The Indianapolis Colts are nonetheless looking for their first win of the season as they host the Chicago Bears in Week 3.
The rematch of Tremendous Bowl XLI is a giant recreation for each side. The Colts want to keep away from the dreaded 0-Three begin whereas rookie Caleb Williams and the Bears want to bounce again after a loss to the Houston Texans in prime time.
One of many largest considerations for the Colts at this early level within the season is the most important struggles with the run protection.
How unhealthy is the Colts’ run protection?
It’s no secret that the Indy rush protection has been terrible to start out this season. Per Subsequent Gen Stats, the Colts have allowed essentially the most dashing yards (474) and essentially the most dashing performs leading to 5 or extra dashing yards over anticipated (12).
That can be essentially the most dashing yards allowed by a crew within the first two video games of a season for the reason that 1978 Baltimore Colts.
On prime of that, the Colts rank 10th-worst in EPA per rush (-0.09) and eighth-worst in yards earlier than contact per try (1.78), per Subsequent Gen Stats.
The unhealthy information for Indianapolis is that they must flip issues round with out their finest defensive participant. DeForest Buckner was positioned on injured reserve this week so he won’t solely be out this Sunday however for at the very least their subsequent 4 video games.
It is also possible the Colts might be with out rookie Laiatu Latu, who has not practiced getting into Friday attributable to a hip damage.
A positive matchup to use
The excellent news is that this can be a weak point versus weak point matchup for the Colts. The Bears common 77.5 dashing yards per recreation (fifth-lowest), 3.5 dashing yards per play (fourth-lowest), and have a 25% crew stuffed charge (third-highest).
Per Subsequent Gen Stats, the Bears rank eighth-worst in dashing yards over anticipated per try (-0.7) and 10th-worst in runs of at the very least 10 yards (5).
Gus Bradley’s seat is already heating up three weeks into the season and if his unit can’t get the job carried out in opposition to a Chicago dashing assault that has struggled to start out the season, you marvel how for much longer he’ll keep in it by the season.
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