The Tantalizing Ten: Chargers Edition
Intro: Each week, we will take a look at 10 players that will have a big impact in the game. Who are the "Tantalizing Ten" when the Colts (0-2) come back home in Week Three to take on the Chargers (1-1)?
Since 2000, only Tom Brady has more wins against the Colts than Philip Rivers. The San Diego gunslinger is 5-1 all-time versus the Colts, with two of those victories coming in the playoffs. Rivers has helped the offense in San Diego to the second most points per game (32.5) through the first two weeks of 2016.
With Donte Moncrief's injury, more targets are coming for Phillip Dorsett. In the first two weeks of the season, Dorsett has three catches of at least 30 yards, the second most in the NFL. You know defenses are going to focus on eliminating T.Y. Hilton, therefore providing Dorsett some chances to make plays.
Vontae Davis practiced all week and looks in line to make his 2016 debut. The Colts are getting healthier on defense and it comes at a much needed time. With Philip Rivers conducting things, the Chargers will rely on shorter, higher percentage throws to make their ways down the field. The Colts could have their entire starting secondary back in action on Sunday.
For a third straight year, Luck will enter a Week Three contest with his team facing an 0-2 record. Back in 2014, Luck threw for 370 yards and four touchdowns in a Week Three win over the Jaguars. Last year, Luck led a 13-point, fourth-quarter, comeback over the Titans in Week Three. The Colts would welcome another such effort from No. 12 in a big Week Three tilt this weekend.
With all the injuries San Diego has had in 2016, they have received a major boost rom last year's first-round pick. Melvin Gordon has rushed for 157 yards and three touchdowns in the first two games of the year. Gordon is definitely the go-to skill guy in San Diego, especially with the injuries to Keenan Allen and Danny Woodhead.
One stat that stands out from John Pagano's defense in San Diego is the yards per carry allowed. San Diego ranks 31st in the NFL allowing more than five yards per carry through two weeks. It hasn't truly hurt the Chargers because they've built such big leads. The Colts could expose this area though if a lead comes their way early and Frank Gore is able to chew up yardage.
It's looking like Sunday will be the 2016 debut for Henry Anderson. This defensive line group is getting some very important bodies back, with Anderson atop that list. There's a reason Jim Irsay said earlier this offseason that Anderson was arguably the Colts' second most important player last season.
John Pagano's defense has a shutdown corner in Jason Verrett, a 2014 first-round pick. With Donte Moncrief's injury situation, T.Y. Hilton could see a lot of Verrett on Sunday. That is going to mean other pass catching options have to rise to the occasion, something that unit struggled with against Denver's stingy secondary.
There were two different times last week that it looked like a vintage Robert Mathis strip/sack was about to occur. Mathis is close, very close, to making those game changing plays. You know Philip Rivers will make sure to rifle that ball out quickly on Sunday to avoid No. 98.
It's been a very quiet first two games from Ryan Kelly. That's a good thing for any rookie offensive lineman. The Colts O-line had a nice 58 first minutes in Denver (allowing just two sacks). Then, with the Colts in strictly passing situations, Denver dialed up three sacks in the final two minutes to close things out.
