Prediction: Broncos 27, Colts 23
by Mike Krueger | Follow @FF_Today
Player Rankings and Projections
|
| Indianapolis Colts |
| Rank |
Player |
Projections |
| QB 1 |
Andrew Luck |
Pass: 315, 2 TD Rush: 20, 0 |
| RB 5 |
Dan Herron |
Rush: 50, 0 TD Rec: 7-45, 0 |
| RB 16 |
Zurlon Tipton |
Rush: 10, 0 TD Rec: 0-0, 0 |
| RB 20 |
Trent Richardson |
Rush: 5, 0 TD Rec: 0-0, 0 |
| WR 4 |
T.Y. Hilton |
Rec: 6-90, 1 TD |
| WR 14 |
Hakeem Nicks |
Rec: 2-35, 0 TD |
| WR 17 |
Reggie Wayne |
Rec: 2-30, 0 TD |
| WR 18 |
Donte Moncrief |
Rec: 2-30, 0 TD |
| TE 4 |
Dwayne Allen |
Rec: 4-40, 1 TD |
| TE 6 |
Coby Fleener |
Rec: 4-40, 0 TD |
| K 3 |
Adam Vinatieri |
FG: 3/3 XP: 2/2 |
| DEF 7 |
Defense / ST |
|
|
|
|
| Denver Broncos |
| Rank |
Player |
Projections |
| QB 4 |
Peyton Manning  |
Pass: 270, 2 TD Rush: 0, 0 |
| RB 4 |
C.J. Anderson |
Rush: 70, 1 TD Rec: 1-15, 0 |
| RB 9 |
Ronnie Hillman |
Rush: 40, 0 TD Rec: 2-15, 0 |
| WR 3 |
Demaryius Thomas |
Rec: 6-90, 1 TD |
| WR 7 |
Emmanuel Sanders |
Rec: 6-85, 1 TD |
| WR 19 |
Wes Welker |
Rec: 2-30, 0 TD |
 TE 7 |
Julius Thomas  |
Rec: 3-30, 0 TD |
| K 4 |
Connor Barth |
FG: 2/2 XP: 3/3 |
| DEF 3 |
Defense / ST |
|
|
|
Game Notes
 Colts Club has reached postseason for 3rd straight season under head coach CHUCK PAGANO & 12 of past 13 seasons overall... Clinched AFC South title for 9th time since 2003... QB Andrew Luck passed for 376 yards with 1 TD vs. 0 INTs for playoff career-high 104.0 rating vs. Bengals in WC round. Aims for 4th playoff in row with 300+ yards. Led NFL with 40 TDs & became 8th player with 40+ TDs in season. Since entering NFL in 2012, has 12,957 yards, most of any NFL player in 1st 3 seasons, & 86 TD passes, 2nd-most in player's 1st 3 years (HOFer DAN MARINO, 98). 1 of 2 Super Bowl era starting QBs to win at least 10 games in each of 1st 3 NFL seasons (RUSSELL WILSON)... In 1st career playoff game, RB DANIEL HERRON led team with 141 scrimmage yards (56 rush, 85 receiving) with rush TD last week... WR T.Y. Hilton led team with 103 receiving yards on 6 catches (17.2 avg.) last week. Has 496 rec. yards in 4 career postseason games, 2nd-most of any NFL player in 1st 4 career playoff games (LARRY FITZGERALD, 546). In past 13 (incl. playoffs), has 72 rec. for 1,262 yards with 7 TDs, incl. 7 100-yard games. Led team with career-high 1,345 receiving yards, joining MARVIN HARRISON & Reggie Wayne as only players in club history with 1,300+ yard receiving season. WR Reggie Wayne ranks 2nd all-time with 93 career postseason catches (HOFer JERRY RICE, 151). Has 1,254 career receiving yards in playoffs & needs 62 yards to surpass CLIFF BRANCH (1,289) & HOFer MICHAEL IRVIN (1,315) for 2nd all-time. TEs Dwayne Allen (8) & Coby Fleener (8) are 1st TEs in club history with 8+ TD catches each in same season... LB D'QWELL JACKSON led AFC with 140 tackles. Rookie LB Jonathan Newsome led AFC rookies with 6.5 sacks in 2014. S Mike Adams led team with career-high 5 INTs this season. CB Vontae Davis tied career-high with 4 INTs (2009, 2011)... K Adam Vinatieri is NFL's all-time playoff leader in career points (227) & made FGs (55), incl. 14 points & 4 FGs last week vs. Cin... Club had 5 players selected to 2015 Pro Bowl (QB Luck, WR Hilton, CB Davis, K Vinatieri, P PAT MC AFEE).
 Broncos Have 15-4 (.789) postseason record at home, tied for 2nd-best all-time (minimum 10 games). Club is 9-5 (.643) all-time in Divisional Playoffs... Won AFC West for 14th time & 1st time in 4 consecutive seasons. 1 of 2 NFL teams with 8-0 home record in 2014 (Green Bay)... QB Peyton Manning (6,589) is all-time playoff leader in passing yards & ranks 2nd in completions (572) & attempts (889), trailing only TOM BRADY (590 of 950). Manning (37) ranks 4th all-time in postseason TD passes. This season, Manning (530) surpassed BRETT FAVRE (508) for most career regular-season TD passes in NFL history. Selected No. 1 overall in 1998, Manning spent 14 seasons (1998-2011) with Colts. Won 4 AP NFL MVP awards with Ind. & ranks 1st in career pass yards (54,828) & TD passes (399) in club annals... RB C.J. Anderson led team with 849 rush yards & 8 TDs & joined TERRELL DAVIS (1998) as only player in club history with 3+ rush TDs in multiple games in same season... WR Demaryius Thomas set single-season franchise record for receiving yards (1,619), surpassing ROD SMITH (1,602 in 2000). 1st Bronco to have 3 1,400-yard seasons. In 6 career playoff games, averages 106.7 yards per game (640 total) with 5 TDs. Aims for 5th in row in postseason with TD catch. WR Wes Welker (87) is tied for 4th all-time in career postseason catches & needs 2 to surpass HOFer MICHAEL IRVIN (87) & HINES WARD (88) for 3rd place. In 2014, TE Julius Thomas led team with 12 TDs & joined HOFer SHANNON SHARPE (1996, 1998) as only TEs in club history with multiple 10-TD seasons...LB Brandon Marshall led team with career-high 110 tackles this season... Broncos were 1 of 3 NFL teams with 2 players with 10+ sacks each in 2014 (LBs Von Miller & DeMarcus Ware). Since entering NFL in 2011, Miller is 2nd in AFC with 49 sacks. Ware has 4 sacks in 4 career postseason games & aims for 4th playoff in row with sack... Club had NFL-best 9 players selected to 2015 Pro Bowl (QB Manning, WR D. Thomas, TE J. Thomas, LB Miller, DE Ware, T RYAN CLADY, CB Chris Harris, CB Aqib Talib & S T.J. Ward).
Results and Schedule
| Indianapolis Colts |
| Week |
Date |
Opp |
H/A |
Score |
Dif |
| 1 |
2014-09-07 |
DEN |
A |
L 24-31 |
-7 |
| 2 |
2014-09-15 |
PHI |
H |
L 27-30 |
-3 |
| 3 |
2014-09-21 |
JAC |
A |
W 44-17 |
+27 |
| 4 |
2014-09-28 |
TEN |
H |
W 41-17 |
+24 |
| 5 |
2014-10-05 |
BAL |
H |
W 20-13 |
+7 |
| 6 |
2014-10-09 |
HOU |
A |
W 33-28 |
+5 |
| 7 |
2014-10-19 |
CIN |
H |
W 27-0 |
+27 |
| 8 |
2014-10-26 |
PIT |
A |
L 34-51 |
-17 |
| 9 |
2014-11-03 |
NYG |
A |
W 40-24 |
+16 |
| 10 |
|
Bye |
|
|
|
| 11 |
2014-11-16 |
NE |
H |
L 20-42 |
-22 |
| 12 |
2014-11-23 |
JAC |
H |
W 23-3 |
+20 |
| 13 |
2014-11-30 |
WAS |
H |
W 49-27 |
+22 |
| 14 |
2014-12-07 |
CLE |
A |
W 25-24 |
+1 |
| 15 |
2014-12-14 |
HOU |
H |
W 17-10 |
+7 |
| 16 |
2014-12-21 |
DAL |
A |
L 7-42 |
-35 |
| 17 |
2014-12-28 |
TEN |
A |
W 27-10 |
+17 |
| WC |
2015-01-04 |
CIN |
H |
W 26-10 |
+16 |
| DP |
2015-01-11 |
DEN |
A |
|
|
|
|
|
| Denver Broncos |
| Week |
Date |
Opp |
H/A |
Score |
Dif |
| 1 |
2014-09-07 |
IND |
H |
W 31-24 |
+7 |
| 2 |
2014-09-14 |
KC |
H |
W 24-17 |
+7 |
| 3 |
2014-09-21 |
SEA |
A |
L 20-26 |
-6 |
| 4 |
|
Bye |
|
|
|
| 5 |
2014-10-05 |
ARI |
H |
W 41-20 |
+21 |
| 6 |
2014-10-12 |
NYJ |
A |
W 31-17 |
+14 |
| 7 |
2014-10-19 |
SF |
H |
W 42-17 |
+25 |
| 8 |
2014-10-23 |
SD |
H |
W 35-21 |
+14 |
| 9 |
2014-11-02 |
NE |
A |
L 21-43 |
-22 |
| 10 |
2014-11-09 |
OAK |
A |
W 41-17 |
+24 |
| 11 |
2014-11-16 |
STL |
A |
L 7-22 |
-15 |
| 12 |
2014-11-23 |
MIA |
H |
W 39-36 |
+3 |
| 13 |
2014-11-30 |
KC |
A |
W 29-16 |
+13 |
| 14 |
2014-12-07 |
BUF |
H |
W 24-17 |
+7 |
| 15 |
2014-12-14 |
SD |
A |
W 22-10 |
+12 |
| 16 |
2014-12-22 |
CIN |
A |
L 28-37 |
-9 |
| 17 |
2014-12-28 |
OAK |
H |
W 47-14 |
+33 |
| WC |
|
Bye |
|
|
|
| DP |
2015-01-11 |
IND |
H |
|
|
|
|
Injury Report
| Indianapolis Colts |
| Out |
OLB Robert Mathis (achilles-tendon)
|
| Questionable |
ILB Jerrell Freeman (abdomen)
ILB Andrew Jackson (hamstring)
ILB Henoc Muamba (back)
CB Greg Toler (knee)
OLB Erik Walden (knee)
|
| Probable |
SS LaRon Landry (head)
|
| IR |
TE Dwayne Allen (hip, 9/18/2013)
RB Vick Ballard (achilles-tendon, 8/26/2014)
RB Vick Ballard (knee, 9/13/2013)
RB Ahmad Bradshaw (neck, 10/9/2013)
RB Ahmad Bradshaw (ankle, 11/18/2014)
RB Dan Herron (pectoral, 12/2/2013)
DE Montori Hughes (knee, 12/24/2013)
DE Fili Moala (knee, 1/6/2014)
DE Fili Moala (knee, 6/11/2014)
CB Greg Toler (groin, 1/6/2014)
WR Reggie Wayne (knee, 10/22/2013)
|
| PUP |
OLB Victor Butler (knee)
|
|
|
|
|
Offense Stats Comparison
| |
IND
Offense |
DEN
Offense |
NFL
Avg. |
Adv. |
| Points for |
23.0 |
30.0 |
22.0 |
DEN |
| Rushing yards |
98.3 |
146.8 |
112.6 |
DEN |
| Rushing yards per attempt |
3.95 |
4.41 |
4.24 |
DEN |
| Completion % |
60.0% |
63.9% |
62.2% |
DEN |
| Passing yards |
256.3 |
237.3 |
227.7 |
IND |
| Passing yards per completion |
11.51 |
11.54 |
10.65 |
DEN |
| Passing yards per attempt |
6.91 |
7.38 |
6.63 |
DEN |
| Interceptions |
1.0 |
0.5 |
0.9 |
DEN |
| Fumbles lost |
1.5 |
0.8 |
0.6 |
DEN |
| Sacks allowed |
2.0 |
1.0 |
2.6 |
DEN |
| 3rd down conversions |
37.8% |
44.6% |
38.5% |
DEN |
| 4th down conversions |
40.0% |
100.0% |
46.9% |
DEN |
| Time of possession |
28:44 |
32:10 |
30:03 |
DEN |
|
|
|
Defense Stats Comparison
| |
IND
Defense |
DEN
Defense |
NFL
Avg. |
Adv. |
| Points against |
17.8 |
20.8 |
22.0 |
IND |
| Rushing yards |
114.8 |
73.5 |
112.6 |
DEN |
| Rushing yards per attempt |
3.78 |
4.27 |
4.24 |
IND |
| Completion % |
57.7% |
63.0% |
62.2% |
IND |
| Passing yards |
163.3 |
181.5 |
227.7 |
IND |
| Passing yards per completion |
9.94 |
8.53 |
10.65 |
DEN |
| Passing yards per attempt |
5.74 |
5.37 |
6.63 |
DEN |
| INT return |
0.5 |
1.3 |
0.9 |
DEN |
| Fumble recoveries |
1.0 |
0.8 |
0.6 |
IND |
| Sacks |
2.5 |
2.0 |
2.6 |
IND |
| 3rd down conversions |
31.0% |
37.5% |
38.5% |
IND |
| 4th down conversions |
11.1% |
62.5% |
46.9% |
IND |
| Time of possession |
31:16 |
27:50 |
30:03 |
DEN |
|
|
Special Teams Stats Comparison
| |
IND |
DEN |
NFL
Avg. |
Adv. |
| Yards per punt return |
6.6 |
7.3 |
9.2 |
DEN |
| Yards per kick return |
32.0 |
30.5 |
23.7 |
IND |
| Yards allowed per punt return |
8.7 |
19.2 |
9.2 |
IND |
| Yards allowed per kick return |
23.8 |
26.2 |
23.7 |
IND |
|
|
|
Misc Stats Comparison
| |
IND |
DEN |
NFL
Avg. |
Adv. |
| Penalties |
6.8 |
5.8 |
6.5 |
DEN |
| Penalty yards |
48.5 |
55.0 |
54.4 |
IND |
|
|
Note: Team statistics are shown as the average per game
through Weeks 12 to 17 of the 2014 season after deducting the best
and worst value from the data set. The exception is yards per rush attempt, completion %, yards per
pass completion, yards per pass attempt, 3rd and 4th down conversions, special teams and the NFL averages, which are each calculated based on
totals through Weeks 12 to 17 with no adjustment.
Weather
Team vs. Team History
| Indianapolis Colts vs. Denver Broncos |
| Season |
Week |
Date |
Vis |
Home |
Score |
Winner |
| 2001 |
17 |
2002-01-06 |
DEN |
IND |
10-29 |
IND |
| 2002 |
12 |
2002-11-24 |
IND |
DEN |
23-20 |
IND |
| 2003 |
16 |
2003-12-21 |
DEN |
IND |
31-17 |
DEN |
| 2004 |
17 |
2005-01-02 |
IND |
DEN |
14-33 |
DEN |
| 2004 |
WC |
2005-01-09 |
DEN |
IND |
24-49 |
IND |
| 2006 |
8 |
2006-10-29 |
IND |
DEN |
34-31 |
IND |
| 2007 |
4 |
2007-09-30 |
DEN |
IND |
20-38 |
IND |
| 2009 |
14 |
2009-12-13 |
DEN |
IND |
16-28 |
IND |
| 2010 |
3 |
2010-09-26 |
IND |
DEN |
27-13 |
IND |
| 2013 |
7 |
2013-10-20 |
DEN |
IND |
33-39 |
IND |
| 2014 |
1 |
2014-09-07 |
IND |
DEN |
24-31 |
DEN |
|
Note: Only playoff games from the 2004 to 2010 seasons are included in the team vs. team history. Playoff games from seasons prior to 2004 are not currently included in the database. WC = Wild-Card
|
