The Tantalizing Ten: Chiefs Edition
Intro: Each week, we will take a look at 10 players that will have a big impact in the game. Who are the âTantalizing Tenâ when the Colts (3-4) return to Lucas Oil Stadium to take on the Chiefs (4-2) in Week Eight?
Bob Sutton was the Chiefs defensive coordinator on the afternoon T.Y. Hilton had 13 catches for 224 yards in the Colts' historical playoff comeback over Kansas City. Fast forward two and a half seasons and Sutton now has one of the league's best cornerbacks (Marcus Peters) to use on Hilton. In the Colts' three wins this season Hilton has at least 133 receiving yards in each victory. In the four losses, he's had more than 50 yards just once.
When you talk about the NFL's dominant cornerbacks, the name Marcus Peters has to be included on any list. In his past 13 games, Peters has 10 interceptions. He's been a blanket on the road, too. Peters has seven picks and 15 pass deflections in his last seven games away from home.
Sunday is a reason why the Colts found a player like Clayton Geathers such a need defensively. Geathers is going to see a lot of Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce on Sunday. Kelce is tied for the team-lead in receptions and is the rare tight end who might just be his team's top pass catching option.
Last week was one of Andrew Luck's best outings in five NFL seasons. Luck was stellar in working with so many new faces around him. On Sunday, Luck will see a defense that ranks second in the NFL with 14 takeaways. Luck currently has the smallest interception rate of his career. Luck will have Donte Moncrief back at his disposal this week.
Spence Ware has been a big fill-in for Jamal Charles, who has just 12 carries this season in his ACL comeback. Ware is third in the NFL in averaging 129.5 yards from scrimmage. It's a very similar type of production at the running back position that the Colts saw last week from DeMarco Murray.
The Chiefs defense has done a very good job in taking away tight ends this seasons. Kansas City has given up just 18 catches to tight ends in six games. Doyle is still going to continue to see a plethora of targets with Dwayne Allen sidelined. Last week Doyle had a career-high nine catches and 78 yards.
Anthony Castonzo is one of six Colts who started against the Chiefs in that 28-point playoff comeback victory in January of 2014. Castonzo won't have to deal with All-Pro rusher Justin Houston this weekend. Houston is still recovering from an ACL injury, meaning Tamba Hali is the familiar edge rusher still with the Chiefs.
Last week was a terrific bounce back game for the Colts' No. 2 cornerback. For the Colts to improve defensively, they are going to need that sort of effort from Patrick Robinson. After Sunday, the Colts will see a pass-happy team in Green Bay.
The Colts are going to see what you would expect to see from Alex Smith. The former No. 1 overall pick takes care of the football and spreads the ball around to his skill guys. One of the best games Smith has ever played came in that Wild Card loss back during the 2013 season.
Only nine players in the NFL have at least five sacks and two forced fumbles this season. Erik Walden is one of them. Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith doesn't hold onto the ball too long so we will see just how disruptive the edge guys of Indianapolis can be.
