Indianapolis Colts at Philadelphia Eagles

Written by Jack Jones - Google +

The Indianapolis Colts have battle back to take the lead in the AFC South after a slow start to the season. The Colts will have their hands full if they are to remain atop the division standings as they travel to face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. If you are interested in the odds on this game, then you will find a line of Eagles -3 over Colts with a total set of 46.5 points.

After two early losses, the Colts have reeled off three straight victories against teams that all have at least four wins on the season. We have become accustomed to seeing the Colts on top of the AFC South standings, as they’ve won the division six of the last eight years. Indy will be going for their fifth straight win over the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, and if they can accomplish that feat they’ll be on pace for a record eighth-straight 12-win season.

Philly has not beaten Indy since 1993, and have been outscored 161-61 in four games against the Colts since then. These teams last met in 2006 when Peyton Manning and the Colts dominated 45-21 in Indy. Manning has faced the Eagles three times in his career, throwing seven touchdowns to one interception while completing 69.6 percent of his passes. Last year’s MVP will make his 200th consecutive start this weekend, and he is second in the NFL with 15 touchdown passes already.

This is arguably Manning’s most difficult season yet. That’s because injuries have depleted this team, yet he continue putting the Colts on his back and finding a way to get it done week in and week out. Tight end Dallas Clark is out for the season, and Austin Collie is likely to miss his second straight game with a hand injury. There is a plethora of injuries in the backfield, where Joseph Addai is likely to miss his second straight game. Not to mention Mike Hart suffered an ankle injury in their 30-17 win over Houston last Monday, while Donald Brown continues being banged up with a shoulder injury.

Manning still has Reggie Wayne at his disposal, who is off to another terrific start with 49 grabs for 641 yards. Anthony Gonzalez, Pierre Garcon and Jacob Tamme are all fully capable of getting the job done outside as well. What the Colts are most concerned with this week is stopping Michael Vick, who has missed the last three games with a rib injury but will replace Kevin Kolb as the team’s starter Sunday. Vick has been unbelievably efficient, throwing 96 passes without an interception. He has a 108.8 passer rating while throwing 6 touchdown passes, and he’s still a threat on the ground with 187 rushing yards.

Vick is sure to be a lot more cautious this week when it comes to taking big hits. He may have his best weapon in DeSean Jackson back for this game after he suffered a concussion against the Atlanta Falcons three weeks ago, which forced him out of their Oct. 24 meeting with the Tennessee Titans. The Eagles lost that game 37-19, and could have used the explosive Jackson who has averaged 44.3 yards per score while registering 22 touchdowns in three years with Philly. Eleven have been 50 yards or longer. Philly will be hungry to hit the field after their bye week and after allowing 27 fourth-quarter points to the Titans last time out, the most of any team in the final period since 2008. Andy Reid is a perfect 11-0 at Philly when coming off a bye week.

BetUS Projected Score: Eagles 25 – Colts 22

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