The Tantalizing Ten: Jaguars 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 (6-6) head down to Florida to take on the Jaguars (4-8)?
The amnesia of the Colts secondary will be tested on Sunday with a very underrated receiving duo. Jaguars second-year wideouts Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns have combined for 18 touchdowns this season, the second most of any wideout duo in the NFL. For the Colts to leave Jacksonville with a win on Sunday, the defensive backs will have to make some plays against two dynamic, big-play, receivers.
Much has changed since Matt Hasselbeck made his first start in 2015 against the Jaguars. The health of the 40-year-old Hasselbeck definitely has changed. It appears Hasselbeck will play through neck and rib injuries on Sunday after he participated in practice this week.
With 1,080 receiving yards this season, Allen Robinson became the first Jags wide receiver since Jimmy Smith (2005) to eclipse the century mark. Last week, Robinson had more than 150 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He did that without his running mate, Allen Hurns, who is expected to return to the lineup on Sunday.
The Colts were able to spring a few runs with Frank Gore last week, but the score didn't allow for any run game focus to continue. Gore and the run game will see the league's third ranked run defense in yards per carry on Sunday (3.6 yards per carry allowed). Last Sunday, Gore did get more involved in the passing game on third down, in the Colts first game without Ahmad Bradshaw.
The Jaguars have found their quarterback to build around in Blake Bortles. With Bortles and a slew of young skill guys, the Jaguars have averaged nearly 11 more points per game than they did in the first month of the season. Bortles does a really nice job of making plays with his feet, too.
Robert Mathis represents the Colts pass rushers in this edition of the Tantalizing Ten. After finding plenty of pass rush success in the second halves of wins over Atlanta and Tampa Bay, the pressure was non-existent against Pittsburgh. The Colts will have their hands full on Sunday with a very athletic Blake Bortles at quarterback for the Jaguars.
Anthony Castonzo remains sidelined, so the Colts will once again go with Joe Reitz at left tackle. Enough can't be said for Reitz's availability and versatility here in 2015. Castonzo does appear to be trending towards a return next week, which would give the Colts their normal five back up front.
With the injuries at inside linebacker, the unit will once again lean on the veteran presence of D'Qwell Jackson. The NFL's leading tackler will see a new face across from him this weekend. Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas did not play in the first matchup between these teams. Thomas has touchdown catches in each of the last three games.
Last week, Donte Moncrief had just one target. That was definitely not expected after he had eight catches in nine targets the week prior against Tampa Bay. With a banged up quarterback, the Colts need their playmakers at wide receiver to make some plays after the catch on Sunday.
If Myers had connected on one of his two game-winning field goal tries back in October, the Colts would have been 1-3 after the first quarter of the season. Myers has struggled this season with six missed extra points, including three in the past two weeks.
