The **[Indianapolis Colts](/)** are 1-0 after week one. That sentence has been in the works for a long time, but it is finally here. Now is the time for the Colts to build on their new found momentum to start a season and beat the Denver Broncos at home. The Broncos are coming off a victory over the Tennessee Titans that looked less comfortable than it should considering they faced the worst team from last year with a rookie quarterback. Regardless, they got the win are looking to create some early distance between themselves from the rest of the AFC. There are several keys that can push the Colts past the Broncos and out to a 2-0 start.
Chris Ballard is gonna love this one…A battle in the trenches, and the key is the same for both teams. The Colts reworked offensive line is going up against one of the best units in the league. The Broncos led the league in sacks last year and were second in rush yards per attempt. Overall, the defense is solid at all levels, but the strength is up front. Daniel Jones didn’t face much pressure against the Dolphins, but an uptick in that this week could be disastrous. On the flip side, Bo Nix wasn’t stellar last week, and it was all due to the Titan’s defense. They kept Nix in the pocket and forced him into tough throws. The defensive line for the Colts appears to be a strength for this team. If they can generate pressure with their front four, expect the rest of the defense to thrive.
The new defensive coordinator had this unit humming last week. His group produce turnovers on the first two Dolphins’ drives and held them to 43-yards at the half. The sit back, no pressure, zone, vanilla style fans had become accustomed to is no longer. Safety and corner blitzes, defensive ends dropping in coverage, and everything in between was on display. When the offense doesn’t know what you’re doing, they can’t prepare for it. Nix is only starting his second year. If Anarumo can bring similar disruption that made a seasoned vet look completely lost, what do you think he can do against an 18-game starter? Bring the same level of intensity and muster the same level of confusion and it could be a long day for the Denver quarterback.
The weight of this game may fall on the defense, but Jones has plenty of the load to carry. Fans were pleasantly surprised by his week one performance. While it will be hard to surpass, creating a level of consistency near that benchmark is what will make or break this season. Jones was able to spread the ball around, while also utilizing his playmakers in Pittman, Warren, and Taylor. That is a recipe for success. Spread the love, but make sure your best players get plenty of touches. His efficiency was great, and his ability to score was perfect. Jones will be the X-factor in most games until there is enough data to see him as a consistent force. Put together more outings like week one and the Colts are going to have one of their best seasons to date.
The formula seems simple. If the defense shows up and Daniel Jones shows the magic of week one wasn’t just an illusion, the Colts can and will win their week two matchup against the Broncos. Bo Nix won’t be able to dazzle as he will be contained in the pocket facing pressure from every direction. Sling the rock to everyone in blue again, and Jones will be the headline for the second week in a row. It is time to see if the first game was a flash in the pan or something of substance. Only time will tell. The next opportunity comes Sunday.
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