As the Green Bay Packers head into their Week 2 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, the stakes are high as both teams are looking to rebound from tough Week 1 losses.
The Packers are in uncharted territories as there are questions surrounding Jordan Love’s availability after his injury. It also doesn’t help that the defense surrendered 34 points to the Philadelphia Eagles. Meanwhile, the Colts will be looking to establish consistency with Anthony Richardson under center while fixing their defensive woes, particularly against the run.
With so many storylines brewing, this game has all the makings of an entertaining matchup. Here are five bold predictions that could define the outcome of this critical Week 2 matchup.
1. Malik Willis scores three touchdowns
The former Tennessee Titan doesn’t have much experience under his belt but he has played in eight games with three of them being starts. He’s 51-for-100 on passing attempts and has thrown for 536 yards with zero touchdowns and three interceptions. Willis does have 27 carries for 123 yards and one touchdown. You would have to go back to his collegiate career at Liberty which made him an intriguing NFL prospect. In his final season with the Flames, Willis totaled 2,857 passing yards, 27 passing touchdowns, and 13 rushing touchdowns.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is no stranger to having a backup quarterback making starts as he had Jordan Love start in Week 9, 2021 against the Kansas City Chiefs, and a majority of 2018 with the Tennessee Titans when Blaine Gabbert played for an injured Marcus Mariota. In those games, LaFleur did put the backup quarterback in a position to succeed as Love outplayed Patrick Mahomes but lost 13-7, then the Titans finished 9-7 and just missed the playoffs.
Willis hasn’t gotten much of a shot in the NFL but this becomes a perfect opportunity to show what he can. He has a lot of talent around him, plus a coach that can put him in the right spot to make a play. Willis will show off his athleticism and dual-threat ability where he could probably run for two touchdowns and throw for one.
2. Josh Jacobs Totals 150+ All-Purpose Yards
Malik Willis scoring three total touchdowns could be a long shot, especially with how quickly he’s thrown into the starting quarterback role. However, one thing for certain, the Packers will rely on running back Josh Jacobs to carry the bulk of the offense.
There are many reasons to believe Jacobs could be in for a monster game against the Colts. The first one has already been mentioned with helping out Willis and carrying most offensive plays. We saw against the Eagles that the Packers won’t abandon the run as the first half was difficult but Jacobs began to spring open some nice runs in the second half. There’s no secret that the Packers will rely on Jacobs but they can’t start slow like last week.
Another reason is that the Colts’ run defense struggled against the Houston Texans in Week 1. Former Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon had 30 carries for 159 yards and one touchdown. Lastly, Establishing a strong running game early will not only take pressure off Willis but also help the Packers control the clock and keep Indianapolis’ offense off the field. A heavy dose of Jacobs could limit the opportunities for the Colts’ offense, especially if they want Anthony Richardson to find a rhythm.
3. Packers Defense Forces Three Turnovers
The Packers’ defense showed its ability to create turnovers in Week 1, forcing three takeaways against the Eagles. Now, this will be the first time the Packers will see Richardson; however, he completed only 9-of-19 passes with a few overthrown balls and a critical interception in their loss to the Texans. With Richardson’s tendency to make mistakes under pressure, the Packers’ front seven will aim to collapse the pocket and force rushed decisions. If the defense can generate consistent pressure, they could easily come away with multiple interceptions or forced fumbles, and help limit the pressure on Willis.
4. Romeo Doubs Breakout Game
Last week, it was the Jayden Reed show but given the current state of the wide receiver room, anyone could explode for a huge game. In a Week 2 matchup against the Colts, it could be Romeo Doubs, who might have developed a strong chemistry with Willis in practice so far.
Just like their run game, the Colts passing game also struggled against the Texans and are dealing with injuries in their secondary. Doubs has shown in the past that he is a reliable target in both the short and deep routes and given the versatility of Willis, Doubs could be Willis’ go-to guy.
5. Rashan Gary Records Two Sacks
Rashan Gary made his presence felt in Week 1, recording a sack against the Eagles. To help out the offense and lead the defense to a better performance, Gary is a player the Packers will have to lean on.
The Colts’ offensive line struggled to protect Richardson in Week 1 as he was sacked four times, was hurried on several occasions, and played a factor in Richardson’s errant throws. This also led to Richardson playing a lot outside of the pocket and forcing himself to run the ball
If Gary can build on his Week 1 performance, he’s in a great position to record multiple sacks and force Richardson into hurried throws or costly mistakes. His ability to collapse the pocket could be key in disrupting the Colts’ offensive rhythm, giving the Packers a bounce-back performance, and helping Willis and the offense.
