Colts Opponent Preview: vs Baltimore Ravens

The Colts (3-11) travel to their former home to take on the Ravens (8-6) on Saturday. Unlike the Colts, the Ravens are in the thick of the AFC playoff push. They could really use a win against this dismal Colts team. As for the Colts, they are playing for two things: draft position and pride.

Injury Report

Colts

OUT

Brandon Williams, TE – Concussion

Donte Moncrief, WR – Ankle

Denzelle Good, T – Knee

Rashaan Melvin, CB – Hand

Jason Vander Laan, TE – Concussion

Ravens

DOUBTFUL

Jeremy Maclin, WR – Knee

QUESTIONABLE

Ronnie Stanley, T – Illness

Anthony Levine Sr., DB/LB – Thigh

Carl Davis, DT – Shoulder

Maurice Canady, CB, Knee

Key Matchups To Watch

Alex Collins vs Colts’ Defensive Line

Young sensation Alex Collins has been lighting up the NFL as of late. Collins has ran for 844 yards and five touchdowns this season. Collins has had a few excellent games against defenses far superior to the Colts. He ran for 75 yards and two touchdowns against the lions, and 120 and a score against the Steelers. Collins projects to have a field day against the Colts, who rank 29th in the NFL in run defense giving up 124.2 yards a game.

Colts’ interior lineman, Johnathan Hankins and Al Woods, need to be incredibly stout and clog up the middle for the Colts to have any chance in this game. Along with Collins, the Ravens boast an impressive spell back in Javorius Allen, who could also give the Colts’ defense fits. The Colts gave up 158 yards to C.J. Anderson and 156 to LeSean McCoy over the past two weeks; they need to toughen up against Collins and Allen. Hopefully the Colts’ pass defense can play well against the Ravens’ 29th ranked pass offense.

Colts’ Receivers vs Ravens’ Secondary

Without Andrew Luck to captain them, the Colts’ wide receiver corps has had an incredibly underwhelming season. T.Y. Hilton, who led the NFL in receiving yardage last season, has only recorded 852 yards and four touchdowns. Unfortunately, 505 have come in three games. The “Ghost” has a tendency to disappear in games. Donte Moncrief, who was supposed to break out this season, has been a disappointment, and no other receiver has stepped up.

On the flip side, this Raven secondary has been the backbone of this defense, which likens to the units of the early 2000s. Jimmy Smith, Eric Weddle, and Brandon Carr have combined for 13 interceptions. The 9th ranked pass defense (214.6 YPG) against the 30th ranked pass offense (184.6 YPG) projects for a bad game for Jacoby Brissett, who has done fairly well this season to his credit. All signs point towards a tough day for the Colts’ offense.

Colts vs Ravens Prediction

The Colts offense fails to get anything going, and the Ravens wear down the Colts from the get-go with their run game.

24-3 Ravens

Ben Pfeifer is the Managing Editor of the Colts for Full Press Coverage, and the AFC South Division Editor. Want to continue the discussion? Contact Ben Pfeifer on Twitter @Ben_Pfeifer_ and @FPC_Colts.