The NFL season has finally arrived! The Indianapolis Colts will open their season at Lucas Oil Stadium hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars.
This will be the kickoff of the Shane Steichen and Anthony Richardson era as they look to upset the defending AFC South champs to get it off to a great start.
Buy Colts TicketsHere are five things to watch for when the divisional rivals clash on Sunday:
1
Unveiling the Anthony Richardson offense
There has been plenty of speculation about what the Indy offense will look like under Shane Steichen and with Anthony Richardson at the helm. While we did get glimpses of what to expect in Richardson’s two-game stint in the preseason, that was maybe a quarter of the playbook that Steichen has in plan for his rookie quarterback.
This should be an advantage for the Colts heading into this matchup. The Jaguars likely based their game plan around what Steichen did with Jalen Hurts but added wrinkles in the scheme to fit Richardson’s skillset could catch Jacksonville’s defense off guard throughout the game.
Throw out the projections, the real thing is here, and now we get to see how Richardson will begin his NFL career.
2
Colts CBs vs Jaguars WRs
The matchups to watch when the Indy defense is on the field are between their cornerbacks and Jacksonville’s receivers. The Jags traded for Calvin Ridley this offseason to help take their offense to the next level under Trevor Lawrence.
Doug Pederson will likely deploy him in a variety of ways but he should mostly line up out on the boundary throughout the game. Ridley was recognized as one of the best route runners in the NFL prior to his absence so Darrell Baker Jr. and Dallis Flowers will have their hands full.
We will see if Gus Bradley elects to shift coverage his way or if he will let Ridley show that he hasn’t lost a step before having a focus on him from his secondary.
The Colts can’t sleep on Zay Jones with Ridley in the lineup. He will be lining up opposite of him. Jones had the best season of his career in his first season with Jacksonville last year but only caught eight balls for 65 yards in the two matchups in 2022.
The leader of Indy’s secondary will be tasked with covering Christian Kirk. Kenny Moore II is looking for a bounce-back season and will be tested against one of the best slot receivers in the league to start the year. Kirk gave the Colts fits last year. In their two contests, he had 11 receptions for 102 yards and three touchdowns.
The starting corners will play a vital part in slowing down the Jags passing attack but I expect JuJu Brents and Jaylon Jones to also work in the rotation. Plus the safeties Julian Blackmon, Rodney Thomas II, and Nick Cross must do their part to help keep Lawrence and his receivers in check on Sunday.
3
Can any of the running backs get hot?
To no surprise, a big part of the new Colts offense will be their rushing attack because of Anthony Richardson’s explosive playmaking ability with his legs. Richardson can create plays on his own but when Steichen dials up the read option and RPO plays it works much better when the defense views the back as a threat with the ball.
While it would help to have Jonathan Taylor in the backfield, Indy will be working with a running back-by-committee approach with their star back on the PUP list and his pending trade request according to Shane Steichen.
“I think it’s running back-by-committee, whoever’s got the hot hand, let ‘em ride a little bit,” Steichen told the media this week.
Deon Jackson is in line to get the first crack with him more than likely being the starting running back on Sunday. His first career start came in the Colts win over the Jags last year. He ran the ball 12 times for 42 yards and a touchdown. He also had 10 receptions for 79 yards.
We will get an idea of how much the coaching staff trusts their rookie, Evan Hull. The fifth-round pick showed some flashes in his final preseason game and it’s his pass protection ability that will get him on the field in passing situations.
Then there is the question about if Zack Moss plays, and if he does, how much will he contribute? Moss returned to practice this week but has been limited in the first two days. It should be noted that he is listed on the depth chart as the starter but Steichen could ease him into action in his return from a broken arm.
Unless he gets hot of course. The last time we saw Moss on the field he had his first 100-yard rushing performance. In the final game of last year, he had 18 rushes for 114 yards and a touchdown against the Houston Texans.
Whether it’s one guy or a collective effort, the Colts and Richardson need their backfield to step up if they want to pull off the upset.
4
Will the defensive front get after Trevor Lawrence?
A common theme when Indianapolis has faced Jacksonville is their inability to disrupt Trevor Lawrence’s pocket to throw off his timing with his receivers. In four games since his arrival to the rivalry, the Colts have only been able to sack him eight times.
The Colts haven’t had a game in which they recorded five sacks on Lawrence, but the positive is that seven of their eight sacks against him came in the two games at Lucas Oil Stadium. Four of them came in last year’s win over the Jags.
Gus Bradley needs his defensive front to make an early impact on Jacksonville’s passing attack to have a chance to win in the fourth quarter. The expectations are high for Kwity Paye entering Year 3. They need him to get pressure often on the quarterback to help set the tone in the first half.
Most importantly, DeForest Buckner can make the biggest influence on this matchup. His pass rush ability can help break up the pocket so Lawrence doesn’t have time to make his reads and wait for his receivers to get open.
With the Colts having an inexperienced cornerback group, the biggest key to helping that group out is the defensive front creating havoc on the quarterback. If they can’t, it could be a long afternoon for the defense.
5
Which streaks come to an end?
The excitement for the season opener has been short-lived for the Colts over the past decade. The last time they won the first game of the year came in 2013 against the then-Oakland Raiders. While they technically snapped the losing streak last year in a tie with the Houston Texans, the pain of not winning the opening game remained.
It’s a long season, but with this being a divisional matchup, it is a very important one for Indianapolis if they want a chance to win the AFC South—something they haven’t done since 2014. It also makes it more crucial to win since the Colts have four divisional games in the first six weeks.
The Jaguars are also looking to end a streak themselves. They have lost five straight games at Lucas Oil Stadium and that 2017 win in Indianapolis was also the last time they swept the series.
The hype for Shane Steichen and Anthony Richardson will receive a catalyst if they can help lead their team to the Colts’ first opening-day win in 10 years.
