NFL Week 3 Game of the Week

By Buck Coquillette

Week three is already here and we have a decent slate of games. This week, Inside Sports Journal’s game of the week is the Indianapolis Colts versus the Baltimore Ravens. This is a good matchup that should be an entertaining game.

The Colts are coming off a win last week against the Texans, winning 31-20. While that score might sound close, the game was a blowout for most of the game, with the Texans having 10 points in garbage time. 

Rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson had two rushing touchdowns in the first quarter but exited the game with a concussion after the second touchdown. Richardson has looked great over the first two weeks, but unfortunately, he is inactive for week 3. Backup Gardner Minshew played well in Richardson’s absence, with 171 passing yards and 1 touchdown. He is a viable option for the Colts this week as one of the most reliable backups in the league. In the air, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has looked good so far with 16 receptions for 153 yards with a touchdown. Rookie Josh Downs has looked great and deep-threat Alec Pierce is an option too. 

In running back Jonathan Taylor’s absence, Zach Moss played well last week in his return from his forearm injury. Moss ran for 88 yards and a touchdown. With Taylor out for a minimum of two more weeks (and it is unclear if he will play for the Colts again due to trade requests and team drama), Moss being a solid option for the Colts will be very helpful in the run game to protect mobile Richardson more. 

So far this season, the Colts offensive line has turned it around from a very bad year last year. Three-time all-pro left guard Quenton Nelson leads the line and is one of the best in the game. A bright spot so far has been left tackle Bernhard Raimann, who has developed well and has only allowed 1 QB hit in his last five starts. Overall, the Colts line has been graded first in run blocking as a unit and third in pass block efficiency with only three total penalties committed (per PFF). 

Defensively, the Colt’s front 7 has been very good. With 8 total sacks and 2.6 yards per carry allowed, so far, the defensive line has been great at getting to the quarterback and stopping the run. On the front four, standouts include Deforest Buckner and Grover Stewart. At linebacker, Zaire Franklin has been elite, leading the league with 30 total tackles. Shaquille Leonard, three-time first-team all-pro, has also been healthy and productive. Their secondary, on the other hand, is their biggest weak point. The only bright spot to it so far has been Kenny Moore II. 

The Baltimore Ravens are 2-0 so far this season. They beat the Texans 25-9 and the Bengals 27-24. This is a solid team that has the odds in their favor for this game.

Offensively, former MVP QB Lamar Jackson goes into his sixth season in the league. With the previous two seasons riddled with injuries, Jackson is looking for a bounce-back season. He has looked good so far going 41-55 with 406 yards and two touchdowns. He also has 92 rushing yards so far. The Colts will have to gameplan to stop his versatile upside. Jackson has built a great rapport with rookie Zay Flowers, who was drafted 22nd overall out of Boston College. Flowers already has 13 receptions for 150 yards over his two games. Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is another viable option after a few quiet years and reliable tight end Mark Andrews is another option for Jackson. 

In addition to Jackson’s legs, on the ground, the lead running back is Gus Edwards after JK Dobbins unfortunately tore his Achilles. The Raven’s offensive line has been good, with reliable figures like Tyler Linderbaum, Kevin Zeitler, and Morgan Moses. 

The Ravens are solid on defense with linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen leading the charge. Smith has 21 tackles on the season and Queen has 19. In the secondary, Geno Stone has an interception and 11 tackles and Branden Stephens has 16 tackles. 

The Ravens will have to try to beat out the Colts’ solid offensive line to disrupt Minshew’s passing game and Moss’s running game. On the outside, they must contain Pittman who is a weapon with the ball in his hands. 

This should be a fun matchup to watch, and only would’ve been better with Rookie Anthony Richardson, but should be a good game nonetheless. Tune in at 1:05 on Sunday on CBS.