INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts (3-5) kick off the second half of their season this Sunday with a highly critical AFC South Division matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-5).
Neither team finished the first of the season how they wanted, but both are a bit more re-energized after coming off their bye weeks last week.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
- Sunday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. ET
- Indianapolis; Lucas Oil Stadium
- TV: CBS — Spero Dedes (play-by-play) and Adam Archuleta (color)
- To find out what games will be on in your area, check here
- Radio: WFNI "1070 The Fan" and WLHK "HANK FM" — Matt Taylor (play-by-play), Jim Sorgi (color) and Barry Krauss (sideline)
ALL-TIME SERIES
- Colts lead, 22-12, and are 6-4 against the Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Jaguars have won four of the last five dating back to 2015.
- Last game — Week 13 of 2017. The Jaguars won, 30-10.
COACHING STAFF
Colts:
- HC Frank Reich
- OC Nick Sirianni
- DC Matt Eberflus
- STC Bubba Ventrone
Jaguars:
- HC Doug Marrone
- OC Nathaniel Hackett
- DC Todd Wash
- STC Joe DeCamillis
LAST WEEK
Colts:
- BYE (Won in Week 8 vs. Oakland Raiders [1-7], 42-28)
Jaguars:
- BYE (Lost in Week 8 vs. Philadelphia Eagles [4-4], 24-18 [London])
INJURY UPDATE
Colts:
- OL Denzelle Good (illness): QUESTIONABLE — Did not practice Friday
- WR Ryan Grant (ankle): QUESTIONABLE — Limited participant Wednesday, Thursday, full participant Friday
- CB Nate Hairston (ankle): QUESTIONABLE — Limited participant Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- TE Ryan Hewitt (ankle): OUT — Did not practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- S Mike Mitchell (calf): OUT — Did not practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- TE Erik Swoope (knee): OUT — Did not practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- DE Kemoko Turay (neck): QUESTIONABLE — Limited participant Wednesday, did not practice Thursday and Friday
Jaguars:
- DT Eli Ankou (calf): DOUBTFUL — Limited participant Wednesday, did not practice Thursday and Friday
- CB A.J. Bouye (calf): OUT — Did not practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- TE David Grinnage (knee): QUESTIONABLE — Limited participant Friday
- LB Lerentee McCray (hamstring): QUESTIONABLE — Limited participant Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- CB Quenton Meeks (knee): OUT — Did not practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- TE James O'Shaughnessy (hip): QUESTIONABLE — Limited participant Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- LB Telvin Smith (shoulder): QUESTIONABLE — Limited participant Thursday and Friday
STORYLINES/THINGS TO WATCH
- Luck Makes A Difference — The Jaguars have won four of the last five in this series, but they've only beaten Andrew Luck once in that streak, and that was in a three-point win in London back in 2016. Luck leading the Colts to a win Sunday can help restore order in the division, sending a message that the Colts are back.
- Don't Let History Repeat Itself — Piggybacking off of that, Jacksonville hasn't just beaten the Colts in recent years; they've embarrassed them. Three of those four Colts losses have been by a margin of 27.3 points. Last year at Lucas Oil Stadium, the Jaguars sacked quarterback Jacoby Brissett 10 times and shutout the Colts, 27-0. That can't happen again.
- Colts Defensive Front To Get Back On Track? — After posting 17 sacks through the first four games, the Colts' pass rush settled down to just four sacks in the most recent four games. After having the bye week to regroup, can they fire it back up at home this week? For what it's worth, the Colts have 11 sacks in just three home games this year compared to 10 sacks in five away games.
- Donte Moncrief Returns — Jaguars wide receiver Donte Moncrief spent the first four years of his career in Indianapolis, racking up 19 touchdowns in that time. He signed a free-agent contract with the Jaguars this offseason and now makes his first trip back to Indy.
- Both Teams Clawing Back Into AFC South Race — Whichever team wins this week will take a much-needed step back into the race for the AFC South crown. The division-leading Houston Texans (6-3) are two games up on the Tennessee Titans (4-4). Both the Colts and Jaguars are just a game back from the Titans, and three back from the Texans.
INTRIGUING MATCHUPS
- Colts WR T.Y. Hilton vs. Jaguars CB Jalen Ramsey — Pro Bowler against Pro Bowler. Ramsey may have largely led this matchup in the past, but Hilton's always capable of making plays, evidenced by his 40-yard score last year. There’s a lot of mutual respect between these two even though Ramsey usually has something to say regarding just about everyone in the league.
- Colts LT Anthony Castonzo vs. Jaguars DE Yannick Ngakoue — Ngakoue is one of the best young pass rushers in the NFL, totaling 23 tackles for loss, 25.0 sacks and 10 forced fumbles in just 2 1/2 seasons. He's been especially effective against the Colts, totaling five tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble in four career games. The Colts' offensive line hasn't allowed a sack since the first series of Week 5, so we'll see if Castonzo can keep Ngakoue at bay.
- Colts RG Mark Glowinski/RT Braden Smith vs. Jaguars DL Calais Campbell — Campbell took his game to another level when he signed in Jacksonville last year, totaling 19.5 sacks in 24 games. He moves around the line situationally, so the young right side pair of Glowinski and Smith will have their hands full against him.
- Colts CBs Pierre Desir/Kenny Moore II vs. Jaguars WRs Donte Moncrief/Dede Westbrook — The Colts' secondary will get a test against a couple of talented receivers. The lengthy veteran Desir will likely often get the duty of facing Moncrief, who leads the Jaguars in targets (56). Moore II is the Colts' nickel but also plays outside in the base defense, so he should be matched up with Westbrook quite a bit.
REFEREE ASSIGNMENT
- Head referee: Jerome Boger (15 years). Click here to see all referee assignments for Week 10.
LEADERS
Colts:
- Passing — QB Andrew Luck (2,187 yards)
- Rushing — RB Marlon Mack (381 yards)
- Receiving — TE Eric Ebron (394 yards)
- Touchdowns — TE Eric Ebron (7)
- Tackles — LB Darius Leonard (88)
- Sacks — DE Margus Hunt, LB Darius Leonard, Jabaal Sheard (4.0)
- Interceptions — CB Kenny Moore II (2)
Jaguars:
- Passing — QB Blake Bortles (2,021 yards)
- Rushing — RB T.J. Yeldon (334 yards)
- Receiving — WR Dede Westbrook (435 yards)
- Touchdowns — RB T.J. Yeldon (5)
- Tackles — LB Telvin Smith (65)
- Sacks — DE Calais Campbell, DE Yannick Ngakoue (5.0)
- Interceptions — CB A.J. Bouye, S Tashaun Gipson, LB Myles Jack, CB Jalen Ramsey (1)
COMPARING 2018 STATS
Colts:
- Total offense — 10th (381.5 YPG)
- Scoring offense — 6th (28.9 PPG)
- Passing offense — 13th (263.9 YPG)
- Running offense — 12th (117.6 YPG)
- Third down offense — 2nd (52%)
- Red zone offense — 12th (63.6%)
- Total defense — 23rd (371.4 YPG)
- Scoring defense — 8th (21.12 PPG)
- Passing defense — 23rd (261.5 YPG)
- Sacks — Tied-19th (21)
- Running defense — 19th (109.9 YPG)
- Third down defense — 22nd (42%)
- Red zone defense — 8th (50.0%)
- Time of possession — 27th (29:18)
- Turnover differential — 13th (+3)
Jaguars:
- Total offense — 22nd (352.5 YPG)
- Scoring offense — 29th (16.8 PPG)
- Passing offense — 16th (257.5 YPG)
- Running offense — 24th (95.0 YPG)
- Third down offense — 9th (44%)
- Red zone offense — 30th (41.2%)
- Total defense — 2nd (313.2 YPG)
- Scoring defense — 25th (26.6 PPG)
- Passing defense — 1st (190.0 YPG)
- Sacks — 25th (19)
- Running defense — 24th (123.2 YPG)
- Third down defense — 14th (38%)
- Red zone defense — 7th (50.0%)
- Time of possession — 29th (28:55)
- Turnover differential — 30th (-11)
NOTES AND QUOTES
- This week, the Colts made the following moves: Activated DL Tyquan Lewis to the active roster from Injured Reserve, elevated LB Skai Moore to the active roster from the practice squad, waived WR Steve Ishmael and Robert Turbin, and signed OT De'Ondre Wesley to the practice squad.
- Luck needs to throw two touchdowns Sunday to pass Eli Manning (156) for 10th, and four touchdowns to pass Cam Newton (158) for the ninth-most passing touchdown in a player's first seven seasons in NFL history. With one touchdown run, Luck will pass Bert Jones (14) for the second-most among quarterbacks in franchise history.
- Hilton needs one 150-yard receiving game to tie Marvin Harrison (11) for the most in franchise history.
- Kicker Adam Vinatieri needs three made field goals from 40-49 yards to pass Gary Anderson (161) for the most made field goals from that distance in NFL history, and two made field goals from 50-plus yards to pass Phil Dawson and John Kasay (42) for the fourth-most made field goals from that distance. With one regular season win, Vinatieri will tie George Blanda (209) for the most career regular season wins in NFL history.
- Reich on if this week against the Jaguars will prove if the Colts' offensive line is for real: "Yeah, I think it is the toughest test and certainly there is an element of what you're saying there that's true, I mean for real. On the other hand, I mean I don't want to diminish the positive that's happened because each week in this league in one sense is for real and every game that we play poorly or well – it all counts. But this is definitely going to be the toughest test of the year."
NEXT WEEK
Colts:
- Tennessee Titans (4-4) (home)
Jaguars:
- Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2-1) (home)
