INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts (0-1) travel east to take on the Washington Redskins (1-0) on Sunday. Standing in the Colts' way to get into the win column is a Washington team that dominated the Arizona Cardinals on both sides of the ball last week.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
- Sunday, Sept. 16, at 1 p.m. ET
- Landover, Md.; FedEx Field
- 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" | WLHK "HANK FM" — Matt Taylor (play-by-play), Jim Sorgi (color) and Caroline Cann (sideline)
ALL-TIME SERIES
- Colts lead, 20-10, and are 1-1 against the Redskins at FedEx Field. The Colts have won four of the last five matchups dating back to 1999.
- Last game — Week 13 of 2014. The Colts won, 49-27.
COACHING STAFF
Colts:
- HC Frank Reich
- OC Nick Sirianni
- DC Matt Eberflus
- STC Bubba Ventrone
Redskins:
- HC Jay Gruden
- OC Matt Cavanaugh
- DC Greg Manusky
- STC Ben Kotwica
LAST WEEK
Colts:
- Lost vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 34-23 (home)
Redskins:
- Won vs. Arizona Cardinals, 24-6 (away)
INJURY UPDATE
Colts:
- DT/DE Denico Autry (ankle): Out — limited Wednesday, did not practice Thursday and Friday
- T Anthony Castonzo (hamstring): Out — limited Wednesday, did not practice Thursday and Friday
- S Clayton Geathers (knee): Questionable — limited Wednesday and Thursday, did not practice Friday
- T/G Denzelle Good (knee/wrist): Out — did not practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- RB Marlon Mack (hamstring): Questionable — limited Wednesday and Thursday, fully participated Friday
- CB Chris Milton (concussion): Out — did not practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- DT Grover Stewart (shoulder): Questionable — limited Wednesday, fully participated Thursday and Friday
Redskins:
- S Troy Apke (hamstring): Out — did not practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- WR Maurice Harris (concussion) : Questionable— limited Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- OT Morgan Moses (knee): Questionable — limited Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- WR Paul Richardson (shoulder): Questionable — fully participated Thursday, did not practice Friday
STORYLINES/THINGS TO WATCH
- Injuries For The Colts — As you can see, there are some fairly important players on the mend for the Colts.
- Adrian Peterson And Chris Thompson On A Tear — Last week, the Washington running back duo of Adrian Peterson and Chris Thompson combined for a whopping 294 yards of offense and two touchdowns. This played right into the strengths of quarterback Alex Smith, and it helped lead Washington to the highest time of possession in the league. If the Colts can just merely contain Peterson and Thompson then their chances increase of pulling out the road win.
- Skai Moore/Anthony Walker Rotation — Colts second-year linebacker Anthony Walker missed the majority of training camp and the preseason with a groin injury but recently returned to practice. Rookie Skai Moore received the bulk of the first-team reps at MIKE linebacker in Walker's absence, including getting the start last Sunday. The two played a pretty even amount of snaps throughout the game, Moore getting 26 and Walker getting 23. Were the split reps a way to get Walker the game reps he missed this summer, and will we continue to see a rotation?
- Don't Beat Yourselves — Once up 23-10, you could argue the Colts would have beaten Cincinnati last week if not for a few critical self-inflicted wounds. The Bengals came back in the second half with 24 unanswered points, stealing the win. The Redskins are another very good team in which you cannot afford to shoot yourself in the foot.
INTRIGUING MATCHUPS
- Colts WR T.Y. Hilton vs. Redskins CB Josh Norman — Anytime you pair up two players near the top of their respective positions, it's a must-watch situation. We know that first big vintage T.Y. Hilton game of 2018 is coming at some point, but this week one of the league's best corners is here to try and stop him. This week, Hilton spoke to the media and was asked about Norman: "He's a crafty guy. He gets out there, eyes always on the quarterback. He studies well, plays physical and he gets after it. So I got to bring my 'A' game."
- Colts RT vs. Redskins OLB Ryan Kerrigan — With left tackle Anthony Castonzo's status up in the air out for a second consecutive week, we're not sure who the offensive tackles will be. Last week, it was Joe Haeg at left tackle with J'Marcus Webb at right tackle. However, Webb suffered a season-ending hamstring injury near the end of Week 1. This week, we could see a new alignment, perhaps Le'Raven Clark at left tackle with Haeg moving over to the right side. Whoever is at right tackle for the Colts will likely get a heavy dose of Pro Bowl edge rusher Ryan Kerrigan, who averages 10 sacks per season for his career. This week, Colts head coach Frank Reich called Kerrigan, "as productive as a defensive player as there is in the league."
- Colts DEs Jabaal Sheard/Margus Hunt vs. Redskins OTs Trent Williams/Morgan Moses — Colts defensive ends Sheard and Hunt were a productive pair last week, both ranking top 10 in Pro Football Focus' edge defender ranks. Hunt was able to register two sacks. They face a tough test this week against arguably the best left tackle in the league in Williams and right tackle Moses.
- Colts CB Kenny Moore II vs. Redskins WR Jamison Crowder — Moore II has been playing outside in the base defense and then moving inside when in nickel. This likely matches him up against Crowder often on Sunday, who is a perfect fit for Redskins quarterback Alex Smith's style of play. Moore II has been arguably the Colts' best corner this summer, while Crowder has been a consistent option in Washington the last few years.
- Colts LBs/Ss vs. Redskins TE Jordan Reed — Reed is back healthy, which means trouble for opposing defenses. While healthy, Reed is among the top tight ends in the game, going for 48 yards and one touchdown. The Colts have a ton of athleticism in their back seven, as linebackers Darius Leonard, Moore and Walker and safeties Malik Hooker and Clayton Geathers are all capable of hanging with tight ends all over the field.
REFEREE ASSIGNMENT
- Head referee: Clete Blakeman (11 years). Click here to see all referee assignments for Week 2.
LEADERS
Colts:
- Passing — QB Andrew Luck (319 yards)
- Rushing — RB Jordan Wilkins (40 yards)
- Receiving — TE Jack Doyle (60 yards)
- Touchdowns — TE Eric Ebron, WR T.Y. Hilton (1)
- Tackles — LB Darius Leonard (9)
- Sacks — DL Margus Hunt (2.0)
- Interceptions — CB Kenny Moore II (1)
R*edskins:*
- Passing — QB Alex Smith (255 yards)
- Rushing — RB Adrian Peterson (96 yards)
- Receiving — RB Adrian Peterson (70 yards)
- Touchdowns — RB Adrian Peterson, TE Jordan Reed, RB Chris Thompson (1)
- Tackles — LB Zach Brown, CB Quinton Dunbar, LB Mason Foster, S Montae Nicholson, S D.J. Swearinger (5)
- Sacks — LB Ryan Anderson, DT Matt Ioannidis (1.0)
- Interceptions — CB Quinton Dunbar (1)
COMPARING 2018 STATS
Colts:
- Total offense — 10th (380.0 YPG)
- Scoring offense — 16th (23.0 PPG)
- Passing offense — 7th (305.0 YPG)
- Running offense — 26th (75.0 YPG)
- Third down offense — 1st (65.0%)
- Total defense — 14th (33.0 YPG)
- Scoring defense — 27th (34.0 PPG)
- Passing defense — 17th (229.0 YPG)
- Sacks — 15th (2)
- Running defense — 12th (101.0 YPG)
- Third down defense — 29th (50.0%)
- Time of possession — 8th (32:48)
- Turnover margin — 15th (0)
Redskins:
- Total offense — 6th (429.0 YPG)
- Scoring offense — 12th (24.0 PPG)
- Passing offense — 13th (247.0 YPG)
- Running offense — 1st (182.0 YPG)
- Third down offense — 5th (46.0%)
- Total defense — 1st (213.0 YPG)
- Scoring defense — 1st (6.0 PPG)
- Passing defense — 3rd (145.0 YPG)
- Sacks — 15th (2)
- Running defense — 4th (68.0 YPG)
- Third down defense — 1st (12.0%)
- Time of possession — 1st (38:08)
- Turnover margin — 8th (+1)
NOTES AND QUOTES
- Luck needs one rushing touchdown to pass Bert Jones (14) for the second-most in franchise history among quarterbacks.
- Hilton needs one receiving touchdown to pass Marcus Pollard (35) for the ninth-most in franchise history.
- Doyle needs the following to move up in the franchise record books among tight ends: one receiving touchdown to pass Pat Beach (12) and Reese McCall (12) for eighth-most, three receptions to pass Coby Fleener (183) for the fifth-most and four first down receptions to pass Dwayne Allen (84) for the fifth-most.
- Kicker Adam Vinatieri needs four converted field goals to pass Morten Andersen (565) for the most in NFL history, six field goal attempts to pass Gary Anderson (672) for the second-most in NFL history, one converted field goal from 50-plus yards to pass Andersen (40) for the sixth-most in NFL history, two points to join Andersen as the only players in NFL history to score at least 2,500 points.
- The Colts started five rookies in Week 1 — linebackers Darius Leonard and Skai Moore, guard Quenton Nelson, offensive lineman Braden Smith and running back Jordan Wilkins — the most in the NFL. The New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks were next, each with three.
- Redskins head coach Jay Gruden regarding new Colts wide receiver Ryan Grant, who played with the Redskins from 2014-17: "Well Ryan (Grant) – four years all he did was give me everything every day that he had. I'm one of his biggest fans and wish nothing but the best for him in 15 other games. But he's steady. He runs every route, knows where to be and has reliable hands. I don't know what else you want out of a receiver, and he'll block when he is asked to block. He'll do everything right, I do know that."
NEXT WEEK
Colts:
- Philadelphia Eagles (away)
Redskins:
- Green Bay Packers (home)
