The Kansas City Chiefs are getting ready to face the Indianapolis Colts at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 5 on Sunday.
To learn more about Kansas City’s opponent, we spoke with managing editor Kevin Hickey over at Colts Wire and asked him a few questions.
Chiefs Wire: Through a quarter of the season, what are your impressions of life after Andrew Luck for the Colts?
Colts Wire: This is a team that can work through even the most shocking adversity. Sure, they would be a much better team with Luck under center, but Jacoby Brissett has been everything they could have asked for as a replacement. The offense hasn’t changed all that much. They lean a little more toward the rushing attack behind a stout offensive line. The biggest questions come on defense. The unit hasn’t played at all to their expectations. They are getting gashed against the run (5.5 YPC) and the bend-don’t-break defense has been breaking far too often. Overall, they still should be able to compete for the division and potentially a wild-card spot if they come out of their Week 6 bye on the right foot.
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Chiefs Wire: Chiefs fans are familiar with Colts GM Chris Ballard from his time in Kansas City. Give us a rundown of some of the new players he’s brought to the Colts for the 2019 season and how they’ve performed thus far.
Colts Wire: The biggest name is all too familiar to Chiefs fans. Justin Houston may not be putting up gaudy pass rush numbers, but he’s had a strong impact setting the edge and applying pressure. Rookie defensive backs Khari Willis and Rock Ya-Sin have been getting a lot of playing time in the secondary. The safety, Willis, is a physical defender whose aggressiveness is exactly what the Colts want on defense, while Ya-Sin is still developing his game but possesses a very high ceiling. Rookie wide receiver Parris Campbell has left a lot to be desired from a production standpoint, but he’s a perfect fit for their scheme and should be watched closely to have a strong second half.
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Chiefs Wire: There appear to be some significant injuries for the Colts on both sides of the ball. Which players are at risk of missing the game?
Colts Wire: T.Y. Hilton is dealing with a quad injury and didn’t practice to begin the week. He sat out in Week 4 and could do so again Sunday night. That would be a big blow to the offense. Running back Marlon Mack is dealing with an ankle injury that is keeping him out of practice. Starting safety Clayton Geathers is in the concussion protocol, and given his history, there is a chance he misses. With a Week 6 bye, it wouldn’t shock me to see the Colts take precaution and hold one or all of these players out.
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Chiefs Wire: The AFC South seems to be wide-open with each team having a .500 record through Week 4. What do the Colts need to win the division in 2019?
Colts Wire: The defense has to improve. While four games is a small sample size, it enough to become a trend. The front seven has to do a better job getting consistent pressure on the quarterback while finishing with more positive plays against the run. The offense is still running relatively smoothly, so it is up to the defense to make their improvements coming out of the bye week. If they can’t tighten up against the run, it’s going to be a long year.
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Chiefs Wire: This is a rematch of the AFC divisional playoff from last year. What is your prediction for the game, and do you think the Colts have a chance at pulling off an upset at Arrowhead Stadium?
Colts Wire: I don’t think there’s any realistic chance the Colts pull off an upset. With so many injuries, poor defensive play and the Chiefs simply being outright better than them, it’s a slim chance. The Chiefs offense is just too powerful, and with Tyreek Hill and Damien Williams potentially coming back this week, that just adds to the chances of the Chiefs cruising to a win. Chiefs 33, Colts 20
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