Will the 3-4 Indianapolis Colts even their win-loss record this season at the expense of Andy Reid’s surging Kansas City Chiefs?
This week, we’ll truly find out if Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has been ridding himself of that dreaded turnover bug. The opportunistic Kansas City Chiefs figure to test the strong-armed signal-caller for three or so hours this Sunday.
In his last four games, Luck has thrown eight touchdown passes and committed only a pair of turnovers (2 interceptions). That compares to the team’s 1-2 start, in which the fifth-year performer served up a half-dozen scores but coughed up the football four times. Three of those miscues were returned for touchdowns, including a pair of Luck’s lost fumbles.
So who do the Colts run into this week? How about a ball-hawking Kansas City team that has totaled an amazing 32 interceptions in its last 22 regular-season contests. Nearly half of those thefts (13) have come from young cornerback Marcus Peters. In 2015, he tied for the league lead with eight picks and this year has picked off an NFL-best five passes. Will Luck and wide receiver T.Y. Hilton challenge the 2015 Defensive Rookie of the Year?
Odds
Line: Chiefs (-2.5)
Over/Under: 50
The challenge for the Indianapolis defense comes from Chiefs’ running back Spencer Ware and a ground attack that will be more than a handful for Chuck Pagano’s team. The emerging performer has already racked up 777 total yards from scrimmage in six games and is tied for the team lead with three total touchdowns. Ware has caught only 15 passes but is averaging an imposing 19 yards per reception.
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You can expect Luck to challenge the Kansas City secondary deep on more than one occasion. You’ll recall what we saw earlier this season when the Pittsburgh Steelers’ passing game burned Andy Reid’s team early and often. The Colts as a home underdog is an appealing proposition and you can look for Pagano’s club to emerge with an outright victory.
Pick: Colts 28, Chiefs 20