Colts vs. Packers Prediction: Can Indy Capitalize on Green Bay’s Injuries?

NFL Week 2 – Indianapolis Colts at Green Bay Packers
Where: Lambeau Field (Green Bay, WI)
When: Saturday, September 15th at 1:00 PM EST
Watch: FOX

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Indianapolis Colts -3
Over/Under: 40

An interconference matchup between the AFC’s Indianapolis Colts and the NFC’s Green Bay Packers is set to kick off this Sunday at historic Lambeau Field. Both teams enter this contest at 0-1 after dropping their season openers last week. There is a plethora of talent on both rosters, but the main storyline has changed drastically after some key injuries have popped up. With only one field goal separating the Colts and Packers, according to bookmakers, there is a lot of intrigue as we get closer to game time. Both teams enter Week 2 after back-and-forth affairs but ultimately unable to get into the win column. Can the Packers overcome some serious adversity and win this game, or will the Colts shine in Green Bay? There are a few key factors that I expect will weigh heavily on the outcome of Sunday’s game and propel one of these teams to a much-needed win. Let’s see how these squads stack-up against one another and find out who I’m riding with.

The Indianapolis Colts dropped a heartbreaker at home against the Houston Texans in week 1. The game was back and forth and even saw the Colts with the lead early on, but after allowing the Texans to score three unanswered times between the end of the 1st and beginning of the 3rd quarters, the Colts could not make up the ground they had lost. Quarterback Anthony Richardson only completed 9/19 passes but accounted for 212 air yards, two passing touchdowns, and even ended the game as the Colts’ leading rusher with 56 and a rushing TD. His 60-yard deep-ball to Alec Pierce was one of the best throws I have seen in a while and while his time on-field has been limited, he proved that he is the franchise QB in Indy.

Star running back Jonathan Taylor was held to only 48 rushing yards on 16 carries. Taylor was able to cross the goal line and record his first rushing touchdown of the young season, but his overall production will need to improve to allow the Colts to control the game clock. Number one wide receiver Michael Pittman and rookie Adonai Mitchell had quiet afternoons, though their production was likely limited due to the run-heavy game script. Defensively, safety duo Julian Blackmon and Nick Cross were all over the field and racked up 18 combined tackles. Blackmon, however, has found his way onto the injury report, and it is unclear if he will suit up against Green Bay. DeForest Buckner led the way with 1.5 sacks in the opener, but he, too, finds himself nursing a back injury and is considered a game-time decision. Entering this matchup, the Colts’ defense finds themselves ranked dead last in total yards and rushing yards allowed. They will need a better performance Sunday on the road.

Coming into the 2024 season, all eyes were on the Green Bay Packers to challenge for the NFC North division and the conference as a whole. The Packers opened their season in Brazil in a tough matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, which they lost 34-29. They found success on the ground and through the air, but were unable to contain the high-powered Eagles offense for four quarters. Heralded QB Jordan Love threw for 260 yards with touchdown passes to Jayden Reed and Christian Watson. Expectations were extremely high for the second-year starting quarterback coming into this season, but that all changed when he suffered an MCL injury late in the game. While head coach Matt LaFleur has not closed the door on Love’s availability to play in Week 2 against the Colts, I fully expect that the reigns will be handed over to Malik Willis, a recent acquisition.

Willis has only started three games in his NFL career, so this offense will likely be taking a major step backwards. There is some scrambling upside with Willis under center, but he has not shown the ability to work the ball downfield through the air and sustain drives. The Packers will need to lean heavily on running back Josh Jacobs who finished the contest against the Eagles with over 100 total yards of offense. In addition to controlling the game on the ground, I expect the Packers will need their defense to continue to force turnovers. They were able to pick off Jalen Hurts two times last week and have excellent skill in the secondary in Jaire Alexander and Xavier McKinney. On the defensive line, they will look for big men Kenny Clark, Rashan Gary, and Preston Smith to generate pressure on the QB and stuff the run.

My Pick: Indianapolis Colts -3

This is a tough spot on the road for a Colts team that suffered a tough defeat in week 1, but there are too many key injuries piling up on the Packers’ roster to trust them. The Colts will need to be much more stout against the run, but with Malik Willis as the starter, they can sell out and stack the box. I don’t anticipate that Willis will be able to keep the defense honest, even in single coverage looks. Points may be at a premium on Sunday, but the Colts will cover by at least a field goal.