In just a few days, the Indianapolis Colts will begin their 2019 regular season on the road, taking on the Los Angeles Chargers. Both teams are entering Sunday’s game with renewed hopes of returning to the playoffs, despite dealing with new distractions.
For the Colts, they’re entering a situation which hasn’t been kind to them thus far. Ever since 2012, the AFC South competitors are 1-3 during the month of September whenever they travel out West. The Colts’ only victory came against San Francisco during Week 3 in 2013.
Here are three key matchups to watch in the Colts’ Week 1 game against the Chargers:
QB Jacoby Brissett vs. Chargers defense
While the majority of attention has been paid to Andrew Luck’s sudden retirement, there will be a shift in that attention on Sunday. Not only is Jacoby Brissett the new starting quarterback of the Colts, but he’s is set to face one of the league’s best defensive units.
Even with All-Pro safety Derwin James absent for this game, the Chargers still have the same personnel that finished top 10 in six defensive categories last season. Pass rushers Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram are more than capable of impacting the game, and the Chargers’ back-seven is a very active and fast group.
It will be very important for Jacoby to control the game right away and after doing so, he will need to take care of the ball, find his biggest play-makers and execute on third down.
LB Darius Leonard vs. QB Phillip Rivers
Among all of the matchups that will take place on Sunday, fewer will determine the game such as Leonard going against Rivers. This particular matchup will occur before the snap as both men will communicate with their teammates, in order to put them in the best position, while also trying to outsmart each other.
Rivers is the extremely smart and aggressive quarterback with over 15 years of experience and Leonard is coming off a historic All-Pro rookie season. So it’s going to be interesting to see how these players counter each other and exploit the other’s weaknesses.
WR Keenan Allen vs. CB Pierre Desir
Even though the Chargers will still run the ball—despite the absence of running back Melvin Gordon—you can expect the Chargers to do what they do best, and that is throwing the ball. Last season, the AFC West competitors produced a top-10 passing attack, 32 passing touchdowns and a 1,200 receiving yard target in Keenan Allen.
The 6-foot-2 target has the right mix of skills, athleticism and toughness. He requires a lot of attention by the Colts’ defense. And while the Colts could double team Allen, it is likely to watch Pierre Desir shadow him throughout the game.
Not only does Desir stand at an identical height (6-foot-1) with Allen, but he thrives in man and zone coverage as a press corner. Throughout last season, we witnessed the Lindenwood product successfully defend the likes of DeAndre Hopkins, Amari Cooper and a few others. They won’t line up across from each other all the time, but it should be an intriguing matchup at the line of scrimmage when they do.
