Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears: Chance for Anthony Richardson, Caleb Williams to Get Right

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Colts and Bears is a battle of two struggling teams who might just view each other as a get-right opportunity, but who has the real advantage? Let's get to it. You are Locked On NFL Crossover, part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your team every day. All right. Thanks for tuning in and making us your first listen of the day. This is a collaboration of your daily podcast covering the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your team every day. And Crossover Thursday is presented by PrizePix. Go to prizepix.com slash locked on NFL and use code all lowercase locked on NFL to win

Starting point is 00:00:50 $50 instantly when you play five. What is up, everybody? This is Jake Arthur of Locked on Colts. Joined with me here is Lauren Cox of Locked on Bears. And we are going to break down this matchup today of two teams who I think if you rewind two and a half weeks ago, probably had a little different aspirations than where they currently stand. But man, with Chicago and Indy so close, I feel like I've gotten some peripheral information

Starting point is 00:01:18 of how Chicago is really going right now. But man, what's the biggest thing offensively? Because obviously you're trying to usher in the Caleb Williams era. This is a team that seemed to be on the rise already before that. So what's kind of shaking out there? Yeah, I think the expectations coming in were that the supporting cast around Caleb Williams was supposed to be better. It looked better on paper than it's actually been in practice through two games.

Starting point is 00:01:48 And that's where so much has fallen off. Like, yes, Caleb hasn't been great and has made a couple mistakes. And those are the kind of things you would expect a rookie quarterback to do in his first couple of games. But it's not as though, you know, everyone's hitting the panic button on Caleb specifically. It's just the offense as a whole has been unable to do anything with an offensive line. That's really struggling. You know,

Starting point is 00:02:08 one of the worst running games in football right now with Deandre Swift. And then they've had some injuries at receiver that haven't helped the problem either. And it just hasn't felt like a unit that has an identity or a real, a real like cohesive, like functionality together. And so I think they look at this Indianapolis Colts defense. That's got some injuries on the defensive line and has given up.

Starting point is 00:02:26 I think the most rushing yards in the NFL as an opportunity for the bears offense to get back on track. And then the defense is already playing at a really high level. And there's a ton of confidence in them coming into this matchup. I've got great news for a team like the bears. That's looking to establish some sort of identity on offense, whatever they want to try and do on Sunday, I like their chances to try and do it.

Starting point is 00:02:48 But defensively, you know, this is a unit that I look at from a Colts perspective. You know, they've been very reliant on the deep shot, especially week one, the big plays downfield. We're very familiar with Matt Eberflus and how his scheme is kind of built to prevent those big down downfield. We're very familiar with Matt Eberflus and how his scheme is kind of built to prevent those big downfield plays. And it seems like they've got the guys there to do it. Obviously, Kevin Byard is someone as well who's been a thorn in the cold side for years. So what's this defense

Starting point is 00:03:18 trying to accomplish right now? Yeah, for them, it's been about manufacturing pass rush and pressure on the quarterback in different ways. I think we know this Bears secondary and the linebacking core is really solid. Jalen Johnson, Kyler Gordon, Tyreek Stephenson at corner and Brisker and Bayard in the back end. Like they've been a really locked down group for a while now, and especially now with Bayard in the mix to start this season. They feel really good on that end. The pass rush department has been more of a work in progress. They got some things going really well against the Titans in week one

Starting point is 00:03:49 and the second half, and then started to find some blitzes that were getting home to CJ Stroud a little bit against the Texans as well. It's been, I think, better than we expected from the pass rush, but still room for improvement there. Trying to find guys not named Montez Sweat, who can consistently pressure the opposing quarterback and it's forced Matt Ibrafluse to be more aggressive than he might want to be or than you might expect a Matt Ibrafluse defense to be and trying to show different pressure looks

Starting point is 00:04:15 and not always blitzing a ton but giving a quarterback a lot to try and digest at the line of scrimmage to figure out exactly where the pass rushers are going to come from and who's going to stunt in from where like that's been their secret to getting some pass rush going here as opposed to just, you know, sending the house over and over again. It's just been trying to sort of mix it up and paint different colors for the quarterback on the other side. I know here, by the end of his time in Indy, Matt Eberflus was definitely known as a guy who ran a ton of cover two and was constantly reliant on just, you know, the front four getting home and not getting too cute or exotic with it. Has he evolved?

Starting point is 00:04:51 Because I saw a chart, I think yesterday, where his coverages have really kind of diversified. Yeah, he's become much more of a single high safety kind of coach has really diversified is the right word there. Like, yeah, he still runs some cover two. It's not like he's, you know, abandoned that, but they do a lot of cover for a lot of cover three, a lot of cover one. Like those are their primary coverages here.

Starting point is 00:05:10 And I think a big part of the transition from Eddie Jackson at free safety last year to Kevin Byard this year was that they're making it more like left and right safety as opposed to free safety and strong safety. So it's not like in the past, you kind of knew Eddie Jackson was the guy in the deep end roaming around and Jaquan Brisker is the guy up in the box and more of a box safety. With Bayard and Brisker, they've tried to make them a lot more interchangeable so they can disguise

Starting point is 00:05:34 coverages a little bit better and not be as predictable and also not feel like, you know, you're taking one guy and putting him in a position where he's not as, you know, not going to be as successful there. Like both Bayard and Brisker are probably a little bit better, closer to the line of scrimmage, but this way you're not going to have to take both guys and put them in bad positions. You kind of just say, all right, we're going to make them a little bit more interchangeable and, and take it, take advantage of, Hey, you can also trust the cornerbacks quite a bit that your safeties don't

Starting point is 00:05:59 have to be perfect and clean everything up because your corners are just going to be able to hold things down pretty well. Yeah. It sounds like a good problem to have. It sounds like Chicago's defense has options, which the Colts really don't have options. I was also curious, you know, it looks like Josh Downs will be back for the Colts this week. And the Colts are also trying to get the Titans a little more involved. How is Chicago's pass defense over the middle of the field, you know, with the slot as well, but also like where the Titans like to get defense over the middle of the field, you know, you know, with the slot as well, but also like where the tight ends like to get dirty over the middle. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:06:29 This is interesting because I find that the bears have been fine against tight ends, although they haven't played a ton of tight end talent so far this season, but, and yet I also feel like they're vulnerable over the middle of the field. Like they're good at taking away that like initial player who comes over the middle middle the tight end working up the seam or whatever but it's like it's the receiver coming from the outside from the

Starting point is 00:06:49 backside dig across the middle of the field like later in the play that's where they've gotten burned up the middle quite a bit in the past it's just like it's not it's not oh the tight the tight end blows by linebacker is wide open on that first read but it's like getting later in the progression the player that then works his way to the middle of the field the linebacker and is wide open on that first read. But it's like getting later in the progression, the player that then works his way to the middle of the field, the linebackers have sort of vacated where they were because they're following a receiver or whatever, and there's room where they once were over here. So I do expect Anthony Richardson is going to get one or two big plays

Starting point is 00:07:16 on this Bears defense. It's not that they're going to shut down everything the Colts want to do offensively, but it's a question of then will Anthony Richardson also give the Bears defense one or two plays, you know, a turnover or two here or there. They're very opportunistic. If you don't put them up, if you don't put the ball in the money, they're going to try and take a big shot at it. And like somebody like Tyreek Stevenson is the perfect example at corner where he can make shutdown plays and he can get burned deep and he can get the big interception, but also can get the, you know, get the bad completion that

Starting point is 00:07:43 he allows. And I think Richardson's going to get one on him and then maybe get one taken back on him somewhere on this bears defense. Yeah. Anthony. So he does like downfield plays and especially he likes to go over the middle as well. And you mentioned that, that dig the play to Ashton Dool in the 50 yarder in week one for him really kind of came to mind. So I think he'll, he'll maybe see that as an opportunity, but the passes have to be crisp. You know, like he's, so you guys got a great view, Will Levis and some of the boneheaded stuff where you can just be in the right place at the right time

Starting point is 00:08:15 and execute off of what he's going to give you. Anthony doesn't really do the boneheaded stuff as much as just like, he'll make the right read, but the pass is just not where it needs to be and the corner's right there to get it. So, I mean, as long as they like he'll make the right read, but the pass is just not where it needs to be and the corner is right there to get it. So, I mean, as long as they're able to capitalize on that stuff, I think you're right. Like he may have a couple nice plays there,

Starting point is 00:08:34 but I could see a turnover or two as well. And I will say like the way you just described those Anthony Richardson plays, that's what we saw from Caleb Williams last week to bring this full circle. Like on his two interceptions, it wasn't a boneheaded decision of like why did you even why'd you throw the ball there it was you know he under threw a guy who was open deep and the cornerback was underneath that could go up and get it another one was like a half second late where if he had set his feet and fired it in there just a half second earlier the receiver would have been open it would have been a nice play but both end up being intercepted not because the quarterback was

Starting point is 00:09:03 bad at the decision making it was just sort of dialing in that accuracy downfield. So be curious to see which quarterback can find a little bit more consistency in that front. Yeah. So that's, honestly, I think all eyes are going to be on this matchup again. Oh, and two, but I think a lot of people are just really excited to see what Caleb Williams and Anthony Richardson can do in a game where they're, you know, they're, it's all them, really. So coming up, we're going to dive in a little bit more about Anthony Richardson and just what's going on on both sides of the ball and how this might actually be able to look against Chicago. For most of us who like collecting cards, the idea of spending two grand or more on, say, a Patrick Mahomes rookie card just isn't in the card, so to speak. And I love collecting, but that is just some

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Starting point is 00:11:14 Week one, it was all about the downfield deep shots. It's about all they could do right. They didn't really have much of a run game. Jonathan Taylor only had three yards per carry. And if it wasn't for Anthony Richardson, they really wouldn't have had much productivity on the ground at all. Week two, Jonathan Taylor was awesome. You know, had a great game up until the fourth quarter when he was still, I'm going to say inexplicably pulled because the rationale we've heard from that point still isn't great. But, you know, without all the deep shots from Anthony Richardson in

Starting point is 00:11:46 week two, it just, things weren't working. So it doesn't have to be all or nothing. You know, Josh Downs being back, if he is indeed going to be back, that's terrific because him and Anthony Richardson have great chemistry. And I think that's going to help Anthony bridge the gap a little bit between, you know, having some layups rather than just taking, you know, the logo threes all the time, you know, getting the tight ends involved a little more as well. I think we'll help with that too, but not everything has to be so extreme. They hopefully they can get points on the board early.

Starting point is 00:12:19 So they don't feel forced into anything and playing, you know, come, coming back from behind, which is why Taylor wasn't in there in the fourth quarter last week. But if they can get some run game going early, get a little points on the board early, they can maybe come out with a real game plan and don't have to be so reliant and one dimensional. Yeah. How do you sort of split the blame here for the Colts not having the type of offensive production that they want? Because it seems like it's sort of different things at different times. So is it just a, you know, kind of a younger type of team still coming together and finding its exact groove

Starting point is 00:12:55 there? Or is it certain players that have just been inconsistent up and down? Like, how do you sort of assign the pie split here? Yeah, I kind of think for the most part, it's just a unit that's still trying to learn to play together. Yeah. I, I kind of think for the most part, it's just a unit that's still trying to learn to play together. Like you said, kind of finding an identity. Obviously you want to be able to run the ball with Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor. But you know, the, the passing game again, it was, it, if it wasn't a big play, it wasn't anything really in week one. And then it was almost non-existent in week two. There was some chemistry issues in week one, like 80 Mitchell guts, I think six targets.

Starting point is 00:13:30 I think he only had one reception and there were some big plays to be had for him. There was a couple of plays where Anthony just had, you know, did not deliver a clean ball to him and it just wasn't there. But there were other times where AD will maybe not run completely through his route and Anthony throws a ball where he would have been if he would have run through it or like he'll come out of his break and the coverage will be a little different than he was expecting. Those two are just not really on the same page yet. And, you know, Michael Pittman Jr. hasn't really gotten much involved yet either. The staples of this offense just haven't

Starting point is 00:14:06 really been reached yet. Like the things we knew they could do last year, you haven't really seen much of it yet. So again, I think Downs being back will help because he's always been very helpful for Anthony to just get into a rhythm. He, he kind of is the bridge between the big shot play and just simply moving the chains. Sometimes you just need a quality play on first and second down, and I think that'll be a big part of it, but they've just got to find a rhythm. Coaching-wise, I think they're using Anthony pretty oddly.

Starting point is 00:14:41 With a guy like that, you want to get him out on bootlegs and want to get him kind of ad-libbing a little bit, get him out of the pocket or move the pocket. But it's almost like they're trying to use him like he's Matthew Stafford or something right now. And I just think they're, they're, I don't want to say, you know, the, you know, square peg round hole argument or anything, but I think they're just maybe trying to do too much with him right now. Like just use him to his strengths is mainly what I think they need to get out offensively.

Starting point is 00:15:11 What's your level of confidence in the Colts offensive line? It doesn't seem like they've been bad, but you know, the running game hasn't necessarily been where they want on the, on the handoffs on the ground. Is that, is that the, is that the line or is that the backs? I mean, what, what? So I think the offensive line has done pretty well. You know, they've passed the eye test. And if you look at their, like, metrics and grades, like PFF has them graded pretty well.

Starting point is 00:15:33 So the offensive line hasn't really been a problem from what I could tell. Now, the run game in week one probably wasn't where it should be. But I will say, I think some of that was kind of on like Taylor, for example, had a few plays where it didn't really look like he, you know, ran it. It didn't really hit the gap. It looked like it was maybe supposed to go in the proper crease. Now he has gotten better with his patients and it looked like he was trying to be intentional about that last week. So maybe he was just trying to kind of put the cart before the horse a little bit in week one.

Starting point is 00:16:11 But in general, the offensive line has looked pretty good. Will Fries in particular, the right guard who in the last couple of years, if you look at their line, you're like, all right, no one's terrible. But if there's a weak link, it's probably Will Fries. He's gotten much, even much better. So him and Quentin Nelson have really held it down. Braden Smith's been pretty good. So as far as the line goes, I don't know how much of the blame they can really shoulder on this one.

Starting point is 00:16:39 Sure. Obviously, I know the storyline for the Colts on the defensive line is much more critical there. But I feel like, I mean, obviously with DeForest Buckner's injury, that's a big issue here. But I look and see like, okay, Quidi Pei, Latu Latu, Taekwon Lewis has had some flashes there. They're not totally devoid of talent up front. Is it purely like the interior there not being good enough? Have there been more injuries than we're giving them credit for? Or are the linebackers playing a big part in that lack of run defense that I'm overlooking here?

Starting point is 00:17:11 It is kind of everything. And when we talked to Gus Bradley yesterday, I felt like he was doing everything within him not to blame the players. Because they are just lacking execution. They really are. So in week one, they got a little bit of a pass because they weren't super banged up yet. They are now, but week one, they weren't. But they were told to basically defend their run

Starting point is 00:17:33 on the way to CJ Stroud, even on run plays. Like sole focus of week one was just to make CJ Stroud uncomfortable. And they gave up over 200 yards on the ground as a result. Now it got out of hand in the fourth quarter, like Bradley said, you know, they would have been able to live with, you know, like a buck 50 or whatever on the ground, but in the fourth quarter, it just really got out of hand. And then obviously they know that didn't work well. So week two was just kind of execute, do your job, you know, normal, normal kind of run plan based defense. And they got punched in the mouth again. And again, guys are banged up now. So it's like guys

Starting point is 00:18:10 were healthy and not executing in week one. And now they're banged up. And we're having to see a lot more of their backups. And it's not going well. Like guys aren't getting off of blocks. And that's on the defensive line and the linebackers. The linebackers are not, they're not flying to the edges like at all. Like we're used to seeing them do. And then like they're leading tackler right now, the leading tackler in the NFL is the cold safety knit cross. That's not supposed to happen.

Starting point is 00:18:39 One of those games, he was the free safety. So like he's making a ton of tackles because guys are getting to the second and third levels. So it's, it's been a huge lack of execution but i think the injuries are a big deal the forest buckner just went on ir so he's gonna be out at least four games uh quitty pay had a hamstring and he played last week but he had a hamstring injury throughout the week of practice and i didn't think he looked like himself i he's a high motor guy and i just thought he looked sluggish laatu laatu has a hip injury now um he

Starting point is 00:19:11 he's day to day so he still might play this weekend but he didn't practice today um so i think they got to mix some things up on the line like the direct backup for deforest buckner is taven brian and he has just not been good enough going back to last year like it's a problem when he's in the game i think they've got to switch up whether you put dio a dango right there at three tech or taekwon lewis at three tech that's they've got these really big ends for a reason who can go inside and play three tech and so i they've got to change something up. Like it's kind of a good thing that they're facing a bad run team this week,

Starting point is 00:19:48 but I still don't have confidence in them stopping Chicago's rushing attack. Yeah, that's going to be the ultimate battle of the, you know, the easily movable object against the very stoppable force here. Right. Something's got to give. Yeah. The Bears like their talent on the offensive line. They're just not communicating well and executing well. And it's a feeling of like a lot of the, you know,

Starting point is 00:20:08 a few guys were injured during the preseason and training camps. They just didn't get a lot of reps together. So they're still trying to get back on the same page. And I think this is a great opportunity for either side to kind of get some confidence back one way or the other. And whichever side of that battle doesn't get their confidence back in this matchup is going to be the one that we're looking at. Like, okay, this is a very serious problem that might not get better anytime soon.

Starting point is 00:20:29 If you couldn't do it against this team, are you going to be able to do it at all? That's the real question. Yeah. Vibes are not great right now after 0-2. And so, yeah, like you said, 0-3 would be ugly. It would be the second loss at home already for the Colts this year. I don't know but it is a true get right game because again like it sounds like two teams that have just kind of lacked discipline in their play so far they're capable of of writing it but they just haven't yet so like you said it's it's kind of it's kind of just a battle of

Starting point is 00:21:02 two two two sides that something's got to give. That's for sure. Go ahead. No, you go ahead. Oh, I was going to say, you know, we'll kind of put a bow on this here soon, you know, make our picks for who we think is going to win this one because someone's got to. I mean, you can tie, but theoretically someone is probably going to win this one.

Starting point is 00:21:24 So we'll dive into that here in a moment. You heard us talk a lot about FanDuel lately. It's America's number one sports book. Well, we got something a little different for you. Now through September 22nd, all FanDuel customers can bet $5 and get a three-week free trial NFL Sunday ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV. Then with a YouTube TV base plan, you'll be able to watch every regular season Sunday afternoon at a market game. All you need is a Google account

Starting point is 00:21:50 and a current form of payment. Plus you can cancel any time. So for this one on FanDuel, the Colts are one and a half point favorites. So almost just like a toss up. I don't think anyone's got total confidence in either side. The over under on points is 43 and a half. I don't think anyone's got total confidence in either side. The over-under on points is 43.5. I don't know if I love that one either. What I will say about the Colts, you should be confident at home, but I'm not super confident in them at home. Since last year, they're 4-6 at Lucas Oil Stadium. So do with that what you will.

Starting point is 00:22:20 I don't have a ton of confidence. I think the Colts are capable of winning. But when it comes to betting, I don't know how much of my money I would really sacrifice on the Colts this week. But you can do whatever you want. Just visit FanDuel.com and download America's number one sportsbook. Welcome back to Crossover Thursday, which is presented by PricePix. Go to PricePix.com slash LockedOnNFL and use code all lowercase lowercase locked on NFL to win $50 instantly when you play five.

Starting point is 00:22:48 All right, Lauren. So again, there's so many things we can tell these two sides to quit making it so difficult on themselves. What are the three biggest keys to a Bears win in this one? Yeah, I think the Texans and then the Packers laid out the winning formula against the Colts for the Chicago Bears here, right? Like it's, it's not that complicated to say, yeah, the Bears need to get the running game going for the first time all season against the worst run defense in football right now. And then if you can get the running game going, that should help problem number two, you know, salt, solidify the offensive line, find some consistency up front. And if you're running the ball well, then the defense can't key off on getting after Caleb Williams.

Starting point is 00:23:29 I have to pay more attention to the running game. You can work some play action off of that and then open things up in the passing game for Caleb Williams and finally get him going is kind of the number three aspect there. So it's all about the running game leads to the better offensive line of play action, which can then lead to a more of a solid passing game. Because I don't think there's a ton of concern about this Bears defense being able to hold up its end of the bargain. They're going to hold the Colts to a manageable point total that an average offense should be able to surpass. It's just a matter of this offense finally getting going in the way that we've been waiting for it to.

Starting point is 00:24:03 And the Colts present a pretty good matchup opportunity that the Bears feel like this can be that opportunity to step forward. I would agree. I think offensively, that's the thing for me. You know, establish the run early again, put, put at least a field goal on, on the board early so that you're not feeling like you're coming from behind too much to where you have to abandon the run. Get that run going a little bit. Obviously, Jonathan Taylor looked awesome last week up

Starting point is 00:24:28 until he was yanked from the game, but allow that to set up play action. Just like you were saying, I don't think they want to take those big plays away from the offense totally. Obviously, no one does, but I think you have to be a little more cognizant when you're playing this defense that Chicago has, one of the better secondaries in the NFL, but I mean, try and set it up, you know, take, get that run game going, you know, on paper, having Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor in the backfield is supposed to scare guys. So make it scary and then take advantage of that. And, you know, use play action in your option game to set up big pass plays. But what else do you got from the defensive side for Chicago?

Starting point is 00:25:12 Yeah, I mean, I think it's about trying to make Anthony Richardson have to do it all for the Colts, right? Put him on the spot to say, you've got to make the plays here. The Bears did a really good job of shutting down Joe Mixon with the Houston offense last week. They had a little trouble week one against the Titans, but I think that was a little bit more of like Bears still trying to get their feet back under them to start the season and a little bit less of like a longer term concern about the run defense.

Starting point is 00:25:37 But I think the Bears shouldn't have too much trouble keeping things manageable with Jonathan Taylor and then being able to force Anthony Richardson to make plays with his legs and then also like hit big plays downfield fire into those tight windows like force him to have to test this Bears secondary because a lot of quarterbacks have struggled with that test and I think they look at Richardson as a player that like we talked about earlier like he's not a guy that's gonna make a bunch of boneheaded decisions but you know can you get him to attempt to pass and just be inaccurate enough to get that big turnover? Because this defense fuel is fueled by energy.

Starting point is 00:26:10 It's the big plays lead to bigger plays for them. It's the big sack leads to that in the interception because there's just that juice flowing through them on the back end. But if the Colts can get things going early, you can kind of demoralize that unit a little bit and things can break down a little bit more as well. Yeah. So similarly, I'm looking for the Colts front to kind of fluster Caleb Williams a little bit. I don't know what to expect from the pass rush right now. I thought they did a good job in week one against CJ Stroud, four sacks, 10 hits. They did not get any sacks last week against Malik Willis. Now that comes with kind of a caveat because that was a very run-heavy approach, a lot of quick throws for Willis, and he's obviously a mobile guy.

Starting point is 00:26:56 So you just weren't going to get a full pass rush set against a guy like that. But in this one, I know guys are banged up a little bit, but you know, Daiwa Dangbo is still healthy. Isaiah Land might have to play a little bit in this one. We'll see. Taequann Lewis is still healthy. Grover Stewart's a no, so he's not going to give you much in terms of pass rush, but you know, Adebware or Adetome Adeb adobare this might be a big opportunity for him to step up he's been seeing more snaps so your main guys are pretty banged up but the guys who are out there playing are gonna have to do something like there can't be excuses they're gonna have to play a lot this year and so they can't just be ineffective the whole time yeah if i'm the

Starting point is 00:27:44 colts like they have to test this bears offensive line communication in both the running game and And so they can't just be ineffective the whole time. Yeah, if I'm the Colts, like they have to test this Bears offensive line communication in both the running game and the pass rush department, but especially in the pass rush, like passing off stunts, like pretty basic football 101 type offensive line communication. The Bears had a lot of trouble with last week. And then you add in blitzers coming from different directions. And that's where you get

Starting point is 00:28:05 into some real problems and i don't think it was like when you kind of go back and watch caleb williams adjust protections at the line of scrimmage he's calling the mic properly he seems to be getting guys in the right position they just haven't been able to really execute on that group so if i'm the colts i'm i'm pressing that button over and over and over again until the bears prove they can pick that up pass it off properly and keep their quarterback safe. Cause that has been something that you'd think professional offensive linemen can do, but in Chicago, that's been a little bit too much to ask. I hear you there. So what's, what's your vibe check on this one? How do you see this one turning out? Yeah, I think it's going to be low scoring because I think the bears are going to hold down

Starting point is 00:28:42 the Colts offense pretty well. And then it's just a matter of what the Bears offense can actually get going against this Colts defense. So if I had to put a score to it, I think it'll be, I think it'll be close. I think it'll be tight. I think it'll be ugly quite a bit, but I'm going to go Bears 20, Colts 16. A lot of field goals in there, but the Bears just get a little bit more and it's still going to be a one score game done. The end, no one's going one's gonna no one's gonna cruise away and feel like ah you know this game is firmly in hand nothing to worry about but in the end i think the bears get the offense going a little bit more than we've seen up to this point and their defense still gets just enough of a job done there to say yep offense doesn't need to score 30 just get to 20 and that's a win. So I absolutely love that score because I had a 20 to 16 Colts.

Starting point is 00:29:27 So I kind of two extremes on the first week, you know, they scored, you know, 27 points week one. They couldn't really get much going last week. So I kind of cut it in the middle for them. I'll give the Colts 20 points, assuming they can have the run game working at least a little bit. Uh, but I, I think, you know, the, they will probably allow the bears to have the most productive offensive day they've had so far. Cause there's nothing on the Colts defense right now that tells me it won't happen. They haven't been able to stop the run until the second half of last week, which is great, but it took them going to a bear front.

Starting point is 00:30:01 You know, they, they can't just do these things all the time. Teams will figure out how to attack them. Their secondary is the area we were most concerned about going into the year, but it hasn't even kind of reared its head yet because teams haven't had to pass on them because they're running so much. So I think it is going to be a really close game. Maybe we'll see a lot of mistakes or just lack of execution. I don't think either of these teams are just going to magically fix the

Starting point is 00:30:28 problems that have plagued them for the first couple of weeks. So I do think the Colts have, you know, just enough of an advantage to give them the narrow win again, 20 to 16, but man, I I've not done well picking these games for the Colts so far this year. The early beginning of this season, everybody's still trying to figure themselves out.

Starting point is 00:30:48 The Colts are figuring out what they're going to be. The Bears are going to figure out what they're going to be. And these are not the mid-season forms of these teams just yet. Maybe these two have been even a little slower than some other teams in really getting to where they want to be at this point of the year. So it's going to be an unpredictable, volatile game with some young teams. And it's one of those things like anything can happen in this one. Yeah. I think if you fast forwarded this and just put it near the end of the schedule, it might look a little

Starting point is 00:31:12 better. You know, Anthony Richardson versus Caleb Williams might have a little more luster than it does right now. Cause I mean, obviously, you know, vibes aren't great around them. People aren't, you know, speaking of them too highly right now now. But I'm confident eventually both sides will look a little better than they do right now. But honestly, this could be an entertaining game because it's two sides that struggle, and maybe they'll have success against each other. But thank you guys for making Locked On Colts

Starting point is 00:31:40 and Locked On Bears your first listen today. Now for your second listen, go find the new Locked On NFL Now with two shows every day. First, the Madman Tyler Rowland kicks off your morning with a double shot of NFL espresso, and then stop by the barbershop with Tony Wiggins for some real NFL talk. Find Locked On NFL on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears: Chance for Anthony Richardson, Caleb Williams to Get Right

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