The Indianapolis Colts (6-7) will be doing all they can to keep their playoff hopes alive Monday night when they travel to take on the New Orleans Saints (10-3) at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Needing to win out in the final three games of the regular season to have any chance at making the playoffs, the Colts face a tough challenge in the Saints, who have won three of their last four games.
Here are five Colts to watch in the Week 15 matchup:
WR Marcus Johnson
The Colts might be seeing the return of T.Y. Hilton on Monday night but that is still undetermined until the inactives come out. Regardless, Johnson should have another big role in the passing game coming off of his career performance against the Bucs in Week 14.
Catching three passes for 105 yards and a touchdown, Johnson was a big-play machine in a game in which the Colts needed to keep up on the road. Something similar could happen Monday night as the Colts battle a Saints team that is averaging over 26 points per game.
Who will emerge in the passing game remains to be seen, but Johnson has as good of a chance as any with his recent emergence.
RT Braden Smith
There is a good chance the second-year right tackle in Smith will be lining up against one of the best pass rushers in the league right now in the form of Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan.
Tied for the third-most sacks in the NFL (13.5), Jordan has been unstoppable in leading the Saints’ powerful pass rush. Smith has had his ups and downs this season, but it has been mostly good as a whole.
He gets a tough challenge in Jordan on Monday night as the Colts do their best to keep Jacoby Brissett clean.
DE Jabaal Sheard
The Colts pass rush has been mostly led by the veteran in Justin Houston, who is closing in on a double-digit sack season. But the Colts will need their other veteran in Sheard to step up as well.
It is known that Sheard offers a limited impact when it comes to rushing the passer. He’s stout against the run but he will really only win as a rusher if he’s using his power moves. Sheard isn’t a finesse or bendy pass rusher that can run the arc consistently.
Instead, Sheard has to find ways to impact Drew Brees in order to keep the Saints from driving down the field with ease.
CB Pierre Desir
Obviously, this one only matters if Desir winds up playing—he’s currently listed as questionable with a groin injury. However, the Colts need to get better production out of their veteran cornerback after a year of inconsistent play.
Desir could very well be tasked with covering arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL: Michael Thomas. Currently leading the NFL in receptions (121) and receiving yards (1,424), Thomas is on the brink of making history if he continues his pace.
Desir won’t always be covering Thomas on Monday night but when he does, it will come with the near-impossible task of slowing him down. If Desir plays, he will hold a big role in the success of the passing defense.
K Chase McLaughlin
The Colts placed Adam Vinatieri on the injured reserve list two weeks ago and the job now falls to the rookie in McLaughlin. He made five of six kicks in the Week 14 loss against the Bucs. His missed field goal loomed large in a three-point loss, but it was mostly an encouraging performance.
The Colts might be looking to replace Vinatieri this offseason. As they do so, McLaughlin will get an advantage over the other available kickers because he can show them in game speed how much of an impact he can have.
He gets three more games to prove his worth, and it starts Monday night against the Saints.
