Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts Must Win the Trenches Against the Baltimore Ravens
Episode Date: September 21, 2023Indianapolis Colts stars Quenton Nelson, DeForest Buckner, and Grover Stewart have to be on their A game against the Baltimore Ravens this weekend. The most logical path to victory is in the trenches,... so these stars need to stand out. This is a Locked On Crossover episode with Locked on Ravens!Find and follow Locked On Colts on your favorite podcast platforms:🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOColts?sid=YouTube📺YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLdpxJspi1hMh5HL7ExpWOQLocked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft & More🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNFLFollow Jake and Zach's written work on HorseshoeHuddle.com, and give them a follow on Twitter @JakeArthurNFL, @ZachHicks2, @LockedOnColts, and @ColtsOnFN!Catch the Locked On Colts pregame show at Nevermore at Union Station before every Colts home game! Info here: https://www.tailgateplanet.com/indianapolis-colts-tailgatesThis crossover Thursday episode is brought to you by PrizePicks. The easiest and most exciting way to play Daily Fantasy Sports. Go to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnfl and use code all lowercase lockedononfl for a first deposit match up to $100Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Jase MedicalSave more than $360 by getting these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical plus an additional $20 off by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.birddogsGo to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONNFL or enter promo code LOCKEDONNFL for a water bottle with any order. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you.PrizePicksGo to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnfl and use code lockedonnfl for a first deposit match up to $100!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Last minute tickets. Lowest Price. Guaranteed.eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNFL. Terms and conditions apply.FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Right now, NEW customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get TWO HUNDRED in BONUS BETS – GUARANTEED. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Transcript
Discussion (0)
Do the Indianapolis Colts have enough firepower to keep up with this vaunted Baltimore Ravens team?
Let's get to it.
You are Locked On Colts, your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast.
Part of the Locked On Podcasts and Locked On Colts.
I'm Kevin Ostreicher of Locked On Ravens.
He is Zach Hicks of Locked On Colts.
We're coming to you from the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day.
Thank you so much for making both Locked On Ravens and Locked On Colts your first listen each and every day.
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Go to prizepix.com slash LockedOnNFL and use code all lowercase LockedOnNFL for a first-to first about a match up to $100. Zach, I'm actually pretty excited for this game. The Ravens come into this one
at 2-0 and they're looking to make it 3-0, but the Colts I think have looked a lot better than
some people might've anticipated they did over the first couple of weeks. Now I think overall,
a couple of big stories for both sides. We're going to have to get to the injury reports because
that might be the biggest for both. I know for the the Ravens it is but I want to give you the floor and
because I know injuries for both sides is a real thing and I know the Colts are doing some stuff
too especially with their quarterback yeah you know obviously this whole season for the Indianapolis
Colts has been about starting fresh you know starting fresh getting off of the veteran
quarterback train and building around the young athletic Anthony Richardson.
But unfortunately, it's taking a little bit of a road bump here where he got injured at
the end of the first quarter against the Houston Texans last week.
Now, the Colts were able to still get that victory with their backup quarterback, Gardner
Minshew.
But the health of Anthony Richardson is obviously the biggest story for the Indianapolis Colts.
Will he play this week?
Will he be cleared in time to play this week?
And then if he does get cleared in time, do the Colts still just sit him out just because you know it's early
in the season he just had a concussion he might not have a full week of practice and it's one
thing if you're going against the Houston Texans I say this with all the respect in the world to
the Houston Texans but it's one thing if you're not practicing all week and then you're playing
a team like the Texans and it's another thing if you're not practicing all week and then you're
playing a team like the Baltimore Ravens one it's another thing if you're not practicing all week and then you're playing a team like the Baltimore Ravens, one of the best
overall teams in the entire league. It's a very, very different conversation there. So I do think
the Colts will ultimately play it safe, but that's an injury that we have to keep tabs on, obviously
going into this game. It makes the game not as fun if he's not playing in this one for sure.
But also up front, Ryan Kelly's dealing concussion right now. Quentin Nelson played last week with a toe injury, but he also missed today's practice that they were recording this
on Wednesday. He missed practice with that toe injury again. Likelihood he's going to play,
but the Colts are down their starting quarterback, their superstar left guard,
and their starting center against a really good Ravens defense. That has to be a huge storyline
for this Colts team.
Yeah.
And for Baltimore, I wanted to see them go up against Anthony Richardson.
I think he has a super high ceiling.
Again,
his looked a lot better through two games than I thought he would.
I thought it would be more of a ramp up process for him,
but he just kind of dove right in there.
It is making an impact.
And I think he's looked great.
So if it is Gardner Minshew,
which I mean,
it is,
I guess at the time of this recording,
Zach looking like right now,
we're kind of getting robbed a little bit of an early season duel
between Lamar Jackson and Anthony Richardson.
And no one's questioning whether Lamar is better than Anthony Richardson
right now.
I think the answer is yes.
But I still think that two dynamic talents,
both guys that can make stuff happen, both with their arms and with their legs.
So I would have been really excited for that.
But Minshew is a dog.
I mean, he can go out there and then still move the football.
I mean, do you think that Minshew, you know,
you're losing what Anthony Richardson brings you.
Minshew's coming in.
What does he give you that maybe Richardson doesn't?
You know, the biggest thing we've talked about all week on Locked On Colts
is Gardner Minshew gives you whatever your offense is going to give you.
So if the offensive line is blocking well,
the pass catchers are hauling in everything he's throwing and they're making, they're creating
yards after the catch. Gardner Minshew is going to give you a good day. But if your offensive line
can't block, your receivers are dropping passes. There's nothing else Gardner Minshew can do.
That's it. That's the game right there. You're not going to have an effective offense. You know,
having an Anthony Richardson or having a Lamar Jackson type where they have that mobile element, they have that playmaking element, even if the players around
them are not playing up to par, they can still create offense. Gardner Minshew is not a creator,
but he is a distributor. He's a point guard. You know, he's going to get the ball out of his hand
quickly. It's going to be the lowest A dot in the league. It's going to be super low depth of target.
That ball's going to get out of his hands and you're going to see either the offense move because
he's getting that ball out or the guys around him faltering so you know for Gardner
Minshew it really is you know he's gonna show you how good your skill position players are he's
gonna show you how good your offensive line is because he can only do so much you know back there
so it's slightly different from Richardson but Richardson you're gonna have a little bit higher
highs and lower lows but with Minshew you, you're going to have that very low, that kind of middle,
middle of the road,
median right there of the offense.
He's going to be able to run.
Yeah.
And speaking of the offensive line,
that was a huge thing for Baltimore last week.
Zach,
the Ravens and week one lost so many of their stars already.
It's been a couple of really bad injury years for the Ravens.
2023 did not start off very well either.
JK Dobbins,
there's the Achilles he's done for the season.
You also have Ronnie Stanley,
Tyler Linderbaum,
Marcus Williams,
all going down.
Yeah.
Now Marcus Williams isn't going to play in this one.
There's like a 99% chance.
He's not out there,
but for guys like Linderbaum and Stanley,
I guess there's a chance.
Now,
none of those guys practiced.
We got the injury report out for Wednesday and for the Ravens,
a key one to watch is Odo Beckham Jr.,
who tweaked his ankle in the Bengals game.
He wasn't able to – it was pretty early in the game.
He wasn't able to finish it up,
and we'll have to monitor his status throughout the rest of the week.
But offensive line-wise, Linderbaum and Stanley are out.
If they continue to be out this week against the Colts, two guys stepped up.
Sam Mustapher, who was a Chicago Bears cast-off,
was starting for them for a while.
And Patrick McCaryary who's like the
Ravens super sub guy plays all five positions at a decently high level you know you mentioned that
like the steadiness of a Gardner Minshew like not too high not too low but I think McCary is best
suited at tackle played tackle in college the argument against him though coming out was the
short arms and I know some people are short arm believers. Other people will not touch short arm tackles,
but McCary's played really well.
And against Trey Hendrickson, DJ reader,
and that Bengals defensive line,
Lamar Jackson, according to next gen stats,
had his lowest pressure rate of his entire career
with essentially the Ravens first
and second best offensive lineman out of the game.
So the Colts, there are no slouches.
They have their fair share of defensive guys up there that can make some noise.
I'm sure we'll get into that in the second segment.
But in terms of injuries, it'll be interesting to monitor.
Again, Stanley didn't practice.
Marlon Humphrey didn't practice.
He's been out since the offseason with the foot thing.
Maybe he comes back this week, although if he doesn't, I think Thursday,
if he got a monitor, if he doesn't practice, then maybe not.
Adafi Owe also tweaked his ankle in the Bengals game.
He might not be out there.
And that would have other guys like almost a couple of other guys
needing to step up in a big way, like David Ajabo.
So if Owe isn't able to be out there, Ajabo, Tavius Robinson,
Jadavion Clowney, who actually played really well for them,
that he didn't practice with an illness.
But I'd assume that he'd be okay to go by Sunday.
Justice Hill with a foot injury.
He did not practice.
Apparently he's in jeopardy of missing this game,
but we'll see how that works out.
Devin Duvernay with a shoulder injury.
So if you can't tell, Zach,
we are already going through a laundry list,
a laundry list of guys who are either out
or limited practicing right now.
Yeah, it's the CVS receipt of injury reports.
That's what you guys always have there in Baltimore, the most cursed franchise when it comes to injuries. And it's
hilarious, though, because you guys are such a well-run organization that you're able to get
guys like Paul McCary out there, who's phenomenal, you know, offensive lineman who can get out there
and play left tackle and hold a zone against a really good pass rusher in Trey Hendrickson.
It's always funny watching the Ravens get their way into the playoffs every single year, despite having this laundry list of injuries.
It's kind of like the beginning of what the Princess Bride or whatever, when they're fighting
with their left hand, the beginning of the movie or whatever, and they switch to the right hand,
and it's so much better. Like when will the Ravens be able to actually switch to their right hand
with their fencing? That's the real thing there. But luckily, when you have an MVP caliber quarterback in Lamar Jackson, it certainly shows out there. But yeah, the Baltimore Ravens,
they're susceptible to be beat early in the season with all these injuries because of all those
injuries. The Colts are coming into this game with their defensive line in the first two weeks,
have eight sacks, 15 quarterback hits, have really been getting after the quarterback.
DeForest Buckner, obviously leading the way. Quid sam set up a really really good pass rushing group so they have to
do more than what the bangles did last week for sure uh but you know obviously when you're looking
at those o-line injuries you have to be salivating a little bit here on the cold side side of things
yeah you know my theory zach is that uh the ravens are still paying the price for that 2019 season
when i think they maybe lost one starter the entire season.
And that you like never hear about that.
Like health is a big thing.
Like when talking about just sports winning championships,
health is a factor.
But the Ravens that season, I don't, I'd never seen anything like that.
The Ravens have had a couple of those cursed,
like 2015 was really bad for them when Flackwood tore his ACL
because one of his own offensive linemen got blocked into him.
It's like the injury-marred season or John Harbaugh's losing season.
So hopefully this is not another one of those.
The Ravens 2-0 right now, hoping to make it 3-0.
The Colts obviously looking to play.
I guess a little bit of spoiler, especially if Anthony Richardson does not play
and coming up in the second part of the show, we'll dive into key matchups,
who Zach and I are looking at for matchups, both positionally and individually,
for both these teams in that week three game.
So be sure to stay tuned.
Still a lot to get to here on this episode of both Locked On Ravens
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We're back here.
It's our second segment of both Locked On Ravens and Locked On Colts.
Kevin Alshaker still here with Zach Hicks,
breaking down the Ravens and Colts Week 3 matchup.
And, Zach, I know for the biggest matchups of this game,
we can go individually.
We can go maybe just team by team and talk about positional groups.
If you had to name one or two that you're most intrigued by, where would you go?
Yeah, you know, for the Indianapolis Colts, it's really just the trench play.
But we've seen really good trench play from the Colts to start this season.
I mean, last week in particular, in their blowout victory over the Houston Texans,
they allowed zero sacks on the offense side of the ball.
On the defense side of the ball, they came away with six sacks in that game.
Now, again, you guys know what it's like playing against the Houston Texans you know you can get those numbers
up and down a little bit playing against their team this year but it's still an impressive feat
for a team that's coming off a four-win season last year especially when you know again they had
their backup quarterback playing majority of the game their offensive line still stayed strong on
that side of the ball so it's just continuing that type of play against a better opponent
in the Baltimore Ravens I'm looking at looking at this Colts offensive line continually this strong play with Will Fries at right guard,
Bernard Ryman at left tackle, combined to have allowed zero sacks so far to start the season,
despite being two younger players that we were kind of concerned about coming into the year.
Both have been playing at a really high level, and now they're getting a really big test against the Baltimore Ravens.
And then on the defense side of the ball, like you said, they had backups in there.
The Ravens had backups in there last week,
but they still played really good football and they had the lowest pressure
percentage against Lamar Jackson in his entire career.
I believe what you said there,
the Colts just need to be a team that actually can take advantage of that.
You know,
the Cincinnati Bengals weren't able to do that with their really good pass
rush.
I want to see the Colts actually take advantage of that this week and make
this at least a competitive game. You know, even if Gardner Minshew is the starting quarterback,
if you can win the trench play up front, you can, you can take a team like the Baltimore Ravens to
the wire and make this a competitive game, even without your starting quarterback.
Yeah. And speaking of the offensive line, I'm going to flip and say for the Ravens offensive
line, as I kind of mentioned in that first segment continuing to one protect Lamar Jackson but also get after it in the run game I think the Ravens
are playing a lot more physically this year Zach both on offense and on defense we saw
Morgan Moses who's played really well in these first two weeks of Baltimore's right tackle
he's someone that I think he's he's not I call it the Mark Ingram deal three for 15 5 million per
season but he's played far beyond that so far I mentioned McCary mentioned also Sam Mustapher
coming in I don't think Stanley or Linderbaum is going to play but as you well know Zach the Colts
right now have the number one rushing defense in the NFL oh yeah 2.6 yards per carry given up and
the way that I do it I don't know if you do it the same,
but I don't go based off of total yards.
I do it based off of yards per carry or yards per attempt,
because obviously if you run the ball 400 times compared to a team that runs
at a hundred times, they're going to have more yards,
which puts you up in the rankings,
but it's a matter of what you do with those carries.
So 2.6 yards per carry for the Colts.
And I will never miss an opportunity to talk about Grover Stewart.
We were talking about it off air a little bit. Grover Stewart is one of my favorite,
I think he is actually my favorite non-Raven underrated player in the entire league. I know
he popped up on the injury report, but I assume he was, I think he was limited, right? So he's
going to be able to be good to go in this one. Yeah, he'll be good to go. But yeah, this Colts
run defense every year just gets after it. But Gro Grover Stewart he's the heart and soul of that run defense like you said what last week against the
I think last week against the Texans was 2.0 yards per carry in that game they really only allowed
one chunk run that was to try to ETN at the very end of that Jaguars game to start the season but
the Colts another set throw in there they also lead the NFL in tackles for a loss right now with
17 through two weeks so the Baltimore Ravens they have to come out and play this physical football. They
have the first two weeks of the season because the Colts, at least their front seven is going to get
after it in this game. They always get after it. They're going to be crashing downhill.
Now I know Lamar Jackson's throwing the ball a lot more down the field this year, but they're
going to make him pay if he does have a couple of QB runs in this one as well. So I love the shout out for Grover Stewart. We love Grover Stewart here over
at Locked On Colts for sure. But yeah, this Colts run defense and their front seven especially,
it's just playing some really, really strong football. And that, again, like you said,
this is a type of team that can play some spoiler because that front seven is playing so well right
now. Yeah. And I think it's really important for the Ravens to, I say it both ways. I think for
the Ravens and for the Colts, if you're listening here as a Colts fan, it's important to be able to make your offense multidimensional, where if a defense shuts down one of those aspects of your offense, you can take away the run or take away the pass.
It's not like they're never going to run the ball again,
but you can focus more on the thing that's beating you.
Because if the team keeps going to the well and going to the well,
and let's say a run game,
that's averaging two yards for Gary,
obviously it's not going to get you many first downs.
So for Baltimore,
JK is out for the season.
Justice Hill might not play.
The Ravens actually signed Kenyon Drake to their practice squad.
Zach,
who we're both familiar with.
He was with the Ravens last year,
spent some time with the Colts this off season.
I don't, that wasn't very long, was it?
No, it was just for like the month of August,
but I love his explosiveness.
I love what he can do downhill.
And I loved a lot of his film last year
with the Baltimore Ravens.
I thought he did a lot of good things for you guys.
And he's a really good fit with that type of quarterback
with the mobile quarterback that draws defenders in.
He's a really good fit with that for sure. Yeah. so he ended up putting up over 500 yards for the Ravens
last year obviously when J.K. Dobbins was in and out of the lineup guess Edwards was still coming
back so he was one of the mainstays in that group and the Ravens liked him enough to bring him back
here but with potentially no Dobbins and no Hill it's going to be important for the offensive line
to open up holes in the run game. And Edwards is Mr.
Consistent has averaged over five yards.
Okay.
For his entire career.
Each season has been on the field.
It's been over five.
It's not like it's on 20 carries,
like,
you know,
a hundred plus carries a season,
five yards per carry,
which has been really good for them.
But I think also Zach,
one of the most important things about this game for the Ravens is
continuing to hone in on their offensive system.
It's a new system under Todd Munkin, Greg Roman out, Todd Munkin in.
And the past game just looks a lot better.
Timing has been better.
Lamar looks like he's settling in.
We'll see if Odell plays, but Rashad Bateman, Zay Flowers, Nelson Aguilar, Devin Duvernay,
they now have weapons.
It's been maybe never since the Ravens have had a room like this.
So many people have been clamoring for Lamar to have the weapons.
And I know against the Colts secondary right now, Zach, they traded away.
Stephon Gilmore in the offseason.
And they're, you know, towards the bottom of the league in terms of net yards per attempt pass-wise
with the 25th giving up 6.6 net yards per attempt.
If you can capitalize early and make the Colts respect the passing game
more than they already are going to, to probably start it, I think it can open up the run game and
everything just kind of falls into place. Yeah. You know, again, I I've been praising the Colts
front seven. I think their linebackers are playing phenomenal football. The defensive line is playing
great football, but where this team is exploitable for all you Ravens fans listening is the secondary
right now. The secondary has not played particularly well the first two weeks,
and the Ravens can really attack them on the perimeter
and down the field at the moment.
Now, the Colts have kind of limited the big plays deep down the field.
It's mostly been on the digs and the outbreaking routes,
but if you can still get them with those deep paper cuts of 10-yard gains
in the passing game, 10 to 15 to 20-yard gains over the middle,
that's an effective passing game right there.
So if Lamar
Jackson plays the way he has these first two weeks especially the way he played last week
he should be able to torch this Colts secondary as long as he has time to throw it with this Colts
front seven coming after him yeah and for for Baltimore I guess if there's an area of concern
you could say the corner depth secondary without Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Williams but I got to
give a lot of credit to guys like Gino Stone and Rocky
Yassin,
who I know you are familiar with over there,
Zach,
and also Ronald Darby guys who have stepped up,
Brandon Stevens and big moments.
The depth is stepped up for the Ravens.
Also pass rush with no,
Oh,
way in ties.
Bowers is on the NFI list.
They have,
it's been inconsistent pass rush wise.
We've seen a lot of clean pockets for quarterbacks and also some disruptive
things, but Ravens are also a team that misses sacks.
Like they get into the opposing backfield and they just can't wrap up.
They can't finish.
And it's gotten, I guess, a bit better this season,
but it's been years and years and years.
I've been saying it every single season.
So hopefully for the Ravens,
they're going to be able to figure that out a little bit this week,
whether it's Richardson, whether it's Gardner Minshew for the Colts.
But coming up in the final part of the show, we'll be wrapping up our crossover Thursday,
talking final score predictions and what each team needs to do to win.
Super Shitter States, and so lots to get to here on both Lockdown Ravens and Lockdown Colts.
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We're back rounding out Locked on Ravens and Locked on Colts crossover Thursday style.
Kevin Ostreicher, Locked on Ravens.
Still with you, Zach Hicks of Locked on Colts.
And Zach, this is a game that I think, again, could be a blowout,
but I think it has the potential to be a good game,
especially because the Colts' defense,
you mentioned the secondary might be a little weak,
but front seven's really good.
And plus, I mean, Michael Pittman Jr.
had a strong start to the season.
Zach Moss has taken the league by storm.
Bill's cast off coming into Indianapolis,
obviously with Jonathan Taylor not being available
for this game for the Colts.
He's going to have to continue to shoulder a lot of that load for the rushing offense. But
what do you think has to go right? Well, I'll ask you, then I'll give my theory for the Ravens.
What do you think has to go right for the Colts in order for them to win this game?
Well, if we're going to operate under the assumption that Anthony Richardson's not
playing in this game, you need Shane Steichen to come out the way that he has been the last
couple of weeks, just calling a fantastic game on the offense side of the ball.
And then a defense just has to be feisty.
Don't be afraid to win ugly.
Make this a really ugly game here.
Make the Ravens have to run the ball on you on offense, control the line of scrimmage
and just dink and dunk and get those four yards at a time.
It doesn't have to be these gigantic, you know, stretch down the field plays or anything,
because if you have Gardner Minshew starting at quarterback, you're probably not going to get those stretch plays down
the field.
You know, don't be afraid to win ugly.
That's how you win upset games, win the turnover battle and just play some really physical
trench warfare football.
I know a lot of locked on Colts fans are all big fan of the air it out, you know, new style
of offense.
But if you're having a backup quarterback and Gardner Minshew against a much better
team in the Baltimore Ravens, you've got to be, you got to be winning ugly. You got to be
winning ugly. You got to come out and punch the Ravens in the mouth and let them know this
underdog is a feisty team. I don't know if it'll happen, but I think the Colts do have the
capability to play that type of game this week. Yeah. And for me, I think starting fast for the
Ravens, getting out to an early 10-0 lead, 13-0 lead. And I think for the Colts, I'm not confident in Gardner-Mintry
being able to come from behind and keep up with the Ravens' offense.
But if they're in a nasty type of game and they kind of keep it close,
you don't want to have that happen if you're the Ravens
to keep them within striking distance.
I think the Ravens have more firepower on offense.
They have to use that firepower, take some deep shots down the field, get the running game going. And then on
defense, just whether it's Richardson or Minshew, just make them uncomfortable. Send blitz as Mike
McDonald's had a really strong start to his season through two weeks. And there's been calling over
here in Baltimore, Zach, the Joe Burrow kryptonite and the Cincinnati Bengals kryptonite. But I mean,
this is, it's a different game. I know a lot of people are picking the Ravens in this one.
We'll get to those predictions for us in a couple of minutes.
But I think that, again, you can't take any opponent lightly while it might be on paper.
You know, when you talk about the paper matchups, one of the Ravens easier matchups, I don't
think the Ravens and they shouldn't be approaching it this way.
I don't think they are because goals are an NFL team.
They have good players.
And again, to me, they've looked better than I thought they would through two weeks.
So defensively, just kind of making sure that you don't get either Richardson or Minshew
in a rhythm and take away some of their top rushing options.
Zach Moss, take him out of the game and force the Colts to adjust.
You know, if the Ravens can force the Colts to adjust in ways they don't want to, I think
the Ravens have done a much better job this year of adjusting at halftime,
especially offensively, where in the Texans game in week one,
it was a seven to six halftime lead for the Ravens against the Texans.
Everyone's freaking out.
They're like, this is the Texans, and they're only up by one point.
But Todd Munkin adjusts.
The tempo has been better.
If the Ravens can have a methodical, for example, the Ravens had, I think a 13 play or 12 play 75 yard drive to start the Bengals game last week
for a touchdown, setting a tone early for me is super important. So that's why I am with that.
But Zach, let's get into the predictions. Let's talk final score. How do you see this one going
for the Colts and the Ravens? Who do you think comes out on top? Yeah, I think it'll be a
competitive game. Again, I think the Colts are going to be able to trade some blows in this one.
And there's going to be a lot of ugly moments where, again, the Colts are just this physical
team that's playing well in the trenches right now. I do think they're going to kind of play a
little bit of spoiler in this game. Now, I don't think they're going to get the victory because
ultimately I do think Gardner Minshew is going to start. And I just don't know if he has the fire
power to go toe to toe with Lamar Jackson. Lamar Jackson is playing like
a top three quarterback in football right now, arguably the best quarterback in football.
Obviously, Tua isn't playing out of his mind right now, but Lamar Jackson's right up there.
Lamar Jackson's playing some great football, and I just don't know if Gardner Minshew can go
toe-to-toe with that right now, but I'm going to go 27-23 Ravens. I think, again, the Ravens are
a really good team, one of the best teams in the entire league right now, but this Colts team is
feisty. They have this new coach that's calling some fantastic plays on offense.
And Gardner Minshew knows how to run that system.
So they will be able to move the ball a little bit.
I do think this defense will be feisty enough just to keep it close.
So 27-23, I got the Ravens winning this one.
But I do think, you know, if you guys are looking at a lot of Vegas odds and stuff like that,
I do think it'll be closer than what a lot of the sports books are saying right now.
Yeah, and I think for the Ravens, this is a lot of the sports books are saying right now. Yeah.
And I think for the Ravens,
this is a game that I'm picking them to win as well.
I think the big test for them was against the Bengals in week two.
I know Joe Burrow is not a hundred percent healthy and the offense,
the Bengals has been a terrible couple of first couple of weeks.
Yeah.
I think Zach Taylor's like one in nine or one in seven.
One of those two since taken over,
but going in there without JK Dobbins and Marcus Marcus Williams, Marlon Humphrey, Stanley,
Linderbaum, all those guys, and coming out with a big divisional win, that to me, I think,
was such a confidence builder for them to say, hey, you know what?
Lost all these starters, but the depth stepped up at every single position for them.
I think it will be closer than some people anticipate this one being, but I'm going
to say 29, 19, a weird final score, like score. It might be a score. It got me, honestly, I'm not
sure, but I'm going to say 29, 19 Ravens. And the fact that I think the Ravens will start strong.
It might be, I don't know if the fan will have it as the Ravens being 10 and a 10 and a half point favorites.
But I still think that for what the Ravens have offensively, Lamar just raises everybody's ceiling.
He makes, he's like the Nikola Jokic almost of football where he makes everybody better.
And shout out to the Nuggets.
I'm a huge Nuggets fan.
But for the Ravens, defensively, it's looked really good for them. I think the pass for us still is a little inconsistent,
but guys have stepped up in ways I didn't necessarily expect them to.
So I'm going to say the Ravens 29 to 19 over the Colts.
But Zach, I appreciate you providing the Colts insight here
on this crossover, both Locked on Ravens and Locked on Colts.
If you want to check out both of our shows,
you can be sure to catch them anywhere you get your podcasts.
Also on YouTube, both Locked on Ravens and Locked on Colts.
So coming up tomorrow, we'll be rounding out the week on our respective shows, continuing to preview this game, getting into any other storylines for both of these teams.
So be sure to stay tuned for that.
We'll see you both right back here tomorrow on both Locked on Ravens and Locked on Colts.