The Indianapolis Colts continued their hot streak last Saturday as they dominated the Houston Texans ion the road. They harassed the Houston offense and they were able to do whatever they wanted offensively. This week, the challenge get a little stiffer as they take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead stadium. The Chiefs, who are the number one seed in the AFC, are a team many believe will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. The Colts, of course, have other plans. It will not be an easy task for them to win in Kansas City in January where it will likely be bitter cold, but they could get it done. Here’s a few things to look out for if the Colts are to win.
1) Run game equals wins
The Colts have found themselves a running back in second-year running back Marlon Mack. The talented running back has given the Colts some balance offensively that they lacked and with him running the football, they are a very good football team. Against the Chiefs, the magic number to get Mack to will be 100 yards rushing. In games where he has rushed for over 100 yards, the Colts are 5-0. So balance is key, but so is giving Mack the football. Giving him the football also allows the Colts to keep MVP candidate Patrick Mahomes on the bench longer than he wants to be there.
2) Less Luck is more
The Colts are known as a passing team with Andrew Luck back at the helm. Luck can surely make a lot of the throws in the NFL at all different levels, but maybe less of Andrew Luck means more for the Colts. This season, the Colts were 2-6 when Luck threw the football over 40 times in a game. For a quarterback coming off a shoulder injury, he should not be throwing the football that much anyway, but the Colts must continue to stress balance with the offense if they want to escape Kansas City with a win, especially with the pass rushers the Chiefs have in Dee Ford and Justin Houston.
3) Darius Leonard the machine
No one expected Darius Leonard to be the player he has been for the Colts. He was thought to be good, but he has been downright spectacular for the Colts defense this season, tallying 163 combined tackles this season. For the Colts to win the game on Saturday night, he has to be flying all over the field and involved in everything. The more he is in on tackles, the more better the Colts defense plays, In face, the Colts are 6-2 when he is involved in ten or more tackles in a game.
4) Protect the football
Like it always is in January, it will be cold in Kansas City. The temperatures not only affect the players and the travel of the football, but the security of the football. Players will have to be extra careful how they carry it after catching or getting the handoff. For the Colts to win this game, they must minimize the turnovers. The more they lose the football, the more their chances plummet, especially in Arrowhead Stadium.
The Colts four points to victory lay right before them. Now can they execute them or not is the question.
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