Colts Vikings Line

Written by Jack Jones

Two teams hoping to avoid the dreaded 0-2 start collide this week when the Minnesota Vikings play host to the Indianapolis Colts in the Metrodome. The early NFL odds released on this game show the Colts as 2-point favorites over the Vikings with the total set at 43.5.

Neither team got off to the start they had wanted to in week one, but it was particularly disappoint for the Colts. The team was supposed to break in the new Lucas Oil Stadium with a win over the Bears, as they were double digit favorites. Instead the team looked beat up as Chicago played more physical in the trenches on both sides of the ball. That problem Indianapolis had running the ball isn’t likely to go away against the Vikings, who possessed the best run defense in the league last year. The troubles the Colts had in stopping the run might be magnified now that Adrian Peterson and the high power run-offense of the Vikings will be coming at them.

The idea of the Colts starting the year 0-2 almost seems impossible since in recent years they have gotten off to such good starts. Indianapolis last lost their first two games back in 1999, when Peyton Manning was a rookie and Tony Dungy was still in Tampa Bay coaching the Bucs.

Minnesota on the other hand was supposed to be the team to beat in the NFC North this season, and they had a chance to prove it by going up to Green Bay and knocking off the Packers on Monday Night. The team struggled to move the ball through the air however, and their late comeback attempts came up a little bit short. If Aaron Rodgers can go 18-for-22 passing against this defense Viking fans have to shutter at the thought of seeing Manning walk out onto the field.

It seems like the Vikings want to make things tough on themselves again. Last year the team started out 2-5 before making a late run at the playoffs. This year they would like to avoid digging themselves a hole, but they are going to need to beat the Colts to do that.

Indianapolis did not look very good on offense against the Bears, piling on only 293 total yards, 53 of which came on the ground. Manning didn’t look like his usual self, never finding a rhythm after having spent the entire preseason on the shelf with a knee injury. He was able to find Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison for a combined 18 receptions between them, but both receivers averaged less than 10 yards per catch. The loss of Dallas Clark hurt, but that just meant the Colts used more three receiver sets with Anthony Gonzalez, who had five catches. You’ll see more passing from Manning this week, mostly because the Vikings are so good at stopping the run. He should also have more time to throw this week than last, when the Bears defenders hounded him all game. Minnesota didn’t get to Rodgers once on Monday night, even though they now have last year’s NFL sack leader in Jared Allen.

With the front line for the Colts banged up, you have to think they are going to try to air it out against the Vikings. Minnesota held opponents to just 3.1 ypc and if it weren’t for two big runs last week, they would have held Green Bay to something similar. Joseph Addai left in the fourth quarter of last week’s game with a mild concussion, and that was after gaining just 44 yards on 12 carries.

When the Vikings take the field I’m expecting to see a whole lot of ground and pound. The team has a massive offensive line led by two Pro Bowlers in Steve Hutchinson and Matt Birk and Peterson is coming off a 103-yard, 19 carry performance against the Packers. Chester Taylor also racked up quite a few yards backing up Peterson a year ago, and Tarvaris Jackson ran for 65 yards from the quarterback position last week. With the Colts having to deal with the loss of starting defensive tackle Ed Johnson, who was released after an arrest this week, the Vikings should have an easy go of it on the ground. Two of the leading tacklers were from the secondary in the loss against the Bears, highlighting just how much trouble the front seven had.

If Minnesota is forced to get away from the run then they might be in trouble. That’s what happened last week against the Packers, and Jackson had to use his arm to stage a comeback. He went just 16-for-35 and 178 yards. No receiver really came up big for him either, even though Bernard Berrian was given big money to boost the passing game in the offseason. Things aren’t going to get any easier trying to move the ball on the Colts pass defense, which has been ranked near the top of the league the past few years.

Predictions: Indianapolis 24, Minnesota 21

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