Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Indianapolis Colts are 4-5 on the season, which has them in second place in the AFC South and one game back of the final Wild Card spot in the AFC.
However, the Colts have lost their last two games against the Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings.
The story of the Colts' season has been all about the quarterback position. Specifically, it has been about the struggles and subsequent benching of second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson. The fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft started four games as a rookie, but missed most of last season due to an injury.
Richardson started six games this season, and the team was 3-3 in those starts. However, his passing numbers have not been pretty. He completed just 44% of his passes, which was the second-lowest percentage in the last 20 years for a quarterback who had, at least, 100 pass attempts.
With that, the Colts have turned to 39-year-old Joe Flacco, who will make his fourth start of the season against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Flacco had an amazing 2023 season, essentially coming out of retirement and taking over in Cleveland for the Browns when Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending injured. Flacco led the Browns to a 4-1 record, which clinched them a playoff spot. He would also go on to win the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award.
The veteran quarterback hasn't had quite the same magic touch this season, though.
Flacco and the Colts offense just had their worst game of the year in their Sunday night loss in Minnesota, recording season lows in points (just two field goals), yards and first downs. Indianapolis also didn't have a single drive that got inside the Vikings' 20-yard line.
But there are good weapons on that Colts offense, starting with running back Jonathan Taylor.
I'm sure I don't need to remind you what Taylor did to the Bills when Indianapolis visited Highmark Stadium in 2021. He rushed for 185 yards and had four touchdowns in a 41-15 rout.
To this point of the season, Taylor has 502 yards rushing (4.8 yards per-carry) and five touchdowns, despite also dealing with some injuries.
Taylor can certainly provide problems for a Bills run defense that has struggled. Last week, they had trouble stopping De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert in their win over the Miami Dolphins.
The Bills defense is 15th in the league in rushing yards per-game, which isn't bad, but if you go by yards per-carry, the defense is down at 26th.
The top-three targets in the Colts' passing game are all at the wide receiver position.
Josh Downs leads the team in receptions (38), while Alec Pierce leads in receiving yards (435). The Colts also have Michael Pittman Jr., who has 30 catches for 366 yards this season.
The Bills, who are fourth in the NFL averaging 28 points a game, will face a Colts defense that has some dangerous players in the interior. They are strong at defensive tackle with Grover Stewart and DeForest Buckner. The pair have combined for six sacks and eight tackles for loss this season.
Middle linebacker Zaire Franklin is a playmaker who leads the team in tackles.
The Bills might be able to run the ball on the Colts, who have given up an average of 149 rushing yards a game, the second-highest total in the NFL.
However, ball security will be important, as Indianapolis has forced 15 fumbles, and is tied for the league lead with nine fumble recoveries.
In the secondary, cornerback Jaylon Jones leads in passes defended with nine and interceptions with two. He is their only corner with an interception this year.
As for special teams, the Bills need to be aware of the speedy Downs, who is averaging 10.9 yards on punt returns. The Colts are ranked 13th in the NFL in punt returns, and fourth in kick returns.
Kicker Matt Gay is a perfect 17-for-17 on extra point attempts this season. He has connected on 14-of-17 field goal attempts, but he has struggled from long distance. Gay is 12-for-12 on kicks under 50 yards, but is just 2-for-5 from 50 or longer.
We should probably expect a close game. All nine of the Colts' games this season have ended with a final margin of victory of eight points or less. Indianapolis' four wins have come by a total of just 17 points, but their five losses have come by a total of just 22 points.
I'll have my antacid tablets nearby just in case.
If the Bills win on Sunday, they will be 8-2 through the first 10 games for the first time since 1992.
