Denver Broncos vs. Indianapolis Colts Week 2 Preview: Keys to the Game and Prediction
The Denver Broncos are on the road for their Week 2 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Broncos are coming off a Week 1 performance where their turnover-plagued offense left much to be desired. Still, their defense was lights out as they wreaked havoc on the Titans’ offense, totaling six sacks, two forced fumbles, and allowing only 113 yards (according to Pro Football Reference). This week, they will have the challenge of thwarting Daniel Jones and the red-hot Colts’ offense.
Can the defense continue to dominate and carry this Broncos team while the offense finds its rhythm, or will Indiana Jones snatch Denver’s hype before it has a chance to be fulfilled?
Keys to the Game
Can the Broncos Slow Down the Colts’ Highly Efficient Offense?
The start to the Daniel Jones era in Indianapolis featured the veteran quarterback totaling nearly 300 yards of total offense and three total touchdowns (per Statmuse) in his Colts debut. His poise under pressure, leadership, and control of the offense allowed him to lead Indianapolis to an impressive seven-out-of-seven scoring drives, leading the league in scoring percentage at 100% (according to Pro Football Reference). While the Colts did not have many flashy big plays, they were able to convert on seven-of-15 third downs while also converting three of three fourth downs, contributing to their league-leading 38 minutes, 43 seconds of time of possession (according to TeamRankings). The Broncos must make it a priority to tighten up and limit yardage in these key situations to get off the field and get their offense the ball.
Will Sean Payton Commit to the Run?
Denver’s offense attempted only eight run plays in the first half of last week’s game. For Bo Nix to thrive against Indianapolis’ eighth-ranked defense (according to Pro Football Focus), he needs a reliable running game that can help him stay ahead of the sticks, convert in short-yardage situations, and pop off a few explosive runs, much like the Broncos did in the second half against the Titans. J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey proved they have explosive playmaking ability, but they must be utilized earlier and more often in this week’s game against Indianapolis. If the Broncos can establish the run early, the play-action passing game will open up and allow Nix to make big throws down the field.
Prediction
This is not the easy win that most Broncos fans anticipated coming into the season. Daniel Jones is a more than competent quarterback, and he finally has solid support around him. Match that with the Colts’ stingy defense, and they are a legitimate playoff contender. If the Broncos plan on leaving Lucas Oil Stadium with a victory, Denver’s defense must find a way to disrupt Daniel Jones. They must put the Colts in third-and-long situations to prevent the Colts from having extended, time-consuming drives. As for Denver’s offense, they need to be the ones running the ball and controlling the clock. If they can run the ball effectively and Nix stays turnover-free, the Broncos should be able to secure a win. Denver has reason to believe it can play much better than it did in the opener, and the Colts may come back down to earth facing a much better and more motivated team than they saw last week. I predict a Broncos win in a close yet low-scoring affair.
Broncos 20, Colts 16