I’m not sure how they select these Saturday NFL games, but it has to happen way back in the preseason. Otherwise, there’s just no excuse for getting stuck with the Indianapolis Colts (3-11) traveling to M&T Stadium to take on the Baltimore Ravens (8-6) on the day before Christmas Eve.
As I always say, we’ll wish to God we had a game like this on when March rolls around. So we might as well watch it while we have the chance, if no other reason as to emblazon Chuck Pagono’s face into our memories to ensure he never gets an NFL head coaching job again. The game is on the NFL Network at 4:30 p.m. EST.
The Game: Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens (-13.5)
O/U: 41.0
The History
The Colts and Ravens have faced off 14 times since 1996 with Indianapolis leading the series 10-4.
They last met up on October 5, 2014 at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Colts won 20-13.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (3-11)
It’s been a disaster of a season for the Colts across every level. Chuck Pagano has finally proven to even his staunchest supporters that he has no place as a head coach in the NFL. Any bump that the acquisition of Jacoby Brissett gave Indianapolis early in the season is long gone. They’ve lost five straight games and the only reason they might not end the year on a seven-game losing streak is that they play the Houston Texans at home on New Year’s Eve.
Last week it was the Denver Broncos’ turn to embarrass the Colts in a 25-13 defeat. Indy accidentally knocked starter Trevor Siemian out of the game, paving the way for the dramatic return of 2015 Brock Osweiler to the field. 2015 Osweiler, not to be confused with 2016 Osweiler or the even worse 2017 Osweiler, was a legitimate starting NFL quarterback who even supplanted Peyton Manning for a while. He’s good and he tuned up the Colts for 12-of-17 passing for 194 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.
Brisett didn’t toss any picks himself, but with the running game completely shut down, he had no help at all. He finished 17-of-30 for 158 yards and was sacked once.
No Colts receiver caught more than 47 yards’ worth of passes, with tight end Jack Doyle leading the way with seven grabs. Frank Gore is wrapping up a pretty solid career with a shitty team. He carried the ball 10 times for 31 yards.
On defense, the Colts did record three sacks, knocked Siemian out and had five stops in the backfield. That’s the bright side. The not-so-bright side is they let the Broncos run all over them for 213 yards.
Indy will be sitting five players in this game. Denzelle Good, Rashaan Melvin, Donte Moncrief, Jason Vander Laan and Brandon Williams are all out.
BALTIMORE RAVENS (8-6)
The Ravens have only one guy that will probably miss the game for sure. Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin is listed as doubtful with a knee injury. Ronnie Stanley is officially questionable with an illness and hasn’t practiced this week. Everyone else should play.
Baltimore couldn’t ask for a better schedule with which to finish out the season. After a one-point heartbreaker loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers that knocked them out of the No. 6 seed in the playoff race, the Ravens had the Cleveland Browns, the Colts and the Cincinnati Bengals ahead of them. Baltimore beat the Browns 27-10 last week. This looks likes like a 10-6 finish to me.
Quarterback Joe Flacco is finally starting to look like himself. He missed all the preseason with a back injury and it’s taken this long for him to really get comfortable. Against the Browns, he finished 26-of-42 for 288 yards and a touchdown.
The Pick
I’m not sure what the books saw out of the Ravens this year that made this -13.5 line seem reasonable. Flacco and the Ravens have improved exponentially over the last month, but I still don’t see Baltimore beating anybody, even Indianapolis, by more than two touchdowns. Ravens 24, Colts 13
Last Week
Straight up: 14-2
Against the spread: 12-4
Season
Straight up: 139-85
Against the spread: 119-10
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