Sluggish Starts
Heading into the 2022 season, the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos were projected as playoff contenders on the TNF odds. Neither team has lived up to expectations so far. One of the NFL’s most daunting stadiums will be on full display in primetime when the Broncos (2-2) play host to the Colts (1-2-1) on Thursday Night Football odds. Indianapolis hopes to recapture its play from the Week 3 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Following several devastating injuries, Denver will need its depth to rise to the occasion. Both squads desperately need wins to spark a turnaround.
Let’s check the latest NFL odds, stats, injury reports, and NFL lines for Colts vs Broncos. We’ve plenty of Vegas NFL odds for you to consider.
Indianapolis Colts
In Week 4, the Indianapolis Colts got out to another slow start, trailing 14-0 in the first quarter. This has been a recurring theme that must be fixed. When Indianapolis started fast, it beat one of the NFL’s best teams, the Kansas City Chiefs.
However, the Colts’ problems go beyond poor first halves. The defense has underperformed. Indy sits in the bottom half of the league with only seven sacks. The run defense has been good for the most part, but it surrendered 127 rushing yards on 4.5 yards per carry in the 24-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans. To add insult to injury, All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard made his season debut after dealing with a back injury. He went out with a concussion and will miss Thursday’s game.
Most of Indianapolis’ issues lie with the offense. Despite featuring Jonathan Taylor, one of the league’s best running backs, this has been one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL (27th in yards per carry). The offensive line has rarely generated push in the run game. Plus, quarterback Matt Ryan has been an experience, to say the least. He was putrid in Weeks 1 and 2 but has bounced back since. A Colts turnaround is unlikely if the run game continues to struggle.
Denver Broncos
In the first three weeks, the Denver Broncos’ offense was a problem. Nearly every possession group dealt with inconsistencies while coach Nathaniel Hackett tried to find a rhythm. This week, the passing game took a step forward. Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson averaged 9.5 yards per attempt with 237 passing yards, two touchdowns, and a 124.9 passer rating. Also, wide receivers Courtland Sutton (52 yards), Jerry Jeudy (53 yards), and KJ Hamler (55 yards) had solid games.
Russell Wilson shot up a DEEP pass to KJ Hamler 🤯pic.twitter.com/J6WM9R7czb
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) October 2, 2022
The offense was far from perfect though. The run game was mediocre as the interior offensive line continued to struggle. Center Lloyd Cushenberry III could be the league’s worst center. In addition, offensive tackle play has been inconsistent. Left tackle Garett Bolles is not close to his 2020 All-Pro form. Furthermore, running back Javonte Williams suffered a season-ending knee injury. He ranked 13th in yards after contact per carry (2.4). Running back Melvin Gordon’s crucial late-game fumble did not leave Denver with a lot of hope.
To make matters worse, the Broncos defense comes off its worst game in the 32-23 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. After yielding 212 rushing yards on 5.6 yards per attempt, Denver’s run defense looks like a major concern. Defensive end Randy Gregory’s knee injury further adds to the defense’s worries.
Colts vs Broncos Game Injuries
Colts vs Broncos Head-to-Head
Since 2014, this series is evenly split at 3-3. The Colts won (15-13) the last matchup in 2019.
Colts vs Broncos Game Information
- Date: Thursday, Oct. 6th
- Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Location: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
- How to watch Colts vs Broncos? ESPN
Colts vs Broncos Live Stream: NFL Game Pass
Colts vs Broncos Betting Lines
Colts vs Broncos Prediction
Denver’s defense was just dominated by the Raiders’ mediocre rushing attack. The Colts could finally get their run game going, but Taylor is questionable with an ankle injury. Luckily, Indianapolis has an exceptional backup running back in Nyheim Hines. Indianapolis’ defense has some issues but it is allowing only 297 yards per game (sixth). The Colts will cover on the back of their run game.
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“The odds and predictions in the article are based on time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.”
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