Falcons at Colts

Where: Lucas Oil Stadium

When: Sunday, 1:00 Eastern Time

Television: CBS

Line: Falcons +2

The Falcons head to Indianapolis for their second road game of the season. The first one, as we all know, didn’t go so well, as they were trounced by the Vikings 28-12 in Week 1. However, Atlanta was able to bounce back in their home opener with a thrilling victory in the final minutes over the Eagles. They can thank a raucous crowd for that, and that is what they will be up against this weekend against the Colts, who return home for the first time after two road games to start the season.

Coming into the year, many believed the Colts had what it took to take the next step and win the AFC. They had an offensive line that could bully opponents, and up-and-coming defense led by Darius Leanord, and of course, Andrew Luck. But then Luck threw the organization the ultimate curveball by retiring weeks before the start of the season, leaving Jacoby Brissett as their starting quarterback.

If there was a glass half full way of looking at it; Brissett at least has substantial starting experience – both with the Colts and Patriots. He’s as prepared for this moment as any backup quarterback and has performed pretty well thus far, tossing five TDs compared to one interception in the first two games. However, the engine that makes this Indianapolis offense hum is their rushing attack. Their offensive line remains a handful, and Marlon Mack is third in the NFL in rushing.

Injuries could play a factor in this one. The Falcons will be missing Chris Lindstrom, who was placed on IR last week. However, Jamon Brown performed admirably in his place against the Eagles. The Colts lost two playmakers on defense last week: Pierre Desir is expected to miss time with a bone bruise in his knee, and Darius Leanord is currently in concussion protocol and is questionable for Sunday.

Three Keys to the Game

Falcons defensive front vs. the Colts offensive line

The NFL rushing leaders in order are Dalvin Cook, Saquon Barkley, then… Marlon Mack. The Colts did the smart thing and invested heavily in their offensive line, which looks even better now that Jacoby Brissett is their starting quarterback. There might not be a team better at using their ground game as a weapon than Indianapolis, and the Falcons did a phenomenal job on Sunday night against the Eagles rushing attack, holding them to 49 yards on 21 carries. However, we all remember how week one went in Minnesota when Dalvin Cook gashed Atlanta repeatedly. I think the week two version of the Falcons defense is what we can expect going forward, but they are going to have their hands full against the Colts’ offensive front.

Dan Quinn against AFC teams

Over the previous two seasons, Dan Quinn has feasted on the NFC but been dismal when facing the AFC. The Falcons are 1-7 in their last eight cross-conference matchups with many of those losses coming to lesser teams or in blowout fashion. Atlanta was killed by the Steelers, Ravens, and Browns and lost at home to an underwhelming Bengals squad in 2018. Two years ago, they fell at home to the Dolphins and Bills. It is difficult to understand why this is – perhaps it is because most of Dan Quinn’s NFL coaching experience has come in the NFC – but it has become a trend rather than a coincidence.

T.Y Hilton vs. Desmond Trufant

Hilton may not have the rapport that he had with Andrew Luck, but he and Jacoby Brissett have already hooked up for three touchdowns this season. To me, Hilton might be the most underrated receiver in the game and can beat opponents in so many different ways. The Falcons don’t normally have their corners shadow receivers. Desmond Trufant usually holds down the left side of the field with Isaiah Oliver locking down the right side, but this scenario could be different. Hilton is a legitimate #1 wide receiver, and Trufant is a #1 corner. The Colts don’t have many other receiving weapons that will strike fear into Atlanta’s defense. I’d like to see Trufant on Hilton as much as possible.

Prediction

I picked the Falcons Week 1, and they lost. I go against them in Week 2, and they win. Guess that means I have to pick against them here, right? In all seriousness, I do believe this is going to be a very tough game for the Falcons to win. Forget about Andrew Luck retiring, this is an excellent Colts football team, and they are going to be fired up for their home opener following a crucial divisional win over the Titans. Jacoby Brissett isn’t anything special, but he’s more than enough to get the job done considering the pieces he has around him. This is a game the Falcons could win, but given Dan Quinn’s noted blemishes against AFC opponents, I give a slight edge to the Colts at home.

Colts 24, Falcons 20