It hasn’t been the easiest road for the Los Angeles Rams this season, facing the Seahawks, 49ers and Bengals in the first three weeks. Now, they get a Colts team that’s 2-1 and likely to get its dynamic rookie quarterback back from a concussion.
The Rams come into this one as slight underdogs to the Colts after opening the week as slim favorites. To preview this pivotal matchup for both teams, we chatted with Colts Wire editor Kevin Hickey to find out more info about this impressive Indianapolis team, including how they’ve adjusted without Jonathan Taylor thus far.
Buy Rams TicketsHere are five big questions for Sunday’s game.
1
What’s been the most surprising or impressive part about the Colts’ 2-1 start?
Colts Wire: There have been a few surprises, but the biggest one is simply how competitive the entire roster is. New head coach Shane Steichen clearly has a knack for getting his players to buy-in and even though we’re still in that honeymoon phase, the fact that they fought their way to an overtime road win over the Ravens is evidence enough of what kind of culture is being built. So far, we’ve seen a team that’s physical and competitive for all four quarters. Other pleasant surprises have been the performances of the offensive and defensive lines. Those units have become the strengths of the team so far.
2
We haven’t seen a ton of Anthony Richardson yet, but how has he looked when he has played?
Colts Wire: He’s looked really solid for a rookie with just 13 collegiate starts to his name. He’ll have some head-scratching moments and rookie mistakes, but the impressive part is his ability to quickly learn from those mistakes. He’s more accurate in the middle of the field than we expected this early in the season, and he’s commanding the huddle at an impressive rate. He just never seems overwhelmed. The injuries are somewhat concerning. He’s yet to finish a game this season. He bruised his knee at the end in Week 1 and even though he could have returned to the game, he didn’t. Then, he underestimated the closing speed of an NFL defensive back and wound up sustaining a concussion on a touchdown run where he let off the gas a bit at the end of the run. Other than that, it’s been very positive to begin his career.
3
How have the Colts adjusted without Jonathan Taylor?
Colts Wire: Over the last two weeks, it has been the Zack Moss show. The Colts acquired him in a trade at the deadline last season. He broke his forearm in training camp, which forced him to miss Week 1. But since his return in Week 2, the backfield has been all his. He had 107 total yards and a touchdown in his debut and followed that up with 145 total yards and a touchdown against the Ravens. Even though the Rams have been pretty solid against the run statistically, expect a heavy dose of Moss on Sunday.
4
If there’s a weakness on this defense that the Rams can exploit, what is it?
Colts Wire: Most likely the secondary. The group is talented, but the cornerback room is inexperienced, outside of Kenny Moore II. It’s a pretty zone-heavy scheme under Gus Bradley so the Rams should continue to lean on Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell. While the defensive line is certainly the strength, there will be stretches throughout the game where the pass rush goes dead. That’s when Matt Stafford needs to exploit the secondary, especially over the middle targeting the seams.
5
Who wins on Sunday?
Colts Wire: I think the Rams have played better than their record suggests, especially considering the fact that Cooper Kupp hasn’t been there. Aaron Donald always gives that defense a chance to dominate, but the Colts are playing extremely well right now. They should get Anthony Richardson and Ryan Kelly back from concussions, and the Colts defense has been thriving behind a physical front seven. I think it will be a competitive matchup with a few lead changes in the second half. But the Colts squeak one out at home thanks to a Matt Gay revenge game field goal late in the fourth quarter. Colts 24, Rams 21
