Fansided

Each NFL team’s most important game in 2019

By Russell S. Baxter

Chicago Bears outside linebackers Khalil Mack (52) and Leonard Floyd (94) sack Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) on December 16, 2018, at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images)
Chicago Bears outside linebackers Khalil Mack (52) and Leonard Floyd (94) sack Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) on December 16, 2018, at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
14 of 32
Next
KANSAS CITY, MO – JANUARY 12: Indianapolis Colts running back Nyheim Hines (21) hits the hole on a run in the fourth quarter of an AFC Divisional Round playoff game game between the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs on January 12, 2019 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – JANUARY 12: Indianapolis Colts running back Nyheim Hines (21) hits the hole on a run in the fourth quarter of an AFC Divisional Round playoff game game between the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs on January 12, 2019 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Indianapolis Colts: Week 5 at Kansas City Chiefs

Much like their divisional rivals from Houston, the Indianapolis Colts wound up digging themselves quite an early hole one season ago. Under new head coach Frank Reich, the club would drop five of their first six contests and were riding a four-game losing streak heading into Week 7.

But then things began to click for a club being built by general manager Chris Ballard. Andrew Luck would catch fire and once again began to look like one of the better quarterbacks in the league, He got plenty of help from a supporting cast that included running back Marlon Mack, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, tight end Eric Ebron and a much-improved office of line. The talented signal caller also started to hit his groove just 1 year after missing all of 2017 with shoulder surgery.

Five consecutive victories would put the team one game over .500. When it was all said and done, Reich’s squad parlayed a 9-1 stretch into the club’s first playoff appearance since 2014. A playoff win over the AFC South champion Houston Texans would be followed by a humbling 31-13 loss to the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in the divisional round.

This season, the Colts will play three of their first five games away from home. The club opens the season with road tilts against the Chargers and Titans before hosting the Falcons and Raiders. Then it’s a prime time playoff rematch at Kansas City. That should be plenty of motivation for Reich and company as the franchise seeks a fifth Super Bowl appearance in South Florida.

Next: Jacksonville Jaguars

Home/NFL