SB Nation - Kyle DeVan

Week 15: Wednesday (Final) Injury Report

shake n bake — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:12:53 -0000

Finally we get a really look at who will be sitting Thursday Night.

Out: Donald Brown, Aaron Francisco, Anthony Gonzalez, Jerraud Powers, Adam Vinatieri

Questionable (practices): Eric Foster (1), Dwight Freeney (0), Charlie Johnson (0), Robert Mathis (0)

That's 9 players total in doubt, 8 who didn't practice at all. It's a pretty solid bet that those 8 will be your inactives.

Probable: Joseph Addai, Antoine Bethea, Gary Brackett, Melvin Bullitt, Keyunta Dawson, Kyle DeVan, Ryan Diem, Pierre Garcon, Kelvin Hayden, Tim Jennings, Jacob Lacey, Peyton Manning, Daniel Muir, Jamey Richard, Tom Santi, Clint Session, Chad Simpson, Tony Ugoh, Reggie Wayne.

Week 15: Tuesday Injury Report

shake n bake — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:49:11 -0000

First actual report of the week. Everyone that the Colts estimated would have practiced yesterday practiced today, so expect them to go.

"Back" at Practice: Joseph Addai, Gary Brackett, Raheem Brock, Melvin Bullitt, Keyunta Dawson, Kyle DeVan, Ryan Diem, Pierre Garcon, Kelvin Hayden, Tim Jennings, Jacob Lacey, Peyton Manning, Daniel Muir, Jamey Richard, Tom Santi, Clint Session, Chad Simpson, Tony Ugoh, Reggie Wayne

Still Out: Antoine Bethea (foot), Donald Brown (chest), Eric Foster (back), Aaron Francisco (ankle), Dwight Freeney (abdomen), Anthony Gonzalez (knee), Charlie Johnson (foot), Robert Mathis (quad), Jerraud Powers (Hammy), Adam Vinatieri (knee).

Personally I expect most, if not all the guys that missed today to sit, and everyone that practiced today to go.

Monday "Practice Estimation"

shake n bake — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:20:19 -0000

Thursday night game means that to comply with the leagues requirement of 3 injury reports teams need to give a "Practice Estimation" on Monday, reporting which players they'd expect to hold out of practice if they were conducting a practice today. As you'd expect for the day after a game, the lists are long. Really it's more telling to look at who isn't listed. In the Colts case that list is actually shorter and we'll start with that.

Players Not Listed (count on them playing)

Curtis Painter, Mike Hart, Jacob Tamme, Gijon Robinson, Dallas Clark, Austin Collie, Hank Baskett, Micheal Toudoze, Mike Pollak, Jeff Saturday, Ryan Lilja, Antonio Johnson, Fili Moala, Erwin Baldwin, Philip Wheeler, Freddy Keiaho, Ramon Humber, Cody Glenn, T.J. Rushing, Jaime Silva, Devon Hall, Justin Snow, Pat McAfee, Matt Stover

Players that would've rested (likely playing)

Dwight Freeney, Antoine Bethea

The Injured (who knows?)

Joseph Addai (knee), Gary Brackett (foot), Raheem Brock (back), Donald Brown (chest), Melvin Bullitt (shoulder), Keyunta Dawson (knee), Kyle DeVan (shin), Ryan Diem (hamstring), Eric Foster (back), Aaron Francisco (ankle), Pierre Garçon (knee), Anthony Gonzalez (knee), Kelvin Hayden (knee), Tim Jennings (ankle), Charlie Johnson (foot), Jacob Lacey (Biceps), Peyton Manning (glute), Robert Mathis (quad), Daniel Muir (hamstring), Jerraud Powers (Hamstring), Jamey Richard (Shoulder), Tom Santi (hand), Clint Session (calf), Chad Simpson (back), Tony Ugoh (hip), Adam Vinatieri (knee), Reggie Wayne (foot).

Colts.com link

Tennessee Titans Morning Links: We're Groovin', Groovin' Edition

August West — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:50:44 -0000

More photos » by Michael Conroy - AP

For all of the unpredictability of this season, there's one thing we can still count on: Chris Johnson is about to start breaking some very lofty franchise, and possibly NFL, records.

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Invaluable reader ctex80 send us towards this stellar profile on Vince Young that Lee Jenkins penned for Sports Illustrated. It does a better job than many at showing just how deep the memory of Steve McNair runs for that man. The opening paragraph is enough to warm the cold, calloused heart of even most Texans fans:

When Vince Young prays before a game, he asks God to tap Steve McNair on the shoulder, to let him know he's loved and to let him know it's game time. Like any good quarterback Young has an unusual ability to feel the presence of people he cannot always see, so as he crouches under center, he'll tell you, he knows running back Chris Johnson is lined up behind him and McNair is behind him too. "He's standing in the pocket with me," Young says of McNair.

Speaking of gone too soon, yesterday was the 42nd anniversary of the day some cruel deity called back one of his greatest gifts to the world: the voice and stylings of Otis Redding. Once Otis gets in your ear drums, he just Can't Turn You Loose! It's the second half of the medley, but so help me if I find out you skipped over Pain in my Heart I'll track you down and do terrible, terrible things.

491: that's how many yards Chris Johnson needs to cross the 2,000 mark. 597: that's how many yards CJ needs to surpass Eric Dickerson and reach NFL immortality.

Follow us through the jump for more on the rushing record and VY's injury...

PFW says breaking the rushing record certainly isn't impossible for CJ, and the deliver scouting reports on the previous members of the 2,000 yard club.

CJ has been on the injury report with an ankle injury, but the company line coming out of Baptist Sports Park is that CJ's 'fine', and Fisher is just giving CJ ann easy week so he can rest-up for the home stretch.

So we all heard about Vince Young tweaking his injured knee and being pulled from practice yesterday. Jeff Fisher sounds completely sure that Vince will be able to go on Sunday, and that they mostly yanked him from practice as a precaution against further damage.

Tony Brown was fined $10K for reaching into the face mask of Colt's instigator Kyle DeVan last Sunday. Of course DeVan wasn't punished for pushing Brown over the pile well after the whistle or the uppercut to the chin on the following play that sent Brown's helmet flying. For those who didn't watch the game Sunday, it was that kind of officiating.

Breaking News: A seldom used (this year, at least) NFL back-up RB wants to carry more of the load! But, because he's a stand-up guy, he's complementary of everyone and supports the starter who may be having one of the best seasons in NFL history.

Here, several Titans discuss the remote possibility of the playoffs.

Astute reader/commenter ryansax points us towards this Yahoo! Sports post that looks at the greatest Fantasy Football playoff runs of all time, and ranks Billy Volek to Drew Bennett in 2004 as the best.

Ha ha... ha ha ha ha.... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAAHHA!!!!! Anybody got a towel I can wipe these tears of laughter with? I friggin' love it when these guys lose now.

Turf Show Times takes a look at the similarities and differences between the Titans and Saints.

PFW praises our numbers-over-talent defensive line, but fears that there will be drastic changes to the unit this off-season.

Have love, need links: mcmaugustwest@gmail.com

Recap Week Thirteen: Colts 27 - Titans 17

BigBlueShoe — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:00:35 -0000

More photos » by Michael Conroy - AP

15 days ago: Indianapolis Colts running back Joseph Addai (29) celebrates a touchdown in the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans in an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

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12-0.

Only six other teams in NFL history have started 12-0 in this league. One of those teams was the 2005 Colts.

21 regular season wins in a row, tying an NFL record, which was much fawned over when it happened, held by the New England Patriots.

An NFL record seven straight seasons with at least 12 wins.

Tying the 1990s San Francisco 49ers, winning the team's 113th game this decade.

These are all records that are to be cherished, respected, and honored. Many will try to dismiss or diminish these accomplishments, but such talk is the action of haters and fools. This football team we know and love, these Indianapolis Colts, have achieved some very special, very awe-inspiring feats of late, and it is my sincere hope that each and every one of you does not fall into the black pit of cynical thinking by looking for ways to poke holes in all these accomplishments. And while it is certainly not the custom of the team to sit back and think "Gosh, we built a powerhouse this decade," we fans are permitted to enjoy the special accomplishments our beloved Colts have worked very hard to give us.

The Colts reached many of these amazing milestones with a tough 27-17 win over their division rivals, the Tennessee Titans. The Colts led from start to finish, forcing Vince Young into several critical mistakes, miscues, and misfires while also containing the volatile Chris Johnson by holding him out of the endzone. The win gives Indy the sweep of the regular season series over Tennessee. The Colts had already won the AFC South going into the game, but by beating the Titans it all but assures that the Flaming Thumb Tacks will not make the playoffs in 2009.

The way Indy won the game was also special. They "out physicaled" the Titans and beat them to the punch, mentally. At no point in the game was that more obvious than in the closing seconds of the second quarter. Indy was pushing the Titans off the line of scrimmage and driving to attempt a field goal. The previous series, the Titans scored on an impressive TD drive to cut the Colts lead 21-10. The Colts had two timeouts and less than 20 seconds to get into FG range. However, on a first and ten from the Titans 45 yard line, with 10 seconds left on the clock, Titans defensive end Tony Brown did what we have seen the Titans do all year: Freak out and lose composure. After a play, he got into an altercation with Kyle DeVan, who had been blasting Ford and other Titans off the line of scrimmage all day. Brown grabbed DeVan's facemask and poked him in the eye right in front of a ref.

Flag.

15 yard penalty. Colts ball at the Titans 30. Colts kick a FG from 43 yards out to go into halftime 24-10.

Thank you, Tony Brown.

That play right there just about summed up the game. The Colts were more physical and more mentally tough than a Titans team that is often (incorrectly) lauded for such things. And while there are many positive things I took from this game that relate to the Titans, the bottom line is there is a reason the Colts swept them this year, and that Tony Brown penalty (which should have gotten the punk ejected I might add; Ron Winters is a schmuck) gives you a clear indicator why.

Outstanding young receivers Pierre Garcon (85) and Austin Collie (17)

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

There's lots to take away from this game:

I cannot say enough good things about Kyle DeVan. The first quarter TD run by Joseph Addai was to the right, and made possible by some great blocking up front by DeVan and Ryan Diem. DeVan took his man nearly ten yards back on that Addai run, which put Indy up 7-0. The other Addai TD run, a 1 yard run on first and goal, was also to the right. Once again, DeVan sealed off his man extremely well and Ryan Diem once again opened a big hole for Addai and run through. Benching the second round bust that is Mike Pollak for Kyle DeVan was an excellent move on Jim Caldwell's part. Earlier this year, running right was an exercise in futility for the Colts. Now, they are blasting one of the best run defenses in the league off the line while running right.
Tony Ugoh started at left tackle today; in for an injured Charlie Johnson. Titans defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, who lined up opposite of Ugoh, recorded three total tackles for the entire game and no sacks. Nice job, Tony.
The Colts broke the Titans back holding them to zero points on the goal line stand in the late-third quarter. In years past, that's an easy Titans TD. With this year's defense, the Colts hunker down and get nasty on the goal line. The Titans had seven chances to score in the red zone on that drive, and missed on each attempt. Damn fine defense, gentlemen!
Pierre Garçon has arrived. 99 receiving yards... IN THE FIRST QUARTER! Holy Mount Union, Batman! The kid finished with 136 for the day and averaged, AVERAGED!, 22.7 yards a catch. He did not see the endzone on Sunday. However, Austin Collie, the other "kid" who has arrived at wide receiver, did. Collie grabbed a 4 yard TD on third-and-goal from Peyton Manning. Once again, Manning and Collie make Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck look foolish. On the TD throw, Manning looked off Collie, and when Bulluck left his zone to follow Manning's eyes, Manning went back to Collie in the back of the endzone to go up 21-3.
We had a Mike Hart sighting, and the sighting was a good one. Some tough running from the second year player.
The fourth quarter drive to, essentially, ice the game was the kind of drive I absolutely go nuts for. After stopping the Titans again in the redzone, with Jeff Fisher opting to go for it on fourth down again only to come away with zero points, the Colts took over at their own 10 yard line. They then proceed to march 77 yards, consuming 7:23 minutes of clock while holding onto a 24-10 lead. It is at this point in the game where time of possession matters. This is when you want and need to run the ball, and the Colts did it. Indy scored another FG to cap the drive, all but ending any chance the Titans had of mounting a comeback. These kinds of drives are the ones that make champions. You put your foot on the throat of the opponent, and you squeeze the life out, slowly. That's what that drive was. It reminded me a lot of the fourth quarter drive in the playoffs in 2006 against the Ravens, where the game was iced with an Adam Vinatieri FG. Today, Matt Stover (former Ravens kicker who played in that 2006 playoff game) did the icing.

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Like all games, both wins and loses, there are negatives. The 56 yard kick return by Kenny Britt was frustrating, especially after seeing this special teams unit play so very well all season long. The Jacob Lacey pass inference call was stupid on Lacey's part, but not as stupid as Daniel Muir once again failing to bring down a QB when he's got the dude in his grasp. We saw Muir (who has played brilliantly all season) whiff on a sack against David Garrard in Week One, and he did it once again against Vince Young on Sunday.

Speaking of Vince Young, while he was awful throwing the ball in the redzone Sunday, and made some poor decisions that, to be honest, should have given him three picks on the day (one caught, two dropped) I must say that Vince has indeed improved. And yes, the Colts were given a gift with Nate Washington dropping that sure TD pass after he beat Jerraud Powers, but the Titans were also handed a gift later when Kelvin Hayden did not haul in Vince's terrible sideline throw. Had Hayden made that catch, it's a pick six the other way.

Is Vince a smart quarterback now? No. He's still pretty clueless reading defenses and making good decisions with the football. However, he did show significant improvement on Sunday throwing the football. Both of his TD throws were crisp, accurate, and thrown with velocity from the pocket. That's a good sign if you are a Titans fan. All this running around and option-draw-crap is fun for a while, but it doesn't consistently win you football games. Throwing accurately from the pocket does.

So, despite his terrible INT to Lacey in the second quarter, and his poor red zone throws, Vince did show me he has improved from the over-hyped sack of crap he was from 2006-2008. He's building on something. It's taken him four years to do it, but he has progressed.

With the Titans all but eliminated from the playoffs, all talk of Chris Johnson for MVP should cease. If it doesn't, the people screaming for it need to be ignored. Johnson is a magnificent player. He had averaged 160 yards a game during the Titans five game winning streak. However, the Colts bottled and contained CJ, holding him out of the endzone and preventing any splash plays. This was a game the Titans had to have to stay alive; the kind of game an MVP steps up and helps his team win. Johnson didn't do that today, and much of the reason why he didn't was the Colts defense. Though Johnson is no longer a serious MVP candidate, I personally believe he has supplanted Adrian Peterson as the best RB in football. Johnson can do everything Peterson can, and also NOT fumble.

Overall, this was an impressive win. To be that physical and that mentally tough against a team that was red hot coming into this contest sends a message. I know that as a fan I am very proud of how this team has developed, despite injuries and other distractions this team has achieved some truly lasting feats. With the Saints defeating the Redskins in an overtime thriller, we have (again, for the first time in 89 years of the National Football League) two 12-0 teams in December. That's special. This Colts team is special. Enjoy the special.

Go Colts!

Week 13: Friday Injury Report

shake n bake — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:49:09 -0000

Out: Donald Brown (chest), Keyunta Dawson (knee), Aaron Francisco (ankle), Anthony Gonzalez (knee), Adam Vinatieri (knee)

Questionable (# of practices): Dwight Freeney (2), Charlie Johnson (0), Jim Sorgi (0)

Probable: Joseph Addai, Gary Brackett, Kyle DeVan, Kelvin Hayden, Ramon Humber, Tim Jennings, Peyton Manning, Robert Mathis, Jerraud Powers, Jamey Richard, Tom Santi, Jeff Saturday, Tony Ugoh, Reggie Wayne.

Colts.com link

NFL Network's RedZone Colts stat of the week: Week Thirteen

BigBlueShoe — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:35:35 -0000

More photos » by David J. Phillip - AP

22 days ago: Indianapolis Colts running back Chad Simpson (35) breaks away from Houston Texans linebacker Zac Diles (54) on a 23-yard touchdown run during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, in Houston. The Colts won 35-27. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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This post is sponsored by Comcast and their NFL RedZone channel, a new NFL Network channel. Want to see every touchdown from every NFL game as it happens as well as live look-ins to all of Sunday's games in key situations? Then you need Comcast's NFL RedZone.

After giving up 27 points to the Texans last Sunday, the Colts dropped from the #1 overall scoring defense to the #3 scoring defense, surrendering a still impressive 16.7 ppg. Compare this with the Patriots, who after getting destroyed by the Saints on Monday Night Football dropped from #2 to #7. What's interesting is that if the Colts had shut out the Texans in the second half, which they almost did until Matt Schaub found Jacoby Jones in the endzone with 18 seconds left, they would have only dropped to #2 on the defensive scoring list, surrendering 16.08 ppg, just a hair behind the Bengals (the new #1 ranked scoring defense) at 15:8 ppg.

Switching to offense, we discussed last week how the running game has improved statistically since the benching of Mike Pollak and the promotion of Kyle DeVan at the starting right guard spot. The last four games, which have featured good opponent defenses from the Ravens, Patriots, and Texans, the Colts have averaged 4.3 yards a carry. Much of this has gotten done without the fulltime services of rookie Donald Brown, who has shown an annoying "always hurt" trait of late.

The workhorse behind the Colts improved running game is Joseph Addai, who has averaged 4.2 yards a carry these last four games.

Week 13: Wednesday Injury Report

shake n bake — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:01:12 -0000

10 players sat out practice and the Colts have once again listed some players who practiced fully on the report. Notably sitting was Freeney, Brackett, Don Brown and Charlie Johnson. Notable return from Kelvin Hayden.

Did Not Participate: Antoine Bethea (rested), Gary Brackett (foot), Donald Brown (chest), Keyunta Dawson (knee), Aaron Francisco (ankle), Dwight Freeney (abdomen), Anthony Gonzalez (knee), Charlie Johnson (foot), Jim Sorgi (shoulder), Adam Vinatieri (knee)

Limited: Tom Santi (hand)

Full Participation (but injured enough for the report): Joseph Addai (knee), Kyle DeVan (shin), Kelvin Hayden (knee), Ramon Humber (calf), Tim Jennings (ankle), Peyton Manning (glute), Robert Mathis (neck), Jerraud Powers (knee), Jamey Richard (shoulder), Jeff Saturday (calf), Tony Ugoh (knee), Reggie Wayne (foot)

Colts.com link

The roster moves make some more sense now. Donald Brown has a new injury, causing the Mike Hart signing. Josh Thomas was replaced with another DE which means we know little about Freeney and Dawson's status and 2 O-linemen were added to the PS likely because 5 of the Colts 8 O-linemen appear on the report today.

NFL Network's RedZone Colts stat of the week: Week Twelve

BigBlueShoe — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:32:30 -0000

More photos » by AJ Mast - AP

about 1 month ago: Indianapolis Colts running back Joseph Addai (29) runs for a touchdown during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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One of the many reasons why I love Yahoo! Sports player stats is because they offer some excellent situational numbers. One of those numbers offers a glimpse into how well Joseph Addai has been running in the fourth quarter. Through ten game, check out Addai's yards per rush by quarter:

First quarter: 2.6

Second quarter: 3.8

Third quarter: 4.0

Fourth quarter: 4.1

The Colts running game is by no means a strength, and if there is a weakness for this team it's running the ball. However, what the numbers, and the results, are showing is that the Colts know how to run effectively in the fourth quarter where it is essential to run if you want to ice a game. Compare Addai's quarter-by-quarter breakdown with, say, the Patriots' Laurence Maroney:

First quarter: 5.0

Second quarter: 3.5

Third quarter: 3.6

Fourth quarter: 3.2

Like the Colts, the Pats struggle to run the ball. However, unlike the Colts, the Patriots have struggled to run the ball in the fourth quarter of certain games. This was a huge reason why New England lost at Indy a few weeks ago (even though resident ESPN bald idiot Tony Kornheiser thinks they won; he also believes in magic fairies, pink unicorns, and the myth of his own credibility).

The benching of Mike Pollak for Kyle DeVan has also produced better rushing results. Since Pollak was benched, Addai has averaged 4.5, 4.1, and 3.9 yards a carry through the last three games, respectively.

Week Eleven Preview: Colts at Ravens

BigBlueShoe — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:23:22 -0000

More photos » by Darron Cummings - AP

Indianapolis Colts quarterback and supposed John Unitas clone Peyton Manning (18) uses the Vulcan head touch to sap the knowledge from Senior Offensive Coordinator Tom Moore's brain. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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(Warning: This Colts v. Ravens preview is sans Mayflower trucks because, quite honestly, we've been there and done that. Most rational, civilized, well-adjusted people are over it already. Those that aren't need a life).

We made a big brew-ha-ha earlier this year about Baltimore native Barry Levinson's well produced but painfully flawed ESPN documentary titled ~~The Band That Wouldn't Let It Go~~ The Band That Wouldn't Die. The doc's story centered on the old Baltimore Colts marching band and their efforts to keep the spirit of football alive in the city of Baltimore after the Colts left town in favor of Indianapolis in March of 1984. ESPN probably should have waited until this week to air the doc, as it would have likely stirred up the fanbases in both Baltimore and Indy just in time for the now-seemingly annual Colts v. Ravens showdown.

Since 2004, the Colts have played the Ravens at least once a year. With this Sunday's game, the Colts will have played in Baltimore four times while the Ravens have traveled to Indy twice. In all the previous contests, the Colts have flat out owned the Ravens. Whether under the night lights of primetime TV, or in the pressure-packed moments of the playoffs, the Colts have consistently put their foot on the throats of the Ravens and strangled the life out of them each and every time.

Yet, despite the seemingly annual match-up, there does not seem to be any sort of animosity or hatred between the two teams. The reason for this: Peyton Manning. Baltimore fans and players seem to respect Peyton Manning more than any other QB in the league. I've heard more than a few fans from the "City of Firsts" say that Peyton Manning is as close to a clone of Johnny Unitas as they've ever seen. He even walks like unitas did, they say. There is also mutual respect from Colts players towards greats like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Ravens coach John Harbaugh (brother of former-Colts quarterback Jim Harbaugh, a longtime fan favorite).

With this year's match-up, the rivalry now has the added dimension of a potent Ravens offense, led by a very impressive QB named Joe Flacco, and a Colts defense that, right now, is playing better football than the Ravens defense has this season.

John Unitas; quite simply, THE man

Image: pictopia.com

First and foremost, I'm a huge Joe Flacco fan. He's a better QB than Matt Ryan, absolutely no question about it. While Ryan is a cool customer who shows an impressive knowledge of the game of football, there is nothing Ryan does better than Flacco. In fact, from what I have seen, Flacco has a better arm and has been able to do more with less than Ryan has.

The Ravens offense is one of the best in football, averaging roughly 25 points per game behind a passing attack from Flacco that has generated 12 TDs and only 7 INTs. The Ravens also boast an impressive ground game behind (arguably) the most under-rated RB in all of football: Ray Rice. Baltimore's rushing attack averages 4.3 yards a carry and has scored 12 TDs. Just like when the Colts had to travel to Tennessee earlier this season and shut down all-world runner Chris Johnson, stopping Rice and the Ravens ground game will be top priority for the Colts defense.

Raymond Berry, one of my favorite players of all time

Image: www.profootballhof.com

What has been odd of late has been the play of Baltimore's defense. Though they are only surrendering 17 ppg (ranked 5th in the league), there have been some games this season where the Ravens D has fallen way short of the high expectations we fans set for them. They lost three in a row in October, allowing teams like the Patriots and Vikings to score seemingly at will on them. They righted their ship by defeating the then-undefeated Broncos, but have been a bit erratic ever since. The recent loss of Terrell Suggs will hurt their D, and while they certainly miss the play of departed linebacker Bart Scott (who signed with the Jets this past off-season) you absolutely cannot discount a defense with Lewsi, Reed, and all-galaxy defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, who is the cousin of Colts rookie Fili Moala.

Keys to the game:

Stop the run. In the Ravens two loses to their division rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore's running game was limited. While Flacco is certainly capable of flinging the football around with the best of them, if you take away the running game and force him to throw more than he is comfortable, the results are often turnovers.
Robert Mathis v. Michael Oher. Oher's story is certainly worthy of a movie, but even if he did not come from abject poverty, Oher's story as an impressive rookie is very much worthy of respect on its own. Still, with Dwight Freeney likely to get loads of attention, Mathis must beat Oher and pressure Flacco. Mathis' play Sunday night was a big difference, flustering Tom Brady and hurrying his throws. Mathis must have a similar impact against Flacco.
The Patriots focused their defense on Dallas Clark, and the Ravens might do the same. Ed Reed might glue himself to Clark in an attempt to take away Peyton's ace. The Colts must counter this by either moving Clark around (playing him outside, in the slot, or as an H-Back), dictating to the Ravens how they should cover him. Clark is currently third in the league in catches with 64 and 5th in the league in yards. Clark's a tight end, folks. I don't know if I've ever seen a tight end have these kinds of numbers.
Ray Lewis is a student of the game, and he is correct in his praise of the Colts running game. Indy has made it a point to stick with the run, especially in the fourth quarter. The results speak for themselves. For three straight games, the Colts have used good, smart, hard running to close out games in the fourth. With rookie Donald Brown back from his shoulder injury and Chad Simpson flexing his muscles a bit as a running back (36 yards on 4 carries last week), Joseph Addai might finally get some help carrying the load for this team. Also, the decision to start Kyle DeVan at right guard over Mike Pollak has made a difference. Running plays to the right are no longer the lost cause they were earlier in the year.

Gino Marchetti (89) was Dwight Freeney long before Dwight Freeney was Dwight Freeney

Image: assets.espn.go.com

Sunday's game will also feature the return of Ravens legend Matt Stover, who spent 13 seasons in Baltimore as their kicker. The Ravens let him go this past off-season, and it was a decision they now openly regret. Stover has been damn impressive filling in for an injured Adam Viantieri. Meanwhile, the Ravens cut the kicker they replaced Stover with, and are now handing the kicking job to journeyman Billy Cundiff.

After a whale of a comeback against the Patriots last week, traveling to Baltimore will prove another tough physical and mental hurdle for the Colts to overcome. They've done this kind of thing before this season, winning a thriller against the Dolphins and then going on the road to face the Cardinals, who they spanked in their house. This will be Indy's first road game in nearly a month. You could really say this is Indy's first road game in almost six weeks. Their last "road" game was at St. Louis against the Rams, where it seemed there were more Colts fans in the stands than rams fans. Indy's last true "road game" was Week Five at Nashville against the then 0-5 Titans.

This road test will likely prove a strong one for the Colts as the Ravens are a very good football team. For more insight into the game, please visit Baltimore Beatdown, SB Nation's outstanding Ravens blog.