I’m sure when this game was first assigned to the Sunday Night Football schedule, Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth were probably stoked at the prospect of seeing Andrew Luck take aim at the Seahawks defense. But reality has a way of destroying your dreams as the 2017 versions of the Indianapolis Colts (1-2) and Seattle Seahawks (1-2) probably have the SNF folks wishing the flex schedule could be implemented ASAP.
As the Sunday nightcap, the game will be on NBC beginning at 8:30 p.m. I’ll be hanging with you the whole way with the Get More Sports live blog, making fun of both these teams as they struggle to do anything on offense.
The Game: Indianapolis Colts at Seattle Seahawks (-13)
O/U: 41.5
The History
The two teams have played only 11 games since 1977 with the Colts holding a 7-4 series advantage.
Indianapolis won the last match up back in 2013, 34-28, With Andrew Luck completing 16 of 29 passing for 229 yards and two touchdowns. T.Y. Hilton caught five passes for 140 yards and two scores.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (1-2)
The lowly Colts got their first win of the season last week against the even lowlier Cleveland Browns. Jacoby Brissett has been a good pick up for Indianapolis and played solid in both his starts this season. Against the Browns he was 17 of 24 for 259 yards and a touchdown. It makes you wonder why in the hell Chuck Pagano thought his back up situation was OK when Scott Tolzien was at QB. Ridiculous.
Of course, that’s just one of the many reasons Chuck Pagano should be packing his desk up at some point this season. Andrew Luck was cleared to practice this week, but didn’t. That means there’s a chance (a slight one), he might be able to practice next week. That doesn’t mean he will play even then. They better be careful with Luck. This is a lost season and, truthfully, the new head coach they bring in after firing Pagano (John Gruden, maybe?) will be damn glad to have a healthy Luck and a high draft pick in the first round.
So do the Colts have a puncher’s chance in this one? They’re OK on the offensive line and certainly good enough with Brissett’s mobility. He’s not afraid to chuck it downfield and T.Y. Hilton has, in past match ups, embarrassed Richard Sherman during one on one coverage.
Defensively, Indianapolis still has plenty of work to do. Last week against the Browns they managed just one sack and three tackles for a loss. They did force four turnovers, all at the slippery hands of rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer, who threw three picks and fumbled once.
In addition to Luck, center Ryan Jelly is still out with his foot injury. Wide receiver Quincy Wilson won’t play either.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (1-2)
Sunday’s loss to the Tennessee Titans was a bad sign for the Seahawks. They held a 14-9 lead in the third quarter and let the Titans blow the game open with big plays. The first was a 55-yard touchdown pass from Marcus Mariota to Rishard Matthews. The next came from a 24 yard TD pass from Mariota to Jonnu Smith, then DeMarco Murray reeled off a 75 yard touchdown run to all but put the game away.
Is this who the Seahawks are now or was this one of those Week Three aberrations?
In spite of the disaster given up by their vaunted defense, Russell Wilson had the passing game clicking. He was just sacked once while completing 29 of 49 passing for 373 yards and four touchdowns against a Titans defense that should be significantly superior to the one he’s facing with the Colts. Doug Baldwin caught 10 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown with Jimmy Graham adding seven hauls for 72 yards.
The Pick
The Seahawks may be in trouble this season, but not enough trouble to believe the Colts can win at CenturyLink Field in a prime time game. I expect Wilson to again put up some good numbers and a 100 yard game from rookie Chris Carson at running back. Seahawks 31, Colts 16
This week
Straight up: 1-0
Against the spread: 1-0
Last week
Straight up: 7-9
Against the spread: 6-10
Season
Straight up: 28-19
Against the spread: 22-25
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