point favorite to get its first victory of 2016.
If that’s the case, there will have to be a better performance from quarterback Andrew Luck. Seven days after throwing for 385 yards and four touchdowns without an interception in a tough 39-35 home loss to the Detroit Lions, he and his team ran into a totally different defense.
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That would be the Denver Broncos and the fifth-year quarterback had his hands full. Luck was sacked five times, barely completed 50 percent of his throws (21-of-40), totaled only 197 yards through the air, one scores and saw his two turnovers (1 interception, 1 lost fumble) returned for touchdowns.
Yes, the 34-20 loss to the defending Super Bowl champions did see the Colts’ defensive unit only surrender two touchdowns. But Pagano’s squad was burned for 400 total yards and put very little head on Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian.
It’s safe to say things don’t look for the Colts. And the Bolts have had few problems scoring points to date. But one week after losing wideout Keenan Allen for the season, running back Danny Woodhead is now out for the year due to injury as well.
Odds
Line: Colts (-2.5)
Over/Under: 51.5
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That means a little less Philip Rivers and a large dose of second-year running back Melvin Gordon, who has already scored three touchdowns in two games. But don’t be surprised if the young performer puts the ball on the turf a few times and the Colts defense finds the end zone at least once. A winless team at home makes for a dangerous foe.
Pick: Indianapolis 33, San Diego 17