The Indianapolis Colts (2-2) will be on the road in Week 5 for a primetime bout with the Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night.
The Chiefs are heavily favored—for good reason—and while there is a slim chance the Colts come out with a victory, the NFL is always unpredictable. Even in a matchup that has low odds, there are reasons to be optimistic.
Here are three reasons for optimism in Week 5:
Darius Leonard’s potential return
The Colts could be getting a key piece to their defense back on Sunday night and though it’s not official, Leonard returned to practice on Wednesday in a limited fashion. This is a sign that he’s progressing through the league’s concussion protocol.
In Leonard’s two-game absence, the Colts have moved Anthony Walker to Leonard’s WILL position while giving rookie third-round pick Bobby Okereke the start at the MIKE position. Both players have had their ups and downs over the past two weeks, but Leonard’s return is a big addition in many ways.
The 2018 All-Pro is the engine that propels the defense and if he continues to progress as he has, there is a chance he makes his return Sunday night.
Unlikely Tyreek Hill plays
Most teams in the NFL know what it’s like to cover the electric Hill. The Colts know first-hand from the AFC divisional round in 2018 that he’s simply unguardable at times. Even though he returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since suffering a broken collarbone in Week 1, the Chiefs aren’t trying to rush him back.
That doesn’t mean the Colts are out of the woods. The Chiefs still sport a ridiculous amount of explosive players including Travis Kelce, Mecole Hardman, Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson.
Hill trumps all of the wide receivers, though, when it comes to the ability to take over a game. His potential absence in Week 5 makes the game plan a little bit easier.
Chiefs defense is nothing to be worried about
While the Chiefs offense wins them games simply on the back of explosive plays, the defense isn’t something that should scare opposing offenses. Through the first four weeks, the Chiefs have been sporting one of the worst defenses in the NFL.
Entering Week 5, they are allowing 408.5 yards per game (30th), 6.3 yards per play (29th), 149.8 rushing yards per game (31st) and 5.9 yards per carry (32nd). If the Colts are able to get T.Y. Hilton back and Marlon Mack healthy enough to play, they shouldn’t have trouble driving down the field.
Of course, they must do better up front in the run game if they want to extend their drives, but the Colts should have plenty of opportunities to get in the end zone on Sunday night.
