The Colts tried hard on offense in the limited time that they had the football but it was just not enough as the Jags nailed a FG with 4 seconds late to seal the Colts’ fate.  The Colts only had possession of the football for a measly 18:25 in this game.  Peyton Manning completed 15 of 29 passes for 216 yards with 1 TD pass and 2 interceptions in this game (one INT was returned 61 yards for a TD by CB Rashean Mathis.  Joseph Addai finally woke up and he rushed for 78 yards on 16 carries (4.9 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  Dallas Clark (47 yards) and Marvin Harrison (40 yards, TD) each led the Colts in receptions in this game.  But, Reggie Wayne had the most receiving yards with 74 on 3 catches (24.7 avg).  The Colts finished up with 114 yards rushing on 19 carries (6.0 ypc) and they also completed 15 of 29 passes for 211 yards.

Linebackers Gary Brackett and Freddie Keiaho led the way for the Colts’ defense in this game with 11 tackles apiece.  The Jaguars finished up with 236 yards rushing on 48 carries (4.9 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 22 passes for 167 yards.  This heartbreaking loss dropped the Colts to 1-2 on the season.

This is a big clash in the AFC South between two teams that are off to slow starts.  The Jaguars need to get back to the basics on offense and run the football.  The Colts are allowing 181.5 yards rushing per game and they are on the small side on the interior of the defense.  With that in mind look for Fred Taylor (67 yards rushing, 2.9 ypc) and Maurice Jones-Drew (30 yards rushing, 2.5 ypc) to each have their best games of the season as long as the Jags get some push from the offensive line.  If the Jaguars get their running game going against the Colts then they can attack them through the air with play action passing.

The Colts will likely come out throwing the ball to try to get a lead and take the Jaguars out of their offense.  The Jaguars are allowing 191.0 yards passing per game so the Colts will spread out Anthony Gonzalez, Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison and let Peyton Manning pick who to throw to.  It would really help the Colts if they could get the running game going against the Jags which will be easier said than done as the Colts are only averaging 39.0 yards per game rushing and 2.3 yards per carry.

PREDICTION:  INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 20, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 13

The Colts have lost starting strong safety Bob Sanders for the next 4-6 weeks with a high ankle sprain.  Sanders played in both games for the Colts this season and he made 13 tackles.  The Colts’ run defense will suffer without Sanders in the lineup as he loves to come up fast in support.  He played in 15 games (all starts) last season for the Colts and he finished with 96 tackles, 3.5 sacks, he defensed 6 passes and had 2 interceptions.  Those numbers show what the Colts’ defense will be missing for the next 4-6 weeks.  2nd year man Melvin Bullitt will replace Sanders in the starting lineup.  He has played in both games for the Colts this season and he has 4 tackles.  Bullitt has played two years for the Colts covering 17 games in which he made 24 tackles, defended 1 pass and had 1 interception.  This was the one player (Sanders) that the defense couldn’t afford to lose.

The Colts were down 15-0 in the third quarter before Peyton Manning rallied the troops for a nice road win yesterday.  Manning completed 26 of 42 passes for 311 yards with 1 TD pass and 2 interceptions.  Joseph Addai couldn’t find running room all day against the Vikings’ D rushing for only 20 yards on 15 carries (1.3 ypc) but he did score on a 1-yard TD run.  He also caught 2 passes for 13 yards.  WR Anthony Gonzalez was the star of this game on offense for the Colts as he caught 9 passes for 137 yards (15.2 avg).  Reggie Wayne also had a solid game with 5 receptions for 93 yards (18.6 avg) with a 32-yard TD grab.  Rookie TE Tom Santi pitched in with 5 catches for 29 yards (5.8 avg) against the Vikings.  The Colts finished up with only 25 yards rushing on 19 carries (1.3 ypc) but they also completed 26 of 42 passes for 296 yards.

The defense had issues with trying to stop Adrian Peterson all day long as he rushed for 160 yards yesterday.  Linebackers Freddy Keiaho and Gary Brackett led the way for the Colts’ Defense in this game with 9 tackles apiece.  The Vikings finished up with 180 yards rushing on 35 carries (5.1 ypc) and they also completed 14 of 24 passes for 119 yards.  This win improved the Colts to 1-1 on the season.

The Indianapolis Colts must jump on the Vikings quick with the passing game game to force the Vikings to play from behind which they are not capable of doing.  Peyton Manning looked a little timid in his first game since last year last week as the Colts’ kept the passing game to the short stuff.  They will likely have to do that again due to offensive line troubles which could really hurt the Colts in this football game.  The Vikings have a great defensive line against the run and they will likely take Joseph Addai out of this game.  If that happens the Colts will be in deep trouble against the Vikings despite the fact that the Packers were effective throwing the ball against them last week.

The Vikings are foaming at the mouth to run the football against a Colts’ Defense which allowed 183 yards rushing (4.7 ypc) last week against the Bears who are not known for their offense.  Look for Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor to dominate this game especially on plays up the middle as the Colts are very small at nose guard.  Also, QB Tarvaris Jackson will take off running a few times in this game and he might be the best running QB in the NFL right now as he rushed for 65 yards on 9 carries (7.2 ypc) last week against the Packers.  If the Colts put too many defenders in the box look for the Vikings to throw deep to WR Bernard Berrian off of play action.

PREDICTION:  MINNESOTA VIKINGS 23, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 20

The Colts saw quite enough of Courtney Roby after only one week.  Roby returned 5 kickoffs for 101 yards (20.2 avg) and he also had a tackle on special teams against the Bears last week.  The Colts won’t miss Roby at all as he didn’t stand out at all last week.

The Colts have claimed running back Justin Forsett off waivers from the Seahawks.  Forsett is a rookie but he was outstanding for the Seahawks during the preseason.  He carried the ball 46 times for 248 yards (5.4 ypc) with 1 TD run in the preseason for the Seahawks.  He also caught 4 passes for 32 yards during the preseason.  This was a good low risk/high reward signing for the Colts as Forsett is a talented football player.

The Colts have waived NT Ed Johnson after he was arrested for marijuana possession after a traffic stop early this week.  Johnson had 7 tackles against the Bears last Sunday Night.  Johnson started for the Colts as an undrafted rookie last season playing in all 16 games for them and compiling 41 tackles and sacking the opposing QB once.  Johnson will be replaced in the starting lineup by Raheem Brock who is only 6’4″, 274 pounds so teams playing against the Colts will likely now try to run up the middle more often.  Brock had 2 tackles against the Bears last Sunday Night.  Brock has played in 89 games (81 starts) in his NFL career and he has made 227 tackles, has 21.5 sacks and he has defensed 15 passes.  Johnson’s actions and departure earlier this week will hurt the Colts’ Defense the rest of the season.

The Colts came out flat last Sunday Night and it showed on the scoreboard as the Bears kicked their ass!  Peyton Manning kept his passes really short in this game as he completed 30 of 49 passes for 257 yards with 1 TD pass.  Joseph Addai had a nightmare game as he carried the ball 12 times for 44 yards (3.7 ypc) and he was tackled in the end zone for a safety.  Reggie Wayne was the leading receiver in this game for the Colts with 10 grabs for 86 yards (8.6 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Marvin Harrison pitched in with 8 catches for 76 yards (9.5 avg) but he lost a fumble that Lance Briggs returned 21 yards for a Bears’ TD.  The Colts finished up this game with only 53 yards rushing on 15 carries (3.5 ypc) and they also completed 30 of 49 passes for 240 yards.

The Colts’ Defense got pushed around all game by the Bears O-Line in the running game.  Linebacker Freddy Keiaho (10 tackles) and safety Bob Sanders (9 tackles) led the way for the Colts on defense.  The Bears rushed for 183 yards on 39 carries (4.7 ypc) and they also completed 13 of 21 passes for 136 yards.  The Colts better get their act together because if they thought Matt Forte was good. wait until this week when they meet up with Adrian Peterson.

The Chicago Bears’ offense is likely to be a mess in 2008 and this matchup is a nightmare for them.  Kyle Orton is a game manager but the Bears don’t match up well against the speedy Colts’ defense.  Rookie RB Matt Forte will be the Bears player that touches the football the most besides Kyle Orton in this football game but middle linebacker Gary Brackett will be chasing him all over the place.  The Bears will likely try to throw the ball often to TEs Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen so safeties Antoine Bethea and Bob Sanders will both be busy and they are playmakers.  The Bears want to try to get the ball down the field to Devin Hester but CBs Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden will likely give him trouble.

The Colts would like to mix it up on offense but it might be hard to run the ball against the Bears.  Joseph Addai is a solid running back but linebackers Brian Urlacher, Hunter Hillenmeyer and Lance Briggs are all excellent run defenders.  The Bears must get a good pass rush against Peyton Manning and his gimpy knee or he will pick them apart.  CBs Nathan Vasher and Charles Tillman are playmakers but Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison are elite WRs.  Throw in Anthony Gonzalez and Dallas Clark and the Bears’ defense will likely be in some trouble in this game.

PREDICTION:  INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 24, CHICAGO BEARS 14