3 keys to victory for the Colts as look to take down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in Week 12
For the Colts to take down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in Week 12 they need to focus on these 3 keys to the victory.
The Indianapois Colts are set to play in the best game of the Week 12 slate as they are on the road taking on the Kansas City Chiefs. They can’t let the Chiefs’ 5-5 record fool them into thinking they are playing a lesser opponent. This is a talented team led by one of the greatest QBs of all time, in Patrick Mahomes.
The 8-2 Colts need a win today to keep some distance between them and their AFC South rivals, the 6-4 Jacksonville Jaguars and the 6-5 Houston Texans. They also need a win to keep pace with the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots in the race for the top seed in the AFC. If they are going to get the job done today, there are three things they need to do.
3 keys to victory for the Colts in Week 12
Force the Chiefs to lean on their run game
The Chiefs are right in the middle this season, averaging the 16th most rushing yards per game at 115.3. They have been held under 100 rushing yards three times this season, including last week in their loss to the Broncos. Mahomes has accounted for an average of 28.8 rushing yards per game, though. This team does not want to rely on its run game, especially with starter Isiah Pacheco still sidelined with an injury.
The Colts will see their CB room fully healthy for the first time this season. Charvarius Ward is back from the IR and will join the team’s blockbuster trade deadline acquisition of Sauce Gardner as their starting outside CBs. Kenny Moore II will join the duo, who is one of the best in the league at his position.
The hope is that they see the secondary dominate the Chiefs’ pass weapons and force the Chiefs to lean on their run game, taking the ball out of Mahomes’ hands. This would put them in an uncomfortable position, which is where Lou Anarumo shines.
Get Jonathan Taylor going early so the passing game can utilize play action throughout
The Chiefs have struggled significantly against play-action this season. They have allowed a league-high 81.2% completion rate against play-action this season. The Colts are second in the NFL with a 20.36% play-action usage percentage, trailing only the Los Angeles Rams. Those are the only two teams in the NFL with over 20%.
The Colts have also gained 1,019 yards on play-action plays, the most in the NFL this season, and one of only three teams to surpass 1,000 yards, joined by the Seattle Seahawks (1,011) and the Rams (1,001).
Jonathan Taylor is playing like an MVP candidate, and the Colts typically limit his workload in the first half, ramping up his touches in the second half. I think they need to lean on him early in this one to play out play-action at an even higher rate than normal in Week 12.
Pass rush needs to get to Patrick Mahomes to reward the Colts’ new-look secondary
As mentioned earlier, the Colts’ new-look secondary will be under the spotlight today. If they can do their job and force Mahomes to hold onto the ball, the team’s pass rush needs to get to him and finish plays. The Colts’ secondary is built to be at its best when put in clear pass downs. So, getting Kansas City in second-and-long and third-and-long situations is the goal every week.
Allow Ward and Sauce to make plays and force Mahomes to make tight window throws throughout. I want to see the Colts finish this game with at least three sacks. With DeForest Buckner on IR, the pressure is on Laiatu Latu to lead the team’s pass rush. He has the talent and has shown it this season, but has been just a half-second away from a sack too often. Hopefully, the Colts’ improved CB play will give him that extra half a second to wreak havoc today.
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