Five Key Matchups: Broncos vs. Colts
Take a look at five factors that could decide Sunday night's game between the Broncos and Colts.
These players have faced each other before but will do so under different circumstances this time, as both are returning from ACL injuries. Wayne has had more time to recover – he tore his ACL against Denver in Week 7, while Harris tore his in the divisional round of the playoffs – but Harris is 10 years younger. It will be interesting to see who is more spry when they face each other.
Knighton got home for a sack of Luck in last year's Week 7 matchup, but he doesn't need to take down the QB to be successful this week. "He's a guy that likes to step up in the pocket," Chris Harris Jr. said of Luck, "so we need huge games from our D-tackles to be able to push up the front and get in his face." If Knighton and Co. can prevent Luck from stepping up, Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware will be more dangerous coming off the edge.
Thomas and Davis battled throughout last year's game in Indianapolis. Davis gave Thomas a hard time on some plays, but still allowed the big receiver 82 yards and a touchdown on four catches. "He's a bigger guy, kind of strong," Thomas said. "I had to go back and watch film and change up some stuff in my game because when I went in last year, he did a great job with some of the stuff he did. I'm looking forward to this game to try to change it up."
Ball came back quickly from an emergency appendectomy during training camp and proved he's ready to handle the load after touching the ball eight times on the first series against the Texans. Freeman is the Colts' most versatile linebacker and led the team in tackles in 2012 and 2013. The former CFL star should encounter Ball in the hole a few times Sunday night.
Marshall is replacing Danny Trevathan at weakside linebacker for the first few games of the season and will face a tough matchup right off the bat. Fleener played with Andrew Luck at Stanford and has proven to be a strong receiving option up the seam or split out as a receiver. Marshall's growth since spending last year on the Broncos' practice squad will be tested.
